[gingerky]

I've got tickets for tonight. My teenage son is going with me. I confess I'm nervous about seeing it with all the blood. I know I'll cry but is the violence too much or did Mel do what he said and "give the audience escapes" from the ongoing violence?

[Aquinasfan]

is the violence too much or did Mel do what he said and "give the audience escapes" from the ongoing violence?

I hate gore but did very well with this. Yes, there are "escapes." Don't want to give anything away. Try to put away your preconceptions and just experience it.

[olivia3boys]

The movie is not "violent" like Kill Bill or Pulp Fiction or movies where there are lots of people being blown to pits. This movie basically shows one man's suffering--the longest part is the carrying of the cross, and while it shows a lot of suffering it's not really "violent" per se.

The violent parts are the whipping and the nailing, but it doesn't go on and on too long really. I think this "too violent" stuff is just Hollywood and the media trying to scare people away from it. . .nobody said anything about "Saving Private Ryan" being too violent to see (and it was WAY more violent than the Passion!).

I couldn't watch "Resevoir Dogs" torture, but the Passion was kinda like the Pope said: "It is as it was."

The escapes are flashback scenes to earlier parts of Jesus' life and they do give a nice respite to the suffering.

Your teenage son will be just fine. I myself didn't cry at the violence, but I DID cry (and I NEVER cry in movies!) at the scene where Mary remembers Jesus as a toddler, as I'm the mother of 3 small boys myself. . .

[chris1]

Just when you cannot take anymore and want to scream for it to stop or to jump in to help Jesus yourself, Mel adds a little scene to let you cath yourself. Then, it is right back to the unrelenting torture that hits you again and again and again. Just when it is too much, Mel releives things just a bit, and so on. It was a powerful movie. My hands were literally shaking at certain points, let alone the many tears. Bring a roll of paper towel.

[Cousin Eddie]

You should be fine. I'm glad I heard about the brutality beforehand. We were able to sit through it, and yes, there are momentary gaps that allow you to catch your breath. OTOH, the woman beside me left early and her date followed her about 15 minutes later (probably to find out what was happening with her)...they never returned.

[NYer]

My teenage son is going with me.

I took my teenage daughter out of school on Friday so we could watch it together.

Today, she told me that she was verbally attacked by some of her "friends" in school as being a 'religious fanatic'. This attack was provoked by her reaction to two of her girlfriends who decided to emulate Madonna and Britney by making out in the back of her car over the weekend. She told them their actions were immoral.

My daughter then told me that after watching The Passion, she had done a 180 degree turn, seeing her faith in very realistic terms. That makes perfect sense, since our kids are growing up in such a visual world.

My daughter has now severed all ties with these two girlls. Her faith, she tells me, is stronger now than ever and she will stand up for it against anyone and everyone.

The Passion of the Christ is indeed a very powerful film! Thank you, Mr. Gibson for releasing it to us now. God knows we need it more than ever.