The Passion of the Christ

I've seen this movie several times, but just felt like watching it again last night before Easter. It is truly a brilliant movie, difficult to watch at times perhaps, but artistically and creatively brilliant nonetheless. Jim Caviezel is simply remarkable as an actor. In much of the movie, all of his emotion, back story, intentions were revealed through his eyes, in fact one eye. And it all came across with intense clarity. To me, He is remarkable also as a Christian, allowing himself to endure intense physical agony for a piece of film about His Savior. It was a true labor of love. I thought he was perfect for the role, portraying a manly, kind, strong, humble, and gracious Jesus rather than a one dimensional characterization of this blandly perfect person. This time as I watched the long journey of Jesus carrying the cross, I was struck by a few critically beautiful moments that I think Mel Gibson and/or Jim Caviezel captured perfectly: Through the agony and torture of what He was experiencing as He walked, evil literally surrounding Him, this quiet moment of Mary coming to Him, showing Him that she would be there for Him, it seemed to almost physically strengthen Him, bless Him. He was on a mission and He knew what He was doing as God and yet He was still human enough to receive encouragement from his mother. He says to her "I make all things new!" which in turn serves to strengthen her with her own suffering. The same beautiful moment with Veronica who came to wipe his face and give him a glass of water. Such intensely beautiful moments because we can see a tiny bit of goodness amidst the human capacity to hate and destroy. After so many of His friends deserted Him, the growing connection between Simon, who helped carry His cross, and Jesus was also extremely touching. Then there was the scene on the cross when the thief professed faith in Him, Jesus looked almost relieved, like in that moment, despite the pain He was enduring, He remembered why He was doing this and who it was for. The love in his (Caviezle's) eyes was almost palpable. I am very familiar with this story and I am very moved by the extent that Jesus went to stand between me and God's wrath toward sin, especially MY sin. Several times during the trial and torture and beating scenes, I would whisper "I really don't know how you did that." I wanted to defend, to fight back, to shout, "You don't understand!!" but He withheld for the purpose of displaying true Love and providing a way for those very people to be forgiven and given new life. The movie is definitely an emotional experience, not one I would lightly choose to undergo. I respect Mel Gibson's decision to focus only on the "passion" of the Christ, but I really wished we could have seen more about the resurrection and the excitement and joy of seeing Him alive again and the implications of that for us. It is this miracle of new life and a new beginning, that is freely offered to us. Jesus literally did/does make all things new! The movie challenges me, reminds me, encourages me, as I move forward in my own life, fulfilling the purposes God has for me. I am so glad they made this film.

On Saturday, March 6, 2004, I attended a showing of The Passion of the Christ with a group from Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church. We had decided to make this an evangelism event with a discussion following the movie followed by a chili fellowship. A group of 50 (half guests of Salem) attended the afternoon matinee. Flyers announcing the discussion were distributed and several viewers joined us for the discussion. All in all it was a good afternoon and all involved were able to sort out thoughts and feelings following the watching of this movie. In a word, the movie was breathtaking. Some scenes the audience literally jumps. The theater was quiet-one didn't hear the munching of popcorn! Artistically the movie portrayed the suffering as no one has seen it portrayed before. Many at the discussion admitted that it got to a point where they said to themselves, "Enough already!" One person even left the movie (but did re-join us for the discussion). My advice is to know yourself. If you feel you cannot handle violence or blood, don't go. If you do desire to see it, consider waiting until the movie is released on video or DVD and rent it-you can always stop the tape if the action becomes too intense. Mr. Gibson remained for the most part close to the Gospels. There are some Catholic add-ons, such as I believe Veronica wiping Jesus' face which is not found in the Gospels but is part of the chronology of the Stations of the Cross. Some thought Mary may have played too prominent a role, but she was the mother of Jesus; what mother wouldn't be there to comfort her child? Amazingly, I was able to understand about half the spoken dialogue (all that Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic training finally came in handy). The scenes with Pontius Pilate were interesting. Sometimes the dialogue between Pilate and the Jewish leaders was in Latin, other times in Aramaic/Hebrew. I will try to watch it again to try and detect a pattern. The subtitles were somewhat close to the Scriptures. Not knowing what translation of the English Scriptures Mr. Gibson used I cannot verify if the passages were verbatim. I did enjoy the opening scene of a black background with a verse from Isaiah in white text. It set the tone for the movie. There was, indeed, violence. How can there not be when a man is whipped and then crucified? Here the movie did disappoint. Having studied the Roman methods of torture and crucifixion I believe Mel Gibson held back in this area. And this might be the right call. The horrific violence that was on the screen was too much for some. Add to that the fact that the mental and emotional suffering Jesus endured weren't portrayed. (If you can stay awake through it, watch The Last Temptation of Christ and keep in mind throughout that this was a temptation as envisioned by the artist. This might give you a taste of what Jesus endured internally in this suffering.) The scene at the cross was a tad short. Mr. Gibson could have had Jesus pushing himself up gulping for breath just to give the audience a taste of the cruel discomfort on the cross. The arm being pulled did add realism to the effect just before the nail being driven through the right hand. The role of Pilate brings a new dimension for Christians who haven't thought too much about this man whom they name in their confessions. Mel Gibson adds a soliloquy by Pilate on truth where he asserts what he believes to be truth as he sees it. His wife, Claudia (not named in Scripture) does play a more prominent role than she does in Scripture. In the Gospels we are told she sends a messenger to her husband; in Passion she is right there through the trial giving her husband disapproving looks. You will not soon lose the picture of the gleeful Romans whipping Jesus. Again, in our discussion it was pointed out that the Roman culture loved blood. All in all, this is not a movie you will enjoy (even if the ticket taker says, "Thank you. Enjoy the movie."). But you will leave thinking about it and pondering it. You will want to talk to someone about it. If you do go to see it, try to go with a group planning to discuss it afterward, or schedule time for reflection afterward. One patron we met took a flyer disappointed she had to go to work. We assured her she could come anytime if she wanted to discuss the movie. Don't cheat yourself of this opportunity!

