Gibson favors gore over drama [Phila. Inquirer gives Passion 2-star review]

2/24/2004 | Carrie Rickey

[foreverfree]

Ms. Rickey is apparently a non-Messianic Jew. Each FReeper can draw his or her own conclusions about that.

foreverfree

[camle]

uh crucifixion WAS a burtal, gory process. PASt performances have cleansed it up significantly. To show it for what it really was, is to reaffirm the suffering and the commitment that God made to us when he sent his son down - knowing what would happen.

the movie is a reaffirmation of faith, and we can gain more appreciation for what Jesus endured only if we see it all, in all it's bloody detail.

[11th Earl of Mar]

The film needs more drama and suspense?

Gimme a break!

The 'problem' is that she already knows the storyline of the movie and is disappointed Gibson didn't start making things up to keep her interest.

Maybe Jesus should have been thrown to the lions in a coliseum instead of crucified just to keep her interest. Or how about an appearance by Forrest Gump?

[Mr. Buzzcut]

a blood-drenched epic more stunning for its brutal violence than for its depiction of the calvary

"Calvary"?

[RogueIsland]

Far more offensive than the film's indictment of the Jews is the extreme sadism of the Roman centurions whose relish in Jesus' torture and humiliation is both nauseating and shockingly fetishistic.

Someone needs to study up on the Romans a bit. For all their contributions to civilization, they were also a very brutal state. The word "decimation" comes from the punishment of a military unit that exhibited less than stalwart character in battle -- the soldiers were lined up and every tenth man was put to the sword. This was a people who found entertainment value in watching prisoners in chains mauled to death by wild animals. This was a culture that punished the revolt of Spartacus by crucifying 6000 men along the Via Appia as a warning to other slaves to keep in line.

I haven't seen the movie, but I very much doubt the filmed violence is worse than the reality of what the Romans were demonstrably capable of inflicting on fellow human beings.

[BigSkyFreeper]

She must have been wanting to see Moses drop the Ten Commandments.

[M1Tanker]

Maybe Jesus should have been thrown to the lions in a coliseum instead of crucified just to keep her interest.

This brings up the point of "why were the Italians not upset about movies like Galadiator, or Sparticus which portrayed Romans (now Italians) as bloodthirsty savages... It could have started race riots ya know?"

CNN Headline news actually had people interviewed on camera liking the film, but the reporter was positivly beaming when she told us (with no bias, of course) about those who disliked the film.

[Judith Anne]

Too many churches have made Christ an effeminate icon, tender, forgiving, loving, and non-judgemental...too many churches have forgotten that God sent His Son to live in a brutal time, to die a brutal death...

Very few churches emphasize in sermon or song the commitment unto death that God asks from all of us...as a result, I think Christians (or CINOs) back down in the face of demonstrable evil--we have forgotten the example of perfect obedience to the will of God that Christ gave us. Some can't even stand up to social penalties for following His word, even fewer to economic penalties, fewer still to penalties of law...which is why you don't see very many bishops in jail for protesting abortion (I'm Catholic).

I think Mel Gibson's film is important for many reasons, but one of them is the example of Perfect Love, and Perfect Obedience.

[dawn53]

IMHO, this quote by Dialup Llama from a thread about a week ago, sums up the critics' views:

"They loved Jesus when he was a clown (Godspell). They went crazy over Him as rock star (Jesus Christ Superstar). When Jesus was portrayed as having an affair with Mary Magdelene (Last Temptation) or as a homosexual (Corpus Christie), the liberal theologians did not object, but took it as an opportunity to explore the misnamed 'historical Jesus.' They cannot stand Jesus as savior. The crucified person is too much for them. They would much prefer the affable teller of parables."

[11th Earl of Mar]

The Italians should also be protesting the Passion, since it portrays ROMAN soldiers as the actual killers of Christ.

[longtermmemmory]

So the Patriot was too idealistic, showed kids fireing guns.

Saving Private Ryan was gorry but ok.

The new texas chainsaw massacer was gory but funny?

This is not the greatest story ever told, it is the greatest gift ever given.

Some people really hate the message AND the messenger.

(hey mr. reviewer, lighten up. Its a movie.)

[BigSkyFreeper]

Here's a 4-star review from Roger Ebert.

[new cruelty]

Even for the faithful, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is too much Good Friday and not enough Easter Sunday.

I stopped reading after that sentence.

[trebb]

They would prefer that Jesus said, "Dad, I've become a Democrat", and have everybody live happily ever after. IMO, Armageddon would have been instantaneous...

[mware]

Friday the 13th - seem mild by comparison.

Amazing, he can not tell the major difference between the two. Get a clue, one is evil the other is good.

[CharacterCounts]

Gibson favors gore over drama

The anti-semitism pitch did little to stop this film, so now they are switching to the violence pitch.

[BigSkyFreeper]

They're also using the argument that terrorists will exploit the film that Jews are the real killers.

[Publius6961]

Another case of "what's new"? In a medium dominated by the once "persecuted" and currently downtrodden perverts, why is this a surprise? Anything religion-related has to be attacked.

A classic case of "if you need to ask, no explanation is possible".
Gheeez!

Just don't go see it. Stick to queer eye for the straight guy..."

[uncbob]

Someone needs to study up on the Romans a bit.

Don't have to study much just look at what they used for entertainment for over a 100 years THE GAMES

[longtermmemmory]

That review deserves its own thread.