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

2/24/04 | FR MOVIE REVIEWERS

[Liz]

All the world is waiting for the powerful message in Mel Gibson's ground-breaking film, The Passion of Christ.

Post here your own personal reactions after seeing the film set to open tomorrow, Ash Wednesday. Passion has previewed in some areas.

Also post reviews and pertinent comments from your state and area's newspapers and publications.

[alisasny]

I am going to see the movie tomorrow morning at 11 am and will post afterwards Not taking my kids ages 11 and 8 until I see it and then I will decide ...

[MineralMan]

"Of course the movie doesn't tell everything about Christ - It is about the last twelve hours."

Yes, I understand that. I'm not criticizing the film. I'm just offering the reason I'm not going to see it. I'm not suggesting that anyone else not see it. I'm not bashing Christians or Christianity.

For me, the Jesus story is an archetypal myth, one repeated in several mythologies. Because of that and because of the large numbers of people who believe that myth to be true, I'm always interested in depictions of the story.

[smokeyb]

I have gotten the chance to see a private showing tonight at 7:30 pm est. I am glad I am going with friends and family.

[Rutles4Ever]

A sampling of "professional" reviews is a bit perplexing:

Ebert and Roeper enthusiastically liked this film. Each acknowledged the violence but sincerely saw beyond that.

All the other reviews seem to be fixated with the violence, and are rating it anywhere from one to three stars because of the violence and their incredible assertion that there is little or no story. What story is more recognizable and well known that the story of the crucifixion?

Meanwhile, Lord of the Rings and Braveheart were both tremendously violent, yet the same reviewers were slobbering over themselves (rightfully) trumping Braveheart's 'authentic' battle scenes and LOTR's 'intensity'.

The media just does not get it. Aside from Ebert and Roeper, the film critics' circle seems to be wringing its hands over a story that failed to reach them on any level deeper than a Tomb Raider sequel. How incredible a discrepancy is it where routine stories of weeping general audience members can be contrasted with a bunch of professional filmgoers who are suddenly disturbed by blood and gore?

I've said it a million times: Hollywood will not allow this film to win any critical acclaim or industy accolades. It is venomously anti-Christian (especially anti-Catholic) and it will remain that way...

[Solson]

I'll be happy too. My 12 year old has actually asked to see it and is excited about it. He hates blood and gore so his reaction will indeed be interesting...

[copwife]

I think the movie portrays the most neautiful part of Christ's ministry. That is His willingness to die and bear all that pain and humiliation for US. We are not worthy.

[copwife]

I think the movie portrays the most neautiful part of Christ's ministry. That is His willingness to die and bear all that pain and humiliation for US. We are not worthy.

[copwife]

I think the movie portrays the most neautiful part of Christ's ministry. That is His willingness to die and bear all that pain and humiliation for US. We are not worthy.

[bray]

However, from my many readings of the Gospels, this film appears to tell just part of the story of Jesus...the ugliest part.

Actually this is the most beautiful part of the Gospels. Every one of those lashes represent one of my sins that he had to die for. In the end he forgives me for the sins I put on the most perfect sacrifice. He is the living God the beginning and the end. I used to be an atheist and found I didn't have the faith to follow that religion and began to wonder if there was a God and who Jesus was. I would recommend going and watching. I have my ducket for tommorrow and am leaving my 12 year old son for 2 more years.

Keep an open mind to God and his love and mercy for you and me. God Bless!

Pray for W and The Truth

[PleaseNoMore]

My son just got home from school and was all excited about this movie. He told me about a couple of young men that my son attends HS with work at our local theater. They were allowed to see the movie early ( one of their "perks" ). One of them has been telling all of the students at my son's HS to see the movie. This one gave his life to Christ last night after viewing the movie and is telling everyone about what Jesus did for "him". My son said the other young man was quieter today than normal and not so much a cut up as he normally is. I can't say for sure as I don't know the boy but, my son speculates that what he saw on the movie screen last night has stayed with him throughout today. My son said that there is a large group of his friends that have agreed to get together this weekend and see the movie. Funny thing is they aren't all going at night like they normally do. They are all getting together for the 10:00AM matinee Saturday morning. My family will be seeing this tomorrow night with our church. I can't wait.

[per loin]

I can't imagine that it would be any interest to anyone but a Christian.

I'm not a Christian. Neither are the others who are going with me to the noon showing tomorrow.

