Mel is right in saying that the Oscars are a joke.
On another note, as one who doesn't have the stomach for violent movies, I was not at all shocked by the violence in his movie "The Passion", just saddened at what people are capable of. I think it was something I needed to see in order to fully understand what Jesus went through on the way to the cross. It was not exactly a walk in the park! I appreciate the honesty in this film.
I wasn't shocked either, but then there's a difference between the gratuitious senseless violence of a zombie horror/Jason/Freddy Kreuger flick which is done to entertain that audience, and the violence of historical drama and events, like Saving Private Ryan, Schindler's List or The Passion which is done not to entertain but to impart important information and emotion[1]. Anyway I think it's a good move putting out a PG-13 (I guess?) version. It might get shown to younger audiences and in more churches.
[1] Braveheart for example I thought had a mix of both. Much of the violence was quite essential to the story, and some of it was gratuitous.
It's one of the few examples of cinematic violence that's justified in the name of art in order to convey the severity and extent of Christ's sacrifice.