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"

[wardaddy]

I'm 7th generation Mississippian myself. (I used to have a lot more verbage about all that on my page)

Jackson native, Nashville resident.

Where are ya L?

[flying Elvis]

We're in Florence, just south of Jackson. I moved to Starkville from Georgia a few years ago to get my Masters and ended up with one in more ways than one. I met a nice Mississippi girl and have been here ever since. I thoroughly enjoy living in Mississippi. It's difficult to make a living here but the perks are great.

[egarvue]

Click on the link and go to Ebert and Roeper's review, or you can get it here http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/today.html and listen to the audio of their reivew.

I have a hard time thinking of Ebert as a Christian, but consistently in the review both Ebert and Roeper (who write left-leaning columns for the Chicago Sun-Times when not reviewing movies) in so many words give a witness to the Gospel, that Christ died for our sins. You have to hear it to believe it, my jaw was on the floor. The only thing that I can think of is that the movie is way more powerful than it even appears.

[wardaddy]

Yes sir....I hope this movie becomes the largest grossing flick of all time...not for the money but to make the point.

[beckett]

I saw the review the other day and like you was surprised it was so favorable.

[wardaddy]

I drove down 49 last August on my way to Destin from visiting kinfolks in Jackson. I was amazed at how Florence has grown up....like all suburbs (escape environs) of Jackson.

I am down there a few times a year for kinfolks and deer camp (near Port Gibson).

Jackson will always be home. I have told my dear wife she may well bury me on a knob here in Middle Tennessee but she had damn well be sure I'm pointed towards Mississippi.

[wardaddy]

You and me both partner. Ebert suprised helloutta me.

[chuckles]

A Bible study I went to was named "The Murder of Christ", which explained several angles on the treatment of Christ before His execution. It explained how the trials were illegal and how the Jews broke several laws to get Jesus killed, and how crucifiction works. Most people can go all their Christian lives without understanding just what our Lord endured for our sakes. The "coup de gras" for me however is WHY He went through with it volluntarily. The Bible says "For the JOY that was set before Him." I had to let that soak in for awhile. What JOY could possible be worth the treatment He recieved? We do not yet know what we are to become, but it will be worth giving our lives for. If we trust Jesus, then we must trust His judgement that it will be wonderfull, beyond our imagining.

We cannot possibly comprehend a love so deep for us as our Lord's. It was the ultimate sign of love to sacrifice oneself for those He loves. There can be no postscript to the Bible to explain anymore. The determination to prove His love, even while we are yet sinners boggles my mind.

The movie will drive home this fact to those with the Holy Spirit. Whoever can't get the spiritual message in the movie, is dead to God. Their is a distinct dividing line already forming. One will hate this movie, or love this movie. Jesus said, " If the world hates Me, don't be surprised that they hate you". Its the subject they hate, not the movie.

[flying Elvis]

I'm moving to Fort Worth in August to get my Phd at TCU but will commute back to Mississippi on the weekends. My wife is safer on the farm surrounded by well armed relatives. Speaking of dear hunting, they are like rats around here, too many to count. I shot one in my front yard this season. It's nice when your dear stand is a recliner in your living roon. lol My bro-in law raises exotic dear here. We have 25 deer of different varieties including two elk, five jacks and jennys, and more foxes, coons, and possums than you can shake a stick at.

[beckett]

Reinhold Timme is a pseudonym? Not his given name? So Roger Ebert is his given name?

OK, I stand corrected. Funny thing is I corresponded with Ebert a few years back. It wasn't a very friendly correspondence, but he did reply to me. In that exchange of emails I mentioned that I had learned he'd changed his name from Reinhold Timme to Roger Ebert and he did not dispute it.

[Porterville]

Let us just compare a what they said about blood bath movies in the past, and what they say abut the Passion... it is a hoot: From Rotten Tomatoes.

Bill Muller, ARIZONA REPUBLIC

"Kill Bill not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it, with some of the most amazing fight sequences ever filmed." -- Bill Muller, ARIZONA REPUBLIC

"The basic message of Christianity -- love your brother -- is obscured under torrents of blood to the point of benumbing the audience." -- Bill Muller, ARIZONA REPUBLIC

Or Kirk Honeycutt's exact words about Kill Bill.

"The film is hugely watchable." -- Kirk Honeycutt,

Opens Friday, Oct. 10 Blood is the dominant leitmotif of Quentin Tarantino's "Kill Bill -- Vol. 1." It oozes, drips, flows, gushes, splatters and geysers in lush crimson to oily black. Scalps, limbs and heads are freely removed from characters'

What Mr. Homeycutt says about the Passion:

"True believers will bear witness to holy writ. Others -- nonbelievers or even less literal-minded Christians -- will be troubled by the film's staunch adherence to a story line and characters that have been used by bigots to fuel hatred for centuries.

As the film arrives swathed in controversy over its near-pornographic violence and concerns about its potential to incite anti-Semitism, the opening weekend's boxoffice should surpass its reported $25 million cost. That combination of controversy, curiosity and conviction could continue the movie's good fortune for weeks to come.

[nutmeg]

bump

[wardaddy]

I have a lot of "hood" deer here too including some of the finest 10-12 pointers with 8-10" tynes I have ever seen.

But, my neighbors would croak if I pulled out my .50 inline and started shooting them. Our deer here are like pets....they only run from big dogs.

Any deer in Claibourne or Copiah county Mississippi knows when it gets chilly to get smart.

[flying Elvis]

We have an 18 point fallow who'll eat out of your hand and is gentle as a lamb. That is except during rutting season when he's surly and mean. I had to mace him a few times when he charged me.

[wardaddy]

Maybe he "likes" you ;>)

[It's me]

I always listen to film critics. I never see a film unless they absolutely hate it, and I never watch a film that they love, unless other (normal) people recommend it as well.

HA!! Me too!

[kcpopps]

Great post - You have described my feelings precisely. In a way, I dread going to see this movie Wednesday night. It is going to be difficult to watch.

I almost never go to the movies (I do see a lot on DVD) but I bought a dozen advance tickets for this one, mainly just to do my part in contributing to a big opening week success, i.e. supporting Mel Gibsons effort.

I'll buy the DVD too, when it comes out - even though I possibly may never watch it again.

[Tempest]

Wow! geee. I guess this movie really did convert some people. . . < /sarcasm >

I'm almost resolved to go patronize this movie twice now just to spite the freakin lib reviewers.

[flying Elvis]

A face full of mace dampened his ardor, stopped him dead in his tracks. As big and tough as he is, I saw a small billy goat run him over a fence. Locking horns with a goat was more than he could handle.

[Tempest]

I'm sure that the reviewers and their agenda feel vindicated. Seeing as how they have incited the prescribed response that they were looking for.