The Passion of the Christ -- Reaction Thread (Religion Section)

Vanity | Me

[Salvation]

I just got back from watching The Passion and am on my way over to church to open a discussion and prayer group on The Passion of The Christ.

Here's all I can muster right now.

Go see "The Passion of the Christ".

All I can say is that it is very powerful while being very tender. (Yes, I cried -- and I was the last one out of the theater -- I just couldn't move.)

[Salvation]

**Crucifixion - Was given a copy of The Secret of Happiness fifteen prayers revealed to Saint Bridget by Our lord. He told her that he had received 5480 blows on His Body during His Passion.
So I think the Jews do have a case to answer and do not want to be remembered what they put Jesus through.**

Have never heard this before. Will do some further research later.

[Salamander]

I'm gonna stick my neck out and drop in my 2 cents.
I can identify with the "alone" aspect.

Some have said "I felt like I was there".
I did and didn't.

It had the chaotic, yet abstract-but-connected quality of a terrifying lucid dream.
Everyone has had them.
You see yourself in the dream through your own eyes and then suddenly, the perspective changes and you see yourself through the eyes of another.
Suddenly your dream is in the present tense and then rapidly shifts from the past to the future, all within the blink of an eye.
Yet, for all it's seeming randomness, the dream makes perfect "sense" to your subconcious mind.

This was like that.
We are at one moment looking through bloody strands of hair at a world inverted, as we are dragged through the streets and spat on by a bloodthirsty mob.
Then we look at Him as we throw stones and wield the scourge.
First we weep for him as His friends, then we shriek with the bloodthirsty mob seeking, His death.
We are none of them and all of them, often only seconds apart.
Peter gazes at Him in mutual but conflicted agony, yet -we- receive His returning stare.
"We" look both down from and up at the cross as He begs the Father to forgive the tormentors.

This was less a movie and more a highly personal "mystic vision".
The camera work was alternately nightmarish and dreamy and often surrealistic.
Slow motion was used to magnificent and devastating effect, frequently slowing almost a freeze-frame, which burned a particular tableau into your mind.
Shocking and completely unexpected "zooms" made me flinch as though the images on the screen were about to leap into my "reality".
Many times in the movie, objects were thrown either at us, or appeared as though *we* were throwing them.

Mel had us all play every part, to the absolute hilt, in brilliantly disjointed yet ultimately cohesive fashion.
We were kept off-balance nearly all of the time and just as we regained our balance briefly, reality shifted beneath our feet once again.
When it ended, I felt like I was waking up from a nightmare.
A nightmare that was mine but also someone else's.
Walking back out into the garishly bright neon-lit mall was an abrupt jar to my psyche and it seemed somehow less "real" than where I'd just been.


It's not a "movie" so much as a communion.
Each of us, sitting there all alone in the crowd, -were- the "movie".


Having yapped all that...one of my favorite moments was the scene with the single raindrop suspended high above the earth.
So much meaning was in that drop of water, and what came after was absolutely spectacular.

I can't wait until it's out on DVD...:)

[Caipirabob]

I don't question the realism of the raven; what I'm pondering is the artistic decision to use it for the chastisement of the bad thief. On one hand it effectively conveys the bad thief's moral and spiritual blindness. On the other hand, it makes God seem petty and vengeful. Furthermore, because Jesus -- being perfectly innocent -- endured torments far worse than this, it seems odd to introduce the raven as an agent of divine justice. It seems to send a signal that horrible things befall horrible people, but with Jesus himself being right there, simplistic morality tales like this collapse in inadequacy.

I took the raven to be a sign of the bad thief's final fall from grace. I thought it was more representative of the devil, who was highly active throughout the film. I took it as the devil showing up and making the statement "YOU'RE MINE NOW, SUCKER!"

Then again, this is all open to many different interpretations, so who knows. I'll check out some Gibson interviews, maybe he'll explain it.

Still reeling from the experience from Wednesday night.

[bonfire]

Beautifully said! You put it much better than I could have.

I loved the raindrop/tear also. The zoom on that was incredible. The utter lonliness of Hell, the separation from God, and the TRIUMPH of God: all in that small moment on screen. Wow!

I think Mel has a masterpiece on his hands.

[Romulus]

AlguyA explains the raven here. Works for me.

[Salamander]

At the moment the raven landed, I said "uh oh".
I thought of the sneering words of the thief and then *pluck!*...I leaned over to hubby and said "See? God is not mocked".....:)

[Salamander]

Thanks.
I was afraid that was too "out there" as a reaction....:))

He does have a masterpiece.
Someone else said it was going to be our "Sistine Chapel".
The film was truly -art- in its purest, highest definition.

[hoosier_RW_conspirator]

Wonderfully said. I saw it yesterday afternoon, and am still reeling.

[eyespysomething]

My post from another thread:



We talked about the movie in our young couples fellowship Wed. night. I am reletively new to Christianity, and being unfamiliar with the Bible, promptly came home and read the Gospels. I didn't even know the four books, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, were what was considered the Gospels. So I read the Gospel story of the crucifixtion, all four. Last night we saw the movie. I started crying about 2 minutes into the movie, and didn't stop until after it was over. Not really crying, but tears running down my face. It was in my heart, the love God has for us, and it trancended the movie, the movie was like a picture book to go along with the bible. I don't think Jesus said anything that wasn't scriptural. I flinched at the beatings, cried with Mary, wanted to yell ABBA with Jesus. I have tears in my eyes right now. I have not lived the life Christ wants me to live. I have a lot of thinking to do about my life.

