FR MOVIE REVUE: THE PASSION OF CHRIST (post your comments here)

2/24/04 | FR MOVIE REVIEWERS

[MineralMan]

"Oh, I see. So you're a Presbyterian minister.
"

Pretty funny....really! I actually was a Presbyterian back in the early 60's.

But, the Presbyterian church I attended wasn't today's Presbyterian church. The only big controversy in my church regarded the doctrine of predestination. The Board of Deacons felt one way, and the minister felt another. Huge battle.

But, then, that Board of Deacons had a pretty strange sense of logic. When the prior minister's wife had an affair with a parishioner, the Deacons' response was to fire the minister. I never did quite get that one, but I was in my early 20's then, so what did I know?

[far sider]

I meant "Just kidding. Some of us Christians appreciate YOUR opinions in this thread."

[XJarhead]

1. Gibson never said he agreed with his father's comments about the Holocaust. He did say he learned his faith from his father, but that's not the same as saying he agreed about the Holocaust because the Holocaust isn't a matter of faith.

2. I didn't hear him make that statement, but I suppose there probably are at least some "modern secular Jews" who blame the Catholic Church for the Holocaust. To be honest, I'm not well versed in who has or hasn't been "blamed"

3. Gibson admitted that he made the statement, that it was wrong to do so, and that its evidence of him not being perfect and still being a sinner. That's not remotely inconsistent with his faith.

4. I'm gonna defend him on the substance of this one. He's quoting the Gospels, not just making the stuff up. The real complain isn't about Mel -- its about the content of the Gospel. I can understand perfectly his reluctance to remove something that is expressly stated in the Bible. The Gospels may be wrong, but if he's trying to relay them accurately, removing something that is in there verbatim seems odd.

And frankly, the guy has been pretty demonized by some people who are very upset about the movie. There very well may be some people who might threaten him physically for that. They'd be a kooky minority, but its not unrealistic to assume that some folks who think like that are out there.

[af_vet_1981]

"My dad taught me my faith and I believe what he taught me. The man never lied to me in his life," he said, when asked about Hutton's controversial comments.

1. No. In the face of evil he is silent. I don't find that acceptable.
2. That statement reminds me of something he could have learned from his father Hutton. He learned it somewhere.
3. Okay, he is a product of Hollywood and not an anointed preacher, pastor, or priest and need not step down from being an actor or director because of it. Nonetheless he is purporting to represent Yeshua of Nazareth in this context, albeit in the movie genre. Given that Mel admitted he was wrong, how difficult should it be for him to admit his father is also wrong ? Class ? Class ? Class ?
4. I assumed Mel meant "they" to be "the Jews."

I don't think I really know who this Mel Gibson is and what he really believes. I would like to know one way or the other.

[far sider]

Hm. Church boards can be the worst.

Our pastor says most church boards (he's had run-ins with quite a few) are made up men whose wives tell them what to do anyway. So it may have been the women in the church that wanted the minister to go because they felt threatened.

[alisasny]

I just got back from the movie. I tried to go into the theatre with an open mind not swayed by the intense media coverage and impartial as best I can be as a Christian.

It is as it was.

I have no idea how the Academy is going to NOT give James Caviezel the academy award next year for this movie. Perhaps the best acting I have ever witnessed.

I could not help but think about the "anti-semitism" calls going out by some and there has got to be some collective guilt thing going on because you do not leave the theatre thinking anything anti semitic. If you do like Abe Foxman then its because you dont believe the story and your worried that the christian messege is being redelivered and that scares you. I am rushed for time and thats all I can say right now.

I wont be taking my kids ages 8 and 11. Some parts are just too gory and brutal.

[AppyPappy]

Remember that you are only being told when the media wants you to hear. Gibson already condemned anti-semiticism.

[Eva]

Yes, you are right, the movie only depicts the last twelve hours of Jesus' life, but those last twelve hours encapsulate the central message of the New Testament, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. No futher elaboration is needed.

Anyone who claims that the movie is lacking for not covering the more pleasant story of of Christ's birth and teachings is missing the point, maybe intentionally avoiding the point.

[MineralMan]

"Gibson already condemned anti-semiticism."

Yes, he did, and that should be the end of that speculation. Certainly, I have different views of many things than my father, and I assume Gibson does as well.

Different people, however, will take different things from the film. If someone goes into the film who already holds anti-semitic views, I have no doubt the film will reinforce those views. Anyone not already holding such views will not be convinced to become anti-semitic by the movie, I'm sure.

[af_vet_1981]

Gibson already condemned anti-semiticism.

Hillary Clinton condemned violence against women.

[Mamzelle]

I'd like to know how the character of Herod is handled in this movie--have seen no mention of him thus far.