[AlbionGirl]

It seems that some people who have no interest in seeing this movie just can't resist dropping inflammatory posts into these threads.

Just a suggestion, but as a kick-off to the season of Lent, and the attendant pressure it puts on all Christians to act in a Christian manner, and to offer up sacrifice, let all of us Christians who are willing refuse to engage those hurling the insults or seeking to enflame.

It's as simple as not responding; granted, not altogether easy to do but worth it in the end. This non-respnse has a two-fold advantage: it strengthens the will and the mind of the person refusing to trade insult for insult, and it leaves the insulter soley sullied.

Again, just my 0.02 worth, and is certainly what I intend to do. Unless there is a flagrant abuse of civility, don't appeal to the moderators, let the dead bury the dead.

[BreitbartSentMe]

Does it qualify if we just respond with a message that says, "I gave up flaming for Lent"?

[dixierose]

WOW! What a great post!

[Theo]

... this film appears to tell just part of the story of Jesus ... the ugliest part....

... and the most beautiful part. That's one of the greatest marvels and mysteries about "the cross" -- in it we see both the wrath of God against sin, but also the gracious love of God toward people like me who've fallen very short.

When I watch the film this weekend, I will be thinking of what kindness the Lord has shown by taking the punishment I have earned for my rebelliousness and selfishness.

[Liz]

Movie Review: Mel Gibson`s Passion
SeaMax News | 2/24/2004 | Fr. Michael Reilly


If art conveys beauty, truth, and powerful emotions, then Mel Gibson is the Michelangelo of the twenty-first century.

Gibson and his crew used powerful imagery, artistic imagination, and expert cinematography to accurately portray the sufferings of Jesus as recounted in the Gospels and in tradition.

"It is as it was," in the words of Pope John Paul II. The movie opens with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsamane and concludes with his resurrection.

Some pointed features:

• To emphasize the centrality of Jesus' passion, the rest of Jesus' life is recounted only in flashbacks. For example, as Jesus is forgiving the Roman soldiers who brutalized him, there is a flashback to Jesus teaching about love of enemies.

• As the Stations of the Cross reflect Jesus' suffering through the eyes of Mary, Gibson shows us Mary's reaction to everything that happens to Jesus. After Jesus, Mary is the most important person in the film.

• Gibson shows the devil moving behind the scenes to engineer the death of the Messiah, only to be duped into engineering his own defeat.

• Unique details from each of the four gospels are used as well as unique details from the Stations of the Cross, such as Jesus meeting his mother, Veronica wiping his face with her veil, and his several falls while carrying the cross. This allows for a very rich portrait of the Passion that can touch many people.

Who is guilty of the crime of killing Christ? Everyone. The devil orchestrates it. Judas betrays him. Peter denies him. The leaders of the Jews hand him over. Pilate orders it and the Roman soldiers carry it out with fierce brutality. But Gibson emphasizes that the guilt extends beyond the characters in the movie to each of us as we kill Christ with our sins. Mel actually holds the nail which pierces Jesus’ hand.

Will this film inspire ant-Semitism? I can't see how. The film evokes deep and powerful emotions, but anger and hatred are not among them. No one who watches this film could be moved to hatred of anyone, but rather the viewer is moved to practice Jesus’ message of love.

Are the Jewish leaders the villains? Caiphas the High Priest and his cohorts are villains, but Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea defend Jesus at his trial. Gibson also embellishes the role of Simon of Cyrene, a Jew who helps Jesus carry the cross and is visibly moved by Jesus’ suffering.

In point of fact, the sheer brutality and sadism of the Roman soldiers is far more striking than the role of the Jewish leaders.

In short, Mel Gibson has given us a very moving and powerful image of Jesus’ crucifixion and death, a portrait that will make a deep and lasting impression for generations to come.

[PoisedWoman]

I saw The Passion last night and wrote the following to a close friend who's debating whether to go. Here are my comments...I'm not going to debate your comments on my comments, so just take them as my opinion and personal reactions and move on, please.

I'd seen the hour-long special The Making of the Passion before seeing the movie....good thing I knew about plastic wounds and hands being nailed, or I'd have left or barfed or both. Definitely deserves that R rating. Do NOT bring the children.