I would advise people to read the Gospels before seeing the movie if possible.

My eyes have been opened.

[AFPhys]

I did think they did over do the scourging. Can't imagine anyone surviving it do to what would have been a massive loss of blood. Really dragged out Christ carrying the cross.

On the contrary, Gibson could have been far more brutal and still have been well within historical contemporary records of how the Romans did scourging and torture. In fact, he pulled back significantly, both in his portrayal, and in what was shown on the screen. Remember you sat through only two hours, not twelve. Carrying the cross up to the hill took well over an hour in itself.

Repeating something I've prevously posted:

I've got a (weird) friend - a historian whose specialty is pre-Renaissance torture - techniques, results, etc. He informed me long before this movie ever was a thought that there are many contemporary texts available which describe the Roman methods of torture and crucifixion.

I've not yet seen the movie, (tomorrow, hopefully) but everything I've heard about it seems consistent with those ancient writings on the subject.

OF COURSE the Bible isn't that graphic about the subject - nor is it graphic about the bloody mess remaining after a stoning or being fed to the lions, etc. It is up to the reader to endeavor to study to comprehend the meaning of the text.

I'm wondering why the "theologians" and "bible scholars" who are being so critical of Gibson's work choose to ignore the other historical works that can cast illumination on the meaning of "flogging" and "scourging". Perhaps they believe believe Jesus got "kid glove" treatment by the Roman thugs? Perhaps they are simply ignorant of important work pertaining to their chosen field? Why?

One more thing: the Romans were finely educated in the art of torture and finely calibrated the amount of punishment someone could take before dying or passing out. Gibson truly did his homework on this - far more than most of the other "authorities" have done.

[AFPhys]

Great meditations on the film. I'm glad I looked at this thread. I'll repost my review below...


Saw it Friday.

It was not as brutal as I had prepared myself for. The
brutality exhibited there is most definitely supportable by
historical records of Roman torture, scourging and
crucifixion. I forced myself in spots not to avert my eyes,
but I never did. I wondered a couple times how a person
could take this and not pass out, but the Romans were
experts in these things, and once they even prevented some
cruelty because "He can't take any more", so Gibson probably
has it right.

Tears were rolling down my face during much of it as I
realized I caused this. I kept saying, "I'm sorry, Lord".

I blubbered like a baby a couple times, most prominently
(surprisingly) during the flashback to Mary's running after
a falling little boy.

This movie made me realize not only how bad I am, but how
good I am, too, and my parental instincts brought to the
fore by that scene helped me know that. I think it amazing
that the film was able to do that in the midst of all that
brutality. Jesus did this because He knows we are worth it
despite ourselves.

The flashbacks were wielded to incredible effect. I think
this movie is a perfect work.

I will recommend that EVERYONE see this ON THE BIG
SCREEN unless they are under 15 or truly unable to see even
a cut without throwing up. I think Catholics who have really
absorbed The Stations of the Cross (and seen the crucifix)
regularly are likely to have an easier time with the brutal
reality portrayed by this film than many others, so get
yourself prepared.

The flashbacks were beautifully used.

The extent of "artistic license" used is easily justifiable,
and in no way is it anti-Biblical or anti-historic.

I will be seeing this again on the big screen within the
next week - only the second film I'll ever have said that
about - and, as a sidelight, the most violent movie I've
ever watched was Ben Hur, since I shun violent movies.

ALL negative comments made about this movie are either out
of ignorance, or from the Enemy - period. I believe that
many of those who are ignorant are reachable by discussion
that what was portrayed is truth.

I've found that the one historical glitch I believe I
detected was, in fact, accurately portrayed by the film.
I've yet to research the single Biblical glitch. To the two
"did he go too far in portraying this" questions I had while
watching, I've since decided I can answer, "no."

Many adults will have major questions about a large number
of things, both historical and religious. Those who seek
out answers will discover that the film withstands scrutiny
on those bases.

I'm more impressed over time since I've seen it with the
portrayal of Satan.

I've not found myself dwelling on this film every spare
moment, as some have reported. Perhaps that is because I
long ago had what I would call "a deep religious experience"
that impressed on me the brutality Jesus endured in order to
redeem my sins. I suspect that many others will have a
different report about this.

I think that as of Sunday evening, only about 1/4th of those
I've spoken with who have present intention to see the film
have done so. I suspect that word of mouth will inspire
even more to do so. I'll be very surprised if box office
returns are not heavy for at least the next two weeks.

Again, I repeat, this movie helped me realize not only how
bad (sinful) I am, but how good I am, too.

Praise the Lord!

[AFPhys]

I felt a weird thing. It was as if I was watching what all my sins could do. As if I never watched them before. It was almost as if this movie was a camera into my own personal sin. What my humanity was capable of.

EXACTLY! Those who did not feel this way must reflect what their beliefs truly are. I don't believe any Christian who tries to follow the Lord's teachings can come away with anything other than this. You said something my review was inadequate in portraying.

[AFPhys]

I've been going back to some later threads now that I've had some time to digest the movie, and before seeing it a second time.

Thank you for your meditations on this masterwork, and (I believe) instrument of Salvation. You can check out post 112 this thread for mine, if you've not seen it.

[pgkdan]

I saw the Passion again this week and you are right, Mel only used Latin and Hebrew on the sign. It's written in three lines but only two languages.