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Just got back from seeing it. I have to say it was an extraordinary movie. You can't say you "enjoyed" it. It was a marvelous piece of moviemaking and riveting. I have two things to say. 1) I thought the violence in Braveheart was worse and 2) I do not think this movie is anti-semetic. The Romans sucked a hell of a lot more. This is their story. You can understand from a political stance why the Jewish leaders were so fearful of Christ. I think Gibson wanted to remind everyone in the best way he knows how, just how much Jesus died for our sins (of course, this is what I think he thinks). In a world sanitized and PC'd, he wanted to remind the religious of this world what it's really all about. And I think he succeeded.

You said exactly the same thing I would say. As a piece of art, it was a touch surreal. Many parts of the movie brought tears to my eyes.
I, too, believe Mel Gibson was trying to convey to all of us with his movie, how brutal - yet, personal the beating and crucifixion of Jesus was.
For the most part, I have never liked movies that I have to "read", but this effect worked in The Passion of Christ.