However, I give Gibson an A+ for art direction, which always makes or breaks a movie for me. . He talked in "Making" about being taken with Caravaggio, running around Rome viewing all of his paintings--exactly what I'd done in Rome too. Some are in dank little churches where you have to put a lira in a meter to get three minutes of light shining on them. But the hassle was worth it every time. Same with the movie. Somehow Mel brought forth Caravaggio as his art director.....visually it's arresting with impossibly luminous faces coming out of the blackness that envelops all of us.

Also, his depiction of Satan is the smartest I've ever seen.....and has meaning for me that I'll explore for a long time. No horns, nothing too obvious ----A shade, a shadow, seduction oozing from every pore saying you can't, you don't need to, when you know you must to fulfill your personal destiny, to use your God-given gifts, to become what you know in your heart you were meant to be. That ever-present negative inner voice so subtle and pervasive you are not aware how it runs your life. Writer's block and more. Thank you, Mel.

I tuned out of the scourgings beatings and crucifixion scenes..though my friend in the next seat was fully engaged emotionally. But she always is and I'm not. But who said religion was about emotion? I was actually quite detached.

Today, detachment is uppermost in my mind. How did I manage that? ...Detachment is sometimes a good quality but I think I've taken it to extremes during this long life and it's produced avoidance, cost me much. Hmmmm.. apparently the movie reaches into deep corners of one's psyche, churns up long-buried stuff, shines perhaps a ray of different understanding on it.

Might be interesting to poll an audience 24-hours after viewing this film to see where it really took them. I think it will have some deep effect on everyone.

The sturm und drang about Jews is ridiculous and totally misses the point. It's probably intended to deflect attention away from the point, come to think of it.

The point for me IS the churning. The movie, the death of Jesus will churn everyone's soul. Today I examine my ongoing engagement in some inner tug of war between urges, whisperings, hopes, fears, loves, hates, darkness and light I grapple with in trying to live out my life, sometimes but not always striving to be the best person I can be. Almost always, the positive and negative balance perfectly at 50-50, leaving me stranded and ineffective. And detached. .....Wouldn't it be wonderful if God would help? Dare I ask? I might if I believed that God loves me . After long, serious religious education, I'm not so sure. The problem has always been that dark, heavy, oppressive GUILT that the Passion was MY personal fault.

I wish the movie had started with the Last Supper, shown more miracles, and lasted two minutes longer to depict the Resurrection more fully. Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus, was amazingly convincing as one who loved humanity in scenes with his mother and the apostles. Being whipped, scourged, and crucified for us has always turned me off.....what a peculiar way to demonstrate love.

[slouch-no-more]

I saw the movie last night. I'll state for the record that I am a baptised believer in Christ, and I saw the movie with my wife and 16 year old son and his girlfriend of the same age.

The theater was packed - in fact, so many showed up for this pre-viewing that the cinema operator (in a mall) had to open another of it's theaters to capture the overflow.

The movie was graphic, intense, breathtaking, and brutal. I'm sure that all of these adjectives could be applied to the actual event. Yes, the movie covers the last twelve hours of Jesus' life, starting in the Garden of Gethsemene and ending with his resurrection. What happens in between... well, you just have to see it. I recommend that if you have young children (younger than 13, at least) you do not take them. Watch it first as a parent, then decide if your youngster is mentally and emotionally equipped to see it. By watching it first, you can anticipate questions and reactions. Be forewarned - this could be a scary thing for young kids..

During the movie, the scenes transition from the "present" to memories of Jesus' "past". The "present" scenes are horrific, and the "past" scenes are more or less peaceful. Often, when the movie shifts from the "past" to the "present", it happens so abrubtly and with such force that you literally jerk in your seat or cry out. This happened several times to me and to people around me in the movie.

Satan is depicted in a very interesting way - androgenous. You'll just have to see it - the evil one definitely eminates evil.

By the end of the movie I was drained - emotionally spent. Many were in tears. There was some scattered applause, but more than anything wlse, there was a sense of shock, awe, and stunned silence. For me, as a Christian, I sat there out of breath; transfixed by the horror of what Jesus did out of his love for me.

At the end of the show, a couple of guys with guitars came to the front of the theater and led us in a series of praise songs. The singing was subdued but heartfelt. Praise and adoration were definitely being lifted to the One who made us, in thanks for His son our Lord.

E-mail me if you have specific questions, and I'll answer in a day or so..

Hope this helps and God bless!

[Hank Kerchief]

Such a strange way to Save the world.

Yes! Very.

Try this link: Passion Prattle

Hank

[PleaseNoMore]

I have no words...wow...