The Passion of the Christ [VHS]

Leave it to the intelligentsia to debate the film's alleged anti-Semitic slant; if one judges what is on the screen (so gloriously served by John Debney's score and Caleb Deschanel's cinematography), there is fuel for debate but no obvious malice aforethought; the Jews under Caiaphas are just as guilty as the barbaric Romans who carry out the execution, especially after Gibson excised (from the subtitles, if not the soundtrack) the film's most controversial line of dialogue. If one accepts that Gibson's intentions are sincere, The Passion can be accepted for what it is: a grueling, straightforward (some might say unimaginative) and extremely violent depiction of the Passion, guaranteed to render devout Christians speechless while it intensifies their faith. Non-believers are likely to take a more dispassionate view, and some may resort to ridicule. But one thing remains undebatable: with The Passion of the Christ, Gibson put his money where his mouth is. You can praise or damn him all you want, but you've got to admire his chutzpah. --Jeff Shannon

In summary it is a movie that made me reflect. It made me sad, and based on my beliefs made me proud that this individual cared for me and gave his life to set me free. It was a well done and flowed well from beginning to end. It built on itself the way a great movie should. The editing and story through the lens was exceptional. It was a great technical movie regardless of beliefs.


THE GREATEST MOTION PICTURE EVER MADE   February 8, 2004
anonymous (United States)
211 out of 247 found this review helpful

Although I say it is the "greatest" motion picture ever made, it is not the "best" motion picture ever made. Why is it the greatest? Impact. Of the myriad films that I have seen in my life, none has had such a gripping effect on me physically, mentally and spiritually. I left the screening with a knot in my chest. What, in fact, was the "impact?"

Certainly the graphic scourging of Jesus Christ, one of the most painful and truly agonizing sequences in film history, has much to do with it. The brutality of the Romans, who were masters of the art of torture, is depicted so realistically (and quite probably toned down in the film) that watching it was overwhelming. This is isn't meant to be a spoiler: just put on your seatbelts when you go see this movie. And you really should see it if you have a passion for the cinema. It's an astonishing piece of work, and the acting is flawless.

It has one weak scene that should simply be edited out: a brief flashback to establish that Jesus is a carpenter, in which he has just finished building a "modern" table, and his mother Mary says that the idea or concept will never catch on. That scene is a piece of creative license that I wouldn't have taken, although it's not entirely unforgivable. It's the film's only light moment. From there on, get ready for the most harrowing visual experience in human suffering that has ever been brought to the screen.

[...] Returning to the film, I found the violence extremely disturbing, but not the sort of violence that would breed or encourage violence. Let me explain: the violence in this film cannot be compared to the violence in movies like XXX, for example, which is purely for entertainment purposes in that type of pop-corn flick. The violence in The Passion is not intended to entertain. I cannot conceive a child or an adolescent wanting to immitate the violence in this film, as supposedly has been the case in connection with other TV shows and movies in the past. The depiction of violence here shows the extremes of man's inhumanity to man.

This motion picture is a difficult, painful, incredibly disturbing an enlightening experience. It took me at least a few hours to come down from its effect. Yes, it will deeply affect you, especially if you are a Christian as I am. Yet, I cannot classify it as a religious movie. It's the story of a man who preached perfect love, forgiveness, and peace, and who fell victim to envy and, consequently, was killed for no other crime than "love thy neighbor". That is the human aspect of the movie.

There is also the spiritual: the constant emotional and psychological flogging of the devil, played by a brilliant actress whose name escapes me; the reason why Jesus, called Yeshua, allowed himself to be captured, tortured and crucified
when, as the Son of God, he had the power to prevent what he willingly did--to sacrifice his life for the redemption of mankind; and how he stripped the devil of all power by his death on the cross and resurrection. There is much, much more, but each viewer, based on her or his beliefs, will interpret the spiritual impact of the film upon them in their own way.

For students of film, this is a must. No movie is as powerful as this one. Period. It is a perfect example of the "power" of the seventh art, which is the cinema.

If there is a must-see movie thus far this millennium, it is this masterpiece! Parents should take heed to the R rating!!! It's visually too overwhelming for small children. But for mature adults, highly recommended! But do fasten your seatbelts, as I said. It is one astonishing ride!


Superb, Albeit Quite Violent Portrayal Of Jesus' Passion   February 25, 2004
Barron Laycock (Temple, New Hampshire United States)
147 out of 172 found this review helpful

First of all, let me start this effort by saying how amazed I was by the movie, and by its sheer emotional power. It is superbly shot, the cinematography literally breath-taking in its intensity and ability to add muscular heft to the familiar story of how Jesus came to fulfill the prophecy through his divine sacrifice on behalf of all mankind. The movie-goer is sure to be transformed by the magnitude of the oft-told and retold tale of how the events of the final twelve hours focused on the ways in which Jesus deliberately serves himself up as the sacrificial lamb for the manifest sins of the world, offering all humans the opportunity to re-establish their contact with the divine from whom they had been estranged.

Indeed, I found myself almost speechless after viewing the film, and was not quite sure to what extent it was a result of the power of the film's message as opposed to the graphically violent context in which the tale is told. Herein lies the single criticism one can level against the film, which despite many worries from bystanders that it was laced with virulent anti-Semitism, seems to clearly blame all sinners (ergo, all of us) for the sacrifice of God's son on the cross. Yet Mel Gibson's sure hand is both able and accurate, and the violence shows how carnal man greets the divine, and how we react to the message of hope and salvation; through unspeakable cruelty and gratuitous violence. So, while this is indeed a very violent movie, the murderous acts depicted quite graphically have to be taken in the context of the supernatural events transpiring, as a kind of carnal counterpoint to the ethereal repose with which Jesus bears all of the acts visited upon him. At one point He tells Mary (After he has stumbled under the burden of the cross) "Behold, mother, I make all thing anew!" This was, for me at least, a quite stunning reminder of the godly forces at work amidst all the violence and carnage.

This is a very personal interpretation of the final twelve hours of Christ's life on earth leading to His crucifixition. From the moment it opens in the solitude of the Garden at Gethsemane, one is immediately aware of the battle ongoing between good and evil, as the devil (cleverly presented as a stunning if malevolent woman with a masculine voice) attempts to dissuade Jesus from attempting what he about to undertake. From this it is obvious He is doing this for all mankind, Jews and Gentiles alike, and that we are all to blame, through our unremitting addiction to carnality and sinfulness, for the evil manifested in the world. This is a fantastic film, one that is definitely not for the faint of heart or weak of stomach, and definitely not something I would suggest subjecting a child to. Still, it is a remarkable work, and one that deserves the very wide distribution it is about to encounter.


Compelling and powerful   March 3, 2004
33 out of 36 found this review helpful

I have always enjoyed biblical movies; The Ten Commandments, David and Goliath and so on. This new movie by Mel Gibson is excellent! So realistic! Somewhat like the great film, The Titanic, I felt like I was experiencing this in real time and witnessessing it for myself.

Producers and directors deserve great credit for a real masterpiece of work.

As for the controversy, a lot of people get unnerved when a movie is made about Christ. But as others have stated, this is only a movie, a very good one, but only a movie. It is not scripture, although it does bring scripture to life.

I highly recommend the movie and glad to see that Mel Gibson is prooving himself as a director/producer, very successful at that. Mr. Gibson went out on a limb to produce this and show us his passion. Great job Mel!