The Passion of The Christ, a film by Mel Gibson, tells the story of the last 12 hours of Jesus's life. It tells the story of his trial, his torture, and his crucifixion.
There was much controversy that came out before this film was released. Many called it anti-Semitic, others say it's too violent. And the controversy has lead to great hype for a movie about Jesus. Left leaning Hollywood didn't want to touch it, and attacked it. But in the end Mel will have the last laugh.
First off, I believe that this movie will only cater to religious types, or those who are very familiar with Christian doctorine. The film, except for brief flashbacks, does not deal with the teachings of Jesus. The film almost entirely details his suffering, without much backstory as to who the man is, what his teaching were, or why he had to die in such a horrific manner.
The film begins with Jesus, played by Jim Caviezel, praying to his father in the garden, asking to be released from his obligation. He is frightened, and does not want to die in the way he knows he will be killed. The devil comes along and temps Jesus, only reinforcing Jesus's will to follow his destiny.
The two main characters involved in Jesus's death are Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and Caiaphas, the Jewish high priest. Pilate is especially reluctant to crucify Jesus, but knows with the Jewish uprising demanding this "heretic's" death, he must Crucify him to avoid an all out rebellion.
The rest is history. Jesus is condemmed to torture and death. The final 90 minutes or so show in over-the-top detail the sadistic torture of Jesus.
I believe that the violence in this movie is so over the top, that it is detracting from the story of Jesus's love for humankind. Instead of relying on character development and story to understand and feel for the characters, we are just moved to sympathy for a man's torture. And beyond that you get numbed by the violence, sort of the way you would feel after being involved in a car wreck. You realize what has happened, but shock and awe are keeping it from truly sinking in.
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Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Thanks Tom! excellent job of explaining the film and your reaction to it.
2 - CRO
I saw the movie yesterday. The graphic scenes of violence were quite disturbing to say the least, but the meassage of love and hope that I walked away with far outweighed the disturbing effects of the violence. In fact, for me, the graphice nature of the violence only emphasized the love that Jesus had for all of us, even his torturers, and the movie left me with such a profound sence of gratitute that one man would endure so much for me, for all of us. I highly recomend that you see this movie. It could possibly change your life.
Peace within and without.
3 - bleudevil
How did Jesus'uffering alleviate mankind's sins? Assuming for the sake of argument that there is a God and Jesus was his son, why did God set it up that mankind would be "saved" because Jesus was crucified? Martyrdom in and of itself doesn't make something true.
4 - Ralph Del Rio
This movie is incredible! It's very well made. Plenty of detail and honest in it's effort to make something important to Jesus's legacy. It's long overdue. We live in a time where this film is possible. People are used to seeing tough films like this. Religion is top 10 news these days too. Jesus has been dead for a very long time. His message is arguably the most important message of mankind. His life and death must have been such an enourmous spectacle of wisdom, love, pain and fortitude that it inspired what is turning out to be perpetual lifetimes.
The last 12 days had to be something like this film and it takes alot of guts to try to tell it like it "really" might have been. Doing a movie like this is not a joke because it really gets to the root of most of us. If his death was a walk in the park, we would not be debating this film like this.
5 - Mac Diva
(Scratching head.) Why is it that the most bigoted people are also often the most religious people (to themselves, at least)? Tom Bux's blog is an exercise in hatefulness most of the time. It is a gathering place for the racist far Right. (Who, not so coincidentally, take the cross as their symbol, too.) And, we're supposed to look to him for insights into 'love'?
Bleu, good point, considering there has been more violence by more sophisticated means with a much higher population of victims since Biblical times. Even if one accepts the idea of Jesus as savior, there's no evidence of any lessening of suffering on Earth.
6 - Tom
Mac,
I am sick and tired of your race baiting. Either you point out a post of mine where I say a racist thing, or you shut up.
Just because someone disagrees with you on things, or because they are conservative, doesn't make them racist.
It betrays your intelligence. You are a otherwise thoughtful, insightful poster, and race baiting like this makes weakens your position.
7 - Mark Saleski
i was leaning toward seeing this movie, mostly because i sort of like to be up on big cultural issues.
but this past weekend i saw a bit about the merchandising effort. they're making (and selling) a ton of stuff, the worst of which is the friggin' pewter nail necklace.
what the hey! that's just plain nauseating.
8 - ClubhouseCancer
Rod Stewart's "Passion" is an awful follow-up to the abysmal "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy." Rod the Mod was truly at his worst in this "disco" period. Jews and other listeners are completely right to condemn this atrocity.
9 - Eric Olsen
While the period in question was fallow, "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" rules. CC, you would understand this if you liked the Doors and Norah Jones.
10 - ClubhouseCancer
Woah, I think I misread.
Eric, I think the discussion is about GOD, not Rod. My apologies.
11 - Eric Olsen
These things happen - I just got new glasses myself.
12 - Mac Diva
Someone tell me that Mark is kidding about merchandising tie-ins, please. I need to hear that.
13 - Eric Olsen
Mark is most assuredly not kidding.
14 - Mark Saleski
and i'm not sure of what's more sickening, the fact that they're makin' this stuff....or that people are buying it so fast that the supply can't keep up with demand.
15 - Mac Diva
Oh, Gawd!
16 - Tom
The merchandise tie ins are a little creepy, but stuff like that is not new. Christians, and especiallly Catholics frequently use nails and other sort of things for necklaces. My childhood babysitter had a cross made out of nails.
17 - Mac Diva
Can the spike also be used to kill vampires?
18 - Doug
MD, you are showing your ignorance of monster lore. The spike is metal and would not bother a vampire in the least. To eliminate vampires you would need to purchase the "The Passion of The Christ" Boxed set of 12 stakes made from remnants of the True Cross. Than you would need to purchase the official "The Passion of the Christ" authentic Centurion's hammer to drive the stake throught the vampire's heart.
19 - Eric Olsen
Why does this whole merchandise angle remind me of The Canterbury Tales and the relics of the saints?
20 - Mark Saleski
for some reason the merchandising thing reminds me of when i was in catholic school and one of the nuns had what was supposed to be a slive of christ's cross in this little plastic container.
21 - Tom
Mac,
The spike only killls vampires if it's made of wood.
22 - Mac Diva
Oh gosh, it looks like I will have to spend significant bling bling or go unprotected from the fanged ones!
23 - Daurie
i think the passion of the christ was a really good movie despite all the controversy and attention called to it. even though i'm only 15 i was aised in the church and if i had never belived in Jesus before i did after i saw that movie.