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.
I guess I took it differently with my perspective of my faith.
The part where Jesus was on the cross rasping out some words with what was left of his dying strength and the man hanging besides him cried out "LOOK! He prays for you!" got to me along with about 20 other moments in the film. Listening to those around me gasping and sobbing really brought me into it as well. In a way you missed an event by not seeing it in the theatre surrounded by the faithful. Everyone in the theatre, we, as a group experienced what Jesus suffered through, seemingly endlessly, in the last 24 hours of his life. I wasn't subjected to just the suffering of Jesus as portrayed in the film, but the collective experience of what everyone felt as we witnessed it.
I was never so moved by a film in all my life.
Sigh.
I know someone who has a bootleg Passion of Christ DVD.
I find that funny in a bizarre way.