What Other Critics Are Saying (about the "Passion of the Christ")

Newsday ^ | February 24, 2004 | staff

[DentsRun]

Here's a sampling of what some movie critics think about Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ."

"Relentlessly savage, "The Passion" plays like the Gospel according to the Marquis de Sade." -- David Ansen, Newsweek

"A surprisingly violent narrative ... One of the cruelest movies in the history of cinema. ... a sickening death trip" -- David Denby, the New Yorker

"the audience profile for The Passion of the Christ is true believers with cast-iron stomachs... a religious splatter-art film" -- Richard Corliss, Time

"The bloodiest story ever told..." -- Peter Rainer, New York

"It's a very great film. It's the only religious film I've seen with the exception of "The Gospel According to Matthew" by Pasolini, that really seems to deal directly with what happened instead of with all kinds of sentimental eyes, cleaned up, post card versions of it." -- Roger Ebert, on his syndicated TV show "Ebert & Roeper"

[peteram]

something most movie critics don't understand.

Nor the media. It used to irk me, but now I'm beginning to enjoy watching all the talking heads on TV try to analyze this movie. They are all clueless! This is because many of them have only a rudimentary idea of who Christ is and what he had to go through for us. And this whole "blame the Jews" thing is laughable. What the talking heads don't realize as well is that to be a Christian means

1. Not pointing blame (i.e.: being anti-semetic). And
2. Knowing that this is what HAD to happen for Him to take away our sins.

Again - they are totally clueless.

[Blood of Tyrants]

But they would scream foul if they made a film about how those two sickos kidnapped, brutalized, sodomized, and then murdered Jesse Dirksizing(sp?).

[formerDem]

" Nor the media. It used to irk me, but now I'm beginning to enjoy watching all the talking heads on TV try to analyze this movie. They are all clueless! This is because many of them have only a rudimentary idea of who Christ is and what he had to go through for us. And this whole "blame the Jews" thing is laughable. What the talking heads don't realize as well is that to be a Christian means

1. Not pointing blame (i.e.: being anti-semetic). And
2. Knowing that this is what HAD to happen for Him to take away our sins. Again - they are totally clueless.

BUMP!

[Psycho_Bunny]

As far as I can tell, from the vitriol coming from liberals over this movie, there must not be any Christians in it painted with negative stereotypes.

I'm not even Christian and I'm going to go see it, if for no reason other than to support Christians.

[ccmay]

a Christian revival of sorts, may sweep our country... a big F*CK YOU!! to liberal secularist scum

Good heavens, it would seem the revival has not yet started in Acreage... Is that really what Jesus would say to the liberal secularist scum?

-ccm

[beckett]

The fourth, Ebert, is liberal, I believe, but he is Catholic.

The screenwriter of the softporn classics Up! and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens, the creator of the immortal soft-porn queen Sweet L'il Alice, Reinhold Timme (aka, Roger Ebert; he changed his name when he came to Hollywood), is a Catholic?

I don't think so.

[per loin]

Many Christophobes are dragging themselves away from watching reruns of demonic tributes and hack-em-up/slash-em-up films just long enough to complain about Gibson's film. I suspect that the viewing audience will not soon forgot this hypocrisy.

[Jorge]

I think many of the reviewers don't seem to comprehend that Mel Gibson's primary intent is to demonstrate the gravity of the sacrifice that Jesus made in order to forgive us for our failings.

I think many the reviewers don't WANT to comprehend the gravity of the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf.

.. because they would have to acknowledge the dept of graditude we owe Jesus.

I wonder how many of these same reviewers would even acknowledge that we are sinners in need of a Savior?

[M1911A1]

I searched through some reviews by the aforementioned critics who are hammering "Passion", and was less than amazed to find that most liked the over the top violence of "Kill Bill" (Corliss called it "balletic carnography").

In fairness, Denby found "Kill Bill" tiresome, but lauded the brutality of "Saving Private Ryan", although he thought the "patriotic" beginning and ending (the scenes of the older Ryan at the cemetary) should have been left out.

It is funny as all get out to watch these critics discover a revulsion to violence. Perhaps watching "Passion" has made converts out of them.

[DestroytheDemocrats]

Well I am going to be honest. I am not going to see this film. I just do not want to see an hour and a half of torture scenes.
I would not go see a movie where there were depictions of animals being tortured or of children being tortured. I just do NOT want to see such things. So why would I want to see a reinactment of Jesus being tortured? I believe it happened and I understand what it meant and why it happened. I think the passion of Christ is ever more profound and meaningful than showing bloody scenes of torture. I might wait till it comes out on DVD but for now I just don't want to see it.

[raloxk]

Tha tfact that Ebert adn Roeper gave it a Thumbs Up, must be horribly devastating to the left

[Humidston]

Yes! Never forget poor little Jesse Dirkhising (although the PC crowd would love it if we did)!!

[NTNgod]

The screenwriter of...is a Catholic? I don't think so.

Well, Ebert believes he is (as he occasionally mentions in his reviews over the years).

You don't think he is.

I'm sure, in the end, God will get the final call on that one :)

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"I know what crucifixion is like, and worse. I do not need to be spoon fed gore and violence to know what Christ did for me. The fact that He, as God, died at all for my sins is all I need to know."

That is exactly the way I see it.

[Nachum]

Exactly what I have been saying for the last 3 weeks.

[tessalu]

Me thinks that Satan does not like The Passion of The Christ, so watch them all line up on either side of the wall.

[beckett]

Well, Ebert believes he is (as he occasionally mentions in his reviews over the years).

Can you document that? I have never heard him mention his own faith, although I have read his work both on politics (he is far left, by the way, not "liberal") and the arts. When he reviewed Ben Affleck's Dogma last year he delighted in its anti-Catholic bias.

As I mentioned, Ebert (Reinhold Timme) is of germanic descent, and may well have Catholic ancestors, but, given the overall cultural vibe he puts out, I would be amazed to learn that he is a believing, church-going Catholic.

[ImpBill]

It is interesting in reading the responses to this the number of "Christians" responding that they don't need to see the film to know that Christ died for them. It might be instructive for all to know the depth of His love for us to watch what will truly be the most graphic portrayal of how he "suffered, was crucified, and was buried". I grew up knowing He died, but it was only after having seen first hand the horrors of death in warfare that I had any inkling of how the "man" Christ must have suffered in His torture and death.

"For God so loved the world ..."

If the billing of the film is anywhere near as it is in reality I believe it will humble this frail Christian. And just perhaps my faith will be strengthened for it.

I don't understand how so many who have not seen the film can be so critical of it.

[DentsRun]

The screenwriter of the softporn classics Up! and Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens, the creator of the immortal soft-porn queen Sweet L'il Alice, Reinhold Timme (aka, Roger Ebert; he changed his name when he came to Hollywood)

Wow, is that true?

[DestroytheDemocrats]

"I searched through some reviews by the aforementioned critics who are hammering "Passion", and was less than amazed to find that most liked the over the top violence of "Kill Bill" "

Kill Bill was a fantasy. It was so over the top that it was not serious violence. I mean one woman was fighting 60 people at one time. It was a spoof of itself. Remember the Russian roulette scene from the Deer Hunter? What about all the violence in Good Fellas? THOSE are examples of violence because they were so realistic. Just my opinion.