THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST [4-star review from Roger Ebert]

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | Feb 24, 2004 | Roger Ebert

[AppyPappy]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1084620/posts

Never hurts to do a search

[Monty22]

The movie theater I drove by, at 6:20am this morning, was packed like a Star Wars opening night. It was insane.

People were calling in on the radio about it too. I was hoping to see it soon, but it'll probably be well sold out.

[ALOHA RONNIE]

.

MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-

http://www.TheAlamoFILM.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=39081


2 true stories of LOVE and Sacrifice in Action.



Signed:.."ALOHA RONNIE" Guyer / Vet-"WE WERE SOLDIERS" Battle of IA DRANG-1965

http://www.lzxray.com/guyer_collection.htm
(IA DRANG-1965 Photos, 3-Sets)

.

[concerned about politics]

The movie theater I drove by, at 6:20am this morning, was packed like a Star Wars opening night.

I know what you mean. There was no way we could have gotten in last night. We're going to wait for an "off time" to see it. Maybe a Sunday matinee. That way we'd have a greater chance of getting in.

Mel can thank the liberals for their anti-Christ propaganda. It was 24/7 free advertising to see his movie.

[concerned about politics]

Any other Christians out there who got a sneak peek with their church?
If so fill us in.
I have a 14 year old, and I'm wondering whether I should take her, or check it out first.
(If I'm not sure, I'll have to leave her home and get the DVD later).

[Texas2step]

For we altar boys, this was not necessarily a deep spiritual experience. Christ suffered, Christ died, Christ rose again, we were redeemed, and let's hope we can get home in time to watch the Illinois basketball game on TV. What Gibson has provided for me, for the first time in my life, is a visceral idea of what the Passion consisted of.

BINGO!!! This is what I've been saying all along. This is the purpose of this movie. It's to help us understand what Christ did for us when he died for us.

It's impossible to understand the depth of Christ's love for us if we do not understand the depth of His suffering and His sacrifice.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:10-11
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,
11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

[reasonseeker]

"From the time I was capable of conceiving an idea, and acting upon it by reflection, I either doubted the truth of the christian system, or thought it to be a strange affair; I scarcely knew which it was: but I well remember, when about seven or eight years of age, hearing a sermon read by a relation of mine, who was a great devotee of the church, upon the subject of what is called Redemption by the death of the Son of God. After the sermon was ended, I went into the garden, and as I was going down the garden steps (for I perfectly recollect the spot) I revolted at the recollection of what I had heard, and thought to myself that it was making God Almighty act like a passionate man, that killed his son, when he could not revenge himself any other way; and as I was sure a man would be hanged that did such a thing, I could not see for what purpose they preached such sermons. This was not one of those kind of thoughts that had any thing in it of childish levity; it was to me a serious reflection, arising from the idea I had that God was too good to do such an action, and also too almighty to be under any necessity of doing it. I believe in the same manner to this moment; and I moreover believe, that any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be a true system.

It seems as if parents of the christian profession were ashamed to tell their children any thing about the principles of their religion. They sometimes instruct them in morals, and talk to them of the goodness of what they call Providence; for the Christian mythology has five deities: there is God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost, the God Providence, and the Goddess Nature. But the christian story of God the Father putting his son to death, or employing people to do it, (for that is the plain language of the story,) cannot be told by a parent to a child; and to tell him that it was done to make mankind happier and better, is making the story still worse; as if mankind could be improved by the example of murder; and to tell him that all this is a mystery, is only making an excuse for the incredibility of it."

- Thomas Paine

[Texas2step]

Never hurts to do a search

It might have been first, but that threads locked. :-)

No race, no man, no priest, no governor, no executioner killed Jesus; he died by God's will to fulfill his purpose, and with our sins we all killed him.

Ebert gets it.

[concerned about politics]

Well, FOX just interviewed people coming out of the theaters, and they were in awe. They said it drew you into the movie so you almost felt as if you were a witness to the Crucifixion yourself.

[concerned about politics]

PS...

In the movie, there's also Satan behind the scenes while Christ is suffering. A liberal hiding in the dark.

[Texas2step]

Don't know if any of you have read Roger Ebert's full review yet, or not. Thought I would *ping* you, just in case.

[AppyPappy]

It might have been first, but that threads locked. :-)

But it wasn't locked when this was posted :)

[Texas2step]

But it wasn't locked when this was posted :)

Should have said, "now locked". :-)

Don't know why the AM locked that one and left this one, but this is what we've got. What'd you think of this review? When are you going to see the movie?

[Flux Capacitor]

Ebert may be the best film reviewer on the planet. I'm not particularly religious myself but it's been many years since I've looked forward to a movie as much as I am this one.

PASSION is shaping up to be a true blockbuster.... and it will be gratifying indeed to see such a powerful, worthwhile film earn the kind of success usually reserved for empty, soulless special-effects showcases.

-Dan

[Flux Capacitor]

Ebert, of course, said it better:

----The filmmaker has put his artistry and fortune at the service of his conviction and belief, and that doesn't happen often.----

[AppyPappy]

I'm not. I'm a Protestant. :)

I have a very jaded view of people playing Jesus. Too iconic for my tastes. I feel there is too much temptation to make Jesus more "customer friendly". In reality, He barely survived the flogging (40 lashes was a death sentence in the Roman Empire) and was not able to even be lashed to the beam as was the custom. They had to get Simon the Cyrene to carry the beam for Him.

The most significant event was not how He died but that He died. He left Heaven and came to Earth to die for OUR sins. He could have called down Angels and wiped out that weak bunch of soldiers but He willingly became the sacrificial Lamb so that WE might be Saved. If He hadn't done this, the whole world would have perished. A mere depiction of that is a bit more than I can bear.

[dinasour]

anyone concerned that the movie contains anti-Semitism

I find it so touching that the liberals can take time from their Yassir Arafat solidarity marches to stand up for their brothers, the Jews.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Read the morning paper, The Billings Gazette, and read the reviews of the pre-release showing in Billings last night, and it was jam packed. Sounds like the theaters here in Montana are sold out as far as the rest of the week and upcoming weekend are concerned. The theme of many stories I've read are that there's a hushed silence for 5 minutes after the credits finish, then everyone quietly gets up and walks out the door wiping tears from their eyes. I personally haven't seen it, but I think the movie itself vividly depicts John 3:16 in such a way people who don't quite understand what He went through will be able to understand just what that passage means.

[Texas2step]

I'm not. I'm a Protestant. :)

Lot's of Protestants will be going. IMO, it's not possible to know and understand the depth of His love for us until we fully understand the depth of His suffering and sacrifice.

I'm a Protestant, as well, but it's my belief that too many Christians have a very shallow understanding of what Christ went through for our sakes. The cross has been sanitized by many churches and many Christians fail to grasp the humanity of Jesus.

A mere depiction of that is a bit more than I can bear.

If you don't want to go, I can certainly respect that. I am just a little surprised that you won't be going knowing you through your posts on FR as a strong Christian.