The Passion Of The Christ (2 Disc Director's Edition) [2004] [DVD]

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 about the film's alleged anti-Semitic slant but no obvious malice aforethought; the Jews under Caiphas 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 gruelling, 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 puts 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

I believe this movie will bring the person and death of Jesus Christ to our nation like few others have done in the past. Though embellished by Gibson in a few parts, it is a substantially more accurate account and vivid depiction of what Jesus endured during the last hours of His earthly life than most other films about Christ. It is the best film on Jesus I