[af_vet_1981]

Remember that you are only being told when the media wants you to hear.

No. I am only being told what Mel Gibson wants me to hear.

[XJarhead]

ifferent people, however, will take different things from the film. If someone goes into the film who already holds anti-semitic views, I have no doubt the film will reinforce those views. Anyone not already holding such views will not be convinced to become anti-semitic by the movie, I'm sure.

That sounds correct to me. The question is whether you shouldn't tell an important story because some people may misinterpret it. To me, that's a tough argument to make.

[alisasny]

Herod is in one scene....he is drunk and obnoxious surrounded by his obnoxious group....

[AppyPappy]

When did you last speak to him?

[cupcakes]

Take care..hope you'll ping me if you see the movie and write a review.

[MineralMan]

"Yes, you are right, the movie only depicts the last twelve hours of Jesus' life, but those last twelve hours encapsulate the central message of the New Testament, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who so ever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. No futher elaboration is needed.
"

I disagree, respectfully. The crucifixion was the final sacrifice of a man who offered teachings that changed the entire concept of Judaism. Absent the teachings of Jesus, his crucifixion would mean no more than the crucifixion of the many Messiah-pretenders of the time.

According to the Gospels, Jesus taught a new philosophy, not just a belief in him. Reading the first chapters of Matthew, for example, one finds a new prescription for human society and behavior, laid out very carefully.

What gave these teachings the weight they needed to become one of the world's great religion was the story of the crucifixion AND the resurrection. Without both of those, the religion would have failed, and Jesus' teachings would have been lost.

So, this film tells just part of the story. An important part, certainly, but just a part.

Other films have dealt more with the teachings, while still depicting the Passion, and showing clearly the suffering of Jesus during the Passion.

An understanding of both the crucifixion AND the teachings of Jesus, AND the story of the resurrection AND the prospective return of the Christ, are all required to have a clear picture of Christianity and the reason that Christianity has become the most powerful religion in history.

It's not just one thing...it's the entire story that is the core of Christianity.

I'm not saying the film is a bad film, nor that folks should not see it. For an existing Christian, I have no doubt that it will reaffirm their faith. For a non-Christian, however, it will not explain what Christianity is, nor why someone should accept it.

[MineralMan]

"The question is whether you shouldn't tell an important story because some people may misinterpret it. To me, that's a tough argument to make.

"

I have not said that the film shouldn't have been made, nor have I said that people should not see it. I'm just saying why I'm not planning to see it. There's a difference.

[af_vet_1981]

When did you last speak to him?

1. Mel -- I think it was on or about 14 .. 17 Feb, whenever he taped the interview
   
   Mel Gibson told Sawyer that his father was approached by a reporter from the New York Times when the film was in production to prod him about his views of the Holocaust. Sawyer asked, "Do you think people wondered if your father's views were your views on this?" "Their whole agenda here -- my detractors -- is to drive a wedge between me and my father -- and it's not going to happen," Mel Gibson told Sawyer. "I love him, he's my father."
   
   "And you will not speak publicly about him?" Sawyer asked.
   
   "I am tight with him. He's my father," Mel Gibson responded. "Gotta leave it alone, Diane. Gotta leave it alone."
   
   
2. Hutton -- I think it was 16 Feb or so :
   "It's all - maybe not all fiction - but most of it is," Hutton Gibson said of the Holocaust in a radio interview that will air Monday night.
   
   Hutton Gibson, of Summersville, W.Va., is a self-described leader in the ultratraditionalist Catholic sect that rejects reforms of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), including the church's renunciation of the notion of Jews as culpable for the death of Jesus. According to transcripts of the interview, he also blamed Jews for everything from the Roman persecution of early Christians to fomenting the Russian Revolution to orchestrating an international banking conspiracy. He urges someone to go out and "hang" Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who is Jewish.
   
   "His actions speak louder than his words," said Zev Brenner, a rabbi who is president and executive producer of the Manhattan-based Talkline Communications Network, America's largest syndicator of Jewish programming. "He could come out and say, 'I love my father, but I disagree with his views.'"

[Eva]

I am told that the film shows the image of Christ arising from the tomb at the end of the movie, so the resurrection is there, but it is the great sacrifice that God and Christ made for the salvation of all believers that defines Jesus' teachings, without the crucifiction and resurrection, Jesus would have been just another great prophet and philosopher, as described by the Muslim religion.

You are obviously not well enough grounded in the scriptures to make a statement as to the importance of the Passion. Your attempt to denigrate the film, as well as the importance of the Passion, sounds a lot like a leftist's, or non-believer's, attempt to turn the Gospel against it's adherents.