[Liz]

" I don’t think I could have done this film without the faith that I have......you work with an academy-award-winning director like Mel Gibson....it scared just about everyone away. It scared financiers. It is controversial. Jesus said, 'I did not come to bring peace to the world, but I came with a sword.'"

Not to worry Jim, Christians, the only people who really count, loved the film, turning it into an earth-shattering, life-changing phenom. In Hollywood terms---the only thing they know---that translates into an amazing $100 million opening-to-weekend estimated gross.

[Just mythoughts]

I was very surprised with this guy, not your typical "actor".

I hear part of Rush replayed a few hours ago. He called in and gave credibility to the endeavor and pointed out that even as the movie was being filmed the trouble makers were out in full force.

[longtermmemmory]

Has anyone else notice this actors initials? J.C.

[Neets]

“I now know Him in a more personal way that I have. I am proud of this film because it is the truth. It is as it was even though some have tried to discredit that line.”

How powerful is THAT?

[ex-Texan]

Jim Caviezel was the most believable Jesus Christ I have ever seen. The flashbacks to his Sermon on the Mount and his Last Supper Scene were beautifully portayed. I did not see Caviezel in a role but I thought I really saw Jesus. His eyes were filled with warmth and love. His voice was filled with love in every scene even after his brutal scourging by drunken soldiers recruited for pay by Rome.

Later today I will post my own personal review of Mel's Passion. The film was brutal and violent but I was not repelled by the film in the least. It was not "too violent" by todays standards. It was a beautiful testiment to the divinity of The Christ!

Read reports Click Here

[New Horizon]

“My prayer is that I don’t want people to see me in the film; I only want them to see Christ,” he says...

Mission accomplished.

[moneyrunner]

I saw the film last night. It was a 5:15 matinee and the theater was full. The 7:00 pm showing was already sold out. As a commercial venture, it’s a blockbuster.

The artistry was wonderful; great acting and outstanding cinematography. But this film’s value is on a much more personal level. This film will enhance whatever faith or belief you bring into the theater.

Christians – at least this Christian – tend to have a sanitized version of Jesus, his birth, ministry and death. Especially his death. We know that “scourging” and “crucifixion” are brutal, but I always intellectualized these events. OK, he was whipped, a crown of thorns was put on his head and he was put on a cross, dying after a few hours and in his dying atoned for my sins.

This film puts into context and forces you to face the fact that his torture and execution were so brutal that modern man would turn away. The Passion shows the physical agony and actual torture Jesus offered himself up to so that we may, if we believe in him, can be cleansed of our sin. It forces you to look, and see the evil that is in man, what we are truly capable of when we let go. It brought into sharp focus the actual sacrifice that Jesus made for me. And in that sacrifice, the love he has for those who follow him.

Peace.

[Aquinasfan]

Jesus said, 'I did not come to bring peace to the world, but I came with a sword.'"

Amen. Jesus wasn't much into tolerating evil.

[MarcoPolo]

"If we don't carry the weight of our cross, we will be crushed by it."

Whoa. What a point! Well taken.

[DoctorMichael]

Stunning movie! Bttt

[AlbionGirl]

While I understand his point about not wanting to be viewed as Jesus, and acknowledging that his point is well taken, you can't help but love him too.

[novacation]

The guy sure whines a lot.

[CobaltBlue]

I've never been particularly fond of Caviezel as an actor before, but he was splendid in this role. Surprisingly so.

[Guenevere]

bttt

[NYer]

‘If we don’t carry our cross, we are going to be crushed under the weight of it.’

Catholic Ping - let me know if you want on/off this list

[mollynme]

I had hopes for him as an actor when I saw him as a presenter at the Dove Awards (Christian Music) several years ago. When so few actors were acknowledging their faith, I thought "this takes guts".

[ezo4]

This movie was a Renaissance masters painting come to life in sight and sound and emotion with 2004 technology.

[Lazamataz]

He also talked about the horror of crucifixion. “When you are on the cross, you die by asphyxiation,” he said. “You can’t breathe. When I was up there, my legs were going numb and then my forceps would go numb.

[Beeline40@aol.com]

I saw it last night with my son. All I can say is WOW!!! I still cannot find the words. at the end of the movie, everybody started clapping, then we all sat in silence for about five mins.

[tutstar]

bttt

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Isn't it amazing the stir that Christ created over 2000 years ago and it seems as though history repeated itself as the controversy over this film has emerged.