In my opinion, if you are a true believer in JESUS The Messiah, and you haven't seen this movie yet. You are missing out on one of the greatest Biblical movies of all time. Especially when it leads up to the cruxifiction. For those that don't believe, or are on the fence, deciding which direction I should take in life. I would still highly recommend seeing this movie. This is an all around well made movie. It is a very brutal, violent movie. Rome ruled with an iron fist when it needed to. And the cruxifiction, at that time, was the most violent execution by the Romans. Definitely a must see movie, the (Uncut) version.

I listen to the New Testament on tape in my car every day. I have listened to all four versions of the Gospels and all of The Apostle Paul's letters and teaching several times over. Paul pretty much laid down the entire belief system of Christianity, after Jesus Christ's revealing what He called "The Good News". This movie, for me, was the most accurate portrayal of both the Authority and suffering of Christ. Nowhere in the New Testament will one find Christ being anything less than absolutely in charge. He knew exactly what was coming at all times, and from the very beginning knew that He would die, and in what manner. Imagine knowing you would die a horrible, excruciating death; for years, maybe decades. He knew all the references about Himself in the Scriptures. What kind of burden would that be on your mind, your emotions, maybe even your body? And even knowing "The Hour", as Jesus Christ said. The moment when it all begins, when He begins to suffer and be extremely sorrowful, is where the movie begins: The Garden of Gethsemane. You all have probably heard the accounts of Christ's Passion, so you know where Christ's Passion leads the Savior to. I can't say enough about this movie. It would literally take me hours. This movie changed my life. It made weep deeply the first and second time I watched it, both for Jesus, and His Mother Mary. It filled me with tears to see Mary seeing Her Divine Son being obliterated. Any parent can feel that, if you've had children, just on a human level. Not to mentioned that She knew Jesus better than anyone. She was His Mom! She was there at every important event of His Life, not to mention the fact that She lived with Him everyday. Changed His diapers. Fed Him at Her Breast. Taught Him. Watched Him. Who knows the Nature of God better than Her? She lived with and watched Him and "Pondered/kept all these things in Her Heart". She was there when he was Crucified. She was there when He appeared to the Apostles after His Resurrection. She was there when the Holy Spirit descended, as Christ promised. She was there and was instrumental in moving Christ to perform His first miracle at Cana. As to the brutal death and violence, that didn't bother me at all. Anyone think the Romans liked to perform nice tidy torture and deaths? Crucifixion was for insurrectionists! To make an example of them! Many victims died of the scourging, and never made it to the crucifixion. I feel like finally someone showed it how it really was, or as best as we can know. Thank God for the Miracle of this movie even being made at all in today's Anti-Christian geopolitical spirit of the air. Much props and gratitude to Mel Gibson. Thank you, Jim, all the cast and crew and producers for the Miracle. It changed my life and brought me eternally closer to Jesus Christ and His Mother Mary. Jesus the Bread of Life John 6:27-29 "26Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal." 28Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"…29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."…

Good movie but heart breaking story how Jesus was treated but I’ve read in reality it was far worse.

Visceral telling of Jesus' last hours alive.

I watched this movie as a child, not truly understanding the message behind it. As I've gotten older, living life and watching this movie over and over again has taken me to a place where I have to reflect on my life and ask for forgiveness. Now that I am watching this movie for the nth time during my Esther fast pulls me closer to him in a way I didn't think was possible. I love this movie hands down. makes me cry EVERYTIME I watch it.

