First Passion viewers emerge stunned

The Telegraph News UK ^ | 03/27/2004 | Jonathan Petre

[JusPasenThru]

I'm quite certain these faint-hearted citizens could watch "Saving Private Ryan" without so much as a flinch.

[atomicpossum]

But that view was not shared by the majority who filed out at the end dazed and struggling for words, but clearly moved.

So WHY are the horrified the headline?!?

[Terry Mross]

Gobsmacked? Wow! I hate it whenever I get gobsmacked!

[Eala]

The best review of The Passion I've read yet (despite the title): Passionate about The Passion [excellent homily on The Passion of The Christ]

[No Blue States]

Valerie Hawkins, 62, said:

"I felt it reminded me of what our faith cost and what we owe. Sometimes we forget the price and that someone had to pay it. I feel numb."

yep.

[Eala]

So WHY are the horrified the headline?!?

Talking it down, of course...

[what's up]

The contrast between the sustained brutality and then the fabulous, quiet and powerful resurrection resurrection scene at the very end is profound.

It impacts one with a lot of power and is a fabulous note to end the film on.

I'm sure it is causing millions to deeply ponder spiritual issues and is a great service Gibson does for God IMO.

[johniegrad]

A non-churchgoer - she had been in a church last month for the first time since her christening because she was preparing to get married

Sigh.

[goodnesswins]

"One woman had to be comforted with cups of tea after she had been escorted out on the brink of tears.

OH, my...she was "on the BRINK of tears." I was balling for the first 20 minutes of Saving Private Ryan, but I did NOT leave. Sheesh. (Have yet to see The Passion.)

[Unam Sanctam]

Wonderful review. Thanks for the link!

[small voice in the wilderness]

Both gobsmacked and whey-faced! There are just some descriptions that never made it to this side of the pond!

[johniegrad]

Do it.

[maro]

Even so, better she get married in the church. Higher chance she will baptize her kids. She may even start taking the kids to church when she realizes she has no other resources for teaching them morality. Or at least that's the way it plays out in the US.

[Eagle Eye]

The contrast between the sustained brutality and then the fabulous, quiet and powerful resurrection resurrection scene at the very end is profound.

Yeah, the ending begs for a sequel, doesn't it?

On another note, if those 'Christians' really understood what the movie was about, they'd cheer each stripe laid on the Christ's body. Where would they be without them?

This was an absoluelty brilliant movie with fabulous interpretations.

[goodnesswins]

We will be....probably in the next month.

[I still care]

Here is another good one. It is basically on WHY the secular media has responded to the movie the way it has.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1093798/posts

[johniegrad]

Agreed. Just wish it could stop people from making stupid remarks.

[johniegrad]

Good one.

[rogueleader]

What we have here is the prissiness of Europeans confronted by an aspect of reality right before their eyes that they have never even thought about before in their pampered lives. Of course they're going to whine and cry like babies. They are babies.

How many Americans left the theater? What? Oh, that's right. There were about four or five of them. America has cowards, but not hordes of them.