[kattracks]

But don't hold your breath.

[Darkwolf377]

There's really no need to see conspiracies everywhere. Some people just didn't like The Passion.

[leprechaun9]

Hollywood Foreign Press Association

FOREIGN - very foreign!

[SpaceBar]

I was one of those folks that waited until it was out on DVD so I could immerse myself in it without the hassles of going to the theatre. When I got my hands on it I settled in and watched it with all my attention. I of course had heard the controversy surrounding it and was ready to find out what the buzz was all about. Cinematographically extremely well made. Great period costumes and sets, intrigue and character development all well done. But I failed to see some sort of message. Just looked like long beating, in a primitive police state culminating in an execution. The artistic license that suggested something supernatural or religious was pretty corny actually. That demonic "thing" that shows up from time to time, and then the temple destruction. Mmmm, okay. That was its weak point. I believe that in many respects it was overrated, and personally thought Scorcese's Last Temptation was a better film. Anyway, that's one amateur film reviewer's opinion.

[WhiteGuy]

a. It's just a movie.
b. Mel made a fortune, why sweat it?
c. Who cares?

Just my 2 cents

[avitot]

didn't gibson ever hear of matzoh?

[kellynla]

BTTT

[New Orleans Slim]

Or it might be that the film was little more than one long beating with some arthouse touches like everyone speaking in Latin. (And they said studying Latin would never come in useful.) The Passion just wasn't a good film.

Then again, I am agnostic and pretty apathetic about religion. Maybe you have to really believe to fully get the Passion.

[RobRoy]

For the record, I did not like the Passion of the Christ and saw many flaws. Keep in mind I am a professing Christian and my wife and I were responsible for coordinating and getting tickets for our church group who saw it together. We were there with our pastor as well as our former pastor.

It had no emotional impact on me whatsoever and I was even a bit negative about it as we left the theater. It simply NEVER suspended disbelief for me.

I thought the raindrop was cool though.

I think this is one of those "emperor has no clothes" sort of things. The movie is on a pedastal for too many people. As a movie I really didn't think it was very good.

I'm a big fan of Mel Gibson and have no political motivation behind my dislike of the movie. I just didn't like it.

[smith288]

I dont believe this movie was intended for those without faith but for those who could use a reality check on the sufferings of Christ for us.

We all moan about how "things never go our way", how cold it is, losing our hair, having to eat macaroni & cheese two days in a row.

It is a visual for professing Christians that cant fully comprehend unless they were there, watching our savior get tortured for what He is cant ground us and open our eyes to the commission we have on earth.

Watching the film makes us realize to not sweat the small stuff and work for God to help save as many people as we can.

I dont think those in hollywood were even the target. Entertainment wise, The Passion was not going to win anything. If there was a category for "Reality Check for Christians" then i suppose it would have won hands down.

[Liberty Valance]

"Many award watchers speculated that this would make it easier for Gibson’s film to snag a Globe."

Quite frankly, I don't think "The Passion of Christ" should be sullied by the likes of award shows and secular talking heads.

[nutmeg]

read later bump

[johniegrad]

The following, a passage from a conference by St. Thomas Aquinas, is the second reading of the Office of Readings for the Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, January 28:

---

Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act.
It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what he desired, for the cross exemplifies every virtue.
If you seek the example of love: Greater love than this no man has, than to lay down his life for his friends. Such a man was Christ on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult to bear whatever hardships arise for his sake.

If you seek patience, you will find no better example than the cross. Great patience occurs in two ways: either when one patiently suffers much, or when one suffers things which one is able to avoid and yet does not avoid. Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently, because when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ's patience on the cross was great. In patience let us run for the prize set before us, looking upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who, for the joy set before him, bore his cross and despised the shame.

If you seek an example of humility, look upon the crucified one, for God wished to be judged by Pontius Pilate and to die.

If you seek an example of obedience, follow him who became obedient to the Father even unto death. For just as by the disobedience of one man, namely, Adam, many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one man, many were made righteous.

If you seek an example of despising earthly things, follow him who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, struck, crowned with thorns, and given only vinegar and gall to drink. Do not be attached, therefore, to clothing and riches, because they divided my garments among themselves. Nor to honors, for he experienced harsh words and scourgings. Nor to greatness of rank, for weaving a crown of thorns they placed it on my head. Nor to anything delightful, for in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.