Amazing movie , I love the detail

Prima, snel geleverd en gesealed.

聖書の内容をよく再現されていたと思います。主イエスの受難がリアルに伝わってくる素晴らしい映画でした。 磔刑の本質とは、神とサタンとの戦いであったことが分かります。主イエスの死と復活をもって、神はサタンに勝利したのですから、主イエスを信頼する者に、もはや怖いものはありません。

Per molti punti di vista condivido quello che altri utenti hanno commentato. Non ho nulla da togliere al maestro Zeffirelli (che comunque ha un modo diverso di dirigere e uno stile completamente diverso), ma in questa opera cinematografica Mel Gibson ha davvero superato se stesso. Credo che sia il film che più di tutti rispecchia il momento della morte di Gesù Cristo, caratterizzato da tutti i suoi momenti di estrema sofferenza (come credo fermamente che sia andata nella realtà). Negli anni ho letto molte critiche, sia positive che negative, su questo film. Io lo trovo comunque magnifico e grandioso. Non è per tutti, non per la comprensibilità del fatto accaduto nè tanto meno per la lingua originale utilizzata nel film (che dona molta più credibilità); non è per tutti per le scene molto violente. Personalmente non mi impressiono facilmente, ma una persona dallo stomaco debole potrebbe avere una reazione poco piacevole. Non ho parole per commentare il cast eccezionale del film, persino la Bellucci (che personalmente non ritengo bravissima nella recitazione in generale) è stata davvero eccezionale nella sua parte. Tutto questo contornato da una colonna sonora da brivido!!! Parlando invece del Blu ray, anche qui solo punti positivi: qualità video sublime, con colori contrastati ma non troppo saturi. immagini definitissime e di forte impatto visivo (in tutti i sensi!). Audio meraviglioso, a parte qualche sbalzo improvviso tra toni alti e bassi. E per finire, un intero DVD a parte interamente dedicato ai fantastici contenuti extra!! Insomma, il miglior film sulla passione di Cristo mai realizzato (secondo me) che è stato capace di farmi piangere letteralmente. Amazon fantastico come sempre! Scene violente a parte, lo consiglio a tutti!!

I will not write a long review, but this is a great version as has both the tamed down version which can be shown to families, aswell as the unedited version. It is a brutal film, but it is history and no more brutal than watching modern historical movies which show plenty realistic scenes. It is a film everyone ought to watch whatever faith or not. It is compelling viewing, and the only other movie which was that intense on the senses was The Exorcist, another masterpiece. I believe the reason this film was wrongly labelled as anti-semitic is because the subject matter is about Jewish history and a terrible crime. But in reality, Jesus and his followers were all Jews. It is not hateful to Jews at all, but does show how a handful of elders (not all) within organised religion can try and corrupt things at the top, and misrepresent and not practice the faith properly by example, which is a recurring theme in the history of all religions and institutions, governments, legal systems and industry, where humans, not God, will try and corrupt or will inevitably make errors. Jesus forgives his accusers and never once calls for revenge but forgives them as he says they do not know what they are doing. The majority of the people are following and backing Jesus, and disagreed with the corrupt elder's accusations, who basically paid a mob to jeer and make false allegations. The film doesn't incite any vengeance or blame towards Jews, and to be quite honest, if this film were anti-semitic, It wouldn't have passed Hollywood censors, where many secular Jews are employed. It would infact have been against the law to make an anti-semitic film which would incite hatred, so to this day i am confused as to why people had claimed it was anti-semitic, or why some claimed it was too violent, when it was in context, and there are plenty films out there which really are gory and noboyd complains about the,. This was an intensely emotional film in reality, and that is why everything seemed too much to handle. But it was because it is a powerful story, and even without the violence, it is still compelling to watch....and not to be missed by atheists and fans of cinema, if just to watch for the power of film. The Passion story is powerful as it brings a gritty realism to events in the past, with the themes of corruption, betrayal, the power of forgiveness, and not hating, but conquering death and evil.

Absolutely brilliant book - covers 50 reasons why jesus Christ died and what He achieved through His death, burial, resurrection, and perfectly lived life...for all those who place their trust in Him alone to be saved, instead of in themselves. To Him be the glory!!! Each topic has a double page spread of details, containing quite a bit of information, much of it may be new to Christians (depending on how good your church's teaching and preaching is), but nonetheless it is written in a clear way. Suitable for all Christians, even young ones. Nice to choose a topic, read and ponder it, or use it as a starting point to stir you more to study the topic in the Scripture further. It is one of the best books I have ever come across. Well written and I have no hestitation to suggest it to others.