I saw The Passion last night, and think I will see it again on Sunday.
It has gripped me and made me feel cold from the inside. It was marvelous.
Opening scene is powerful, as the movie opens up with an aerial shot, indicating, at least to my mind, the Presence, the Will of the Father: "and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters". Caviezel's performance does not totally convince me in this scene, but his excellence as an actor progresses exponentially as the movie continues.
Satan is extremely horrifying; Gibson conveys very effectively the idea that all that satan touches dies. Moreover, Gibson makes it clear in the scene w/satan and child that whatever satan creates or gives birth to, emerges into being from the tomb. It's a powerful message. An Evangelical co-worker tells me that I shouldn't fear satan; I tell her that she's free not to, but that I'll continue to do so, thanks all the same. The Book of Job has not been forgotten.
I like the fact that Caviezel's Jesus is a healthy, robust, handsome man in one of the primes of his life. It makes his sacrifice that much more poignant and tremendous.
I love the scenes of Caviezel's Jesus preaching and breaking bread with his friends, and I love the touching moment between Jesus and his Mother after he's finished his table. "It'll never catch on", was excellent. Jesus is affectionate; that's a much underrated and under-appreciated human quality.
I kept looking for signs of anti-Semitism on Mel's part, and became somewhat annoyed as the movie progressed that I had this mindset to begin with, due to the rants of his accusers. Even looking, I didn't find any. In fact, Caiaphas and the ‘boys' didn't even look Jewish to me, they looked Italian, and according to the credits, they were. I know Italians and Jewish people look somewhat alike, but the differences are great as well. Gibson was charged with using too many ‘big nosed' actors, and that this was a sign of his anti-Semitism, wrong again. The noses were Italian ‘big noses'. Peter looked like the great Phil Esposito of the bad and bruising ‘72 Boston Bruins.
Mel goes out of his way to convey that Caiaphas and the boys have convened their ‘adjudication' of Jesus in secret, and that the whole Council has not been invited to share the burden of Judging Jesus as heretic. Additionally, Caiaphas is portrayed as alternating between surety and ambivalence regarding the path he's taken. He becomes less obstinate upon viewing the suffering of Christ, and more obstinate as Christ continues to claim his inheritance from The Father.
Caiaphas' enormous ego is pricked and his pride is aroused. He and the boys do not come off as much Jewish as they do belonging to that race known as politician. Especially that breed of politician who will call what is right wrong, what is bad, good.
The Scourging and beating of Christ is tremendous, and the Romans come across as left of the bellcurve as satan makes ‘em, and absolute pigs of the world. My goodness are they sadistic.
Caviezel's performance while being Scourged and Crucified is an absolute tour de force. And while carrying his Cross, the Father's aid is transpicuous. Caviezel's facial expression kept alternating between Man and God. It was absolutely tremendous!
The final scene where he is taken from the Cross as the Father begins to comment, is powerful and heart wrenching. That solitary Tear of the Father is beyond the scope of adjective to describe.
Finally, when the Rock is pulled away, and Christ is restored, I again think,"and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters".
May God Bless Mel, and may this film unite the Christian sects as they have never before been united.
Your perceptions, and your appreciation of even the minutest detail will undoubtedly please the artist in the talented Mel Gibson.
Mel strived mightily to tell the sacred story with as much artistry as he could muster.....and he succeeded mightily.
Thank you for letting us see the film through your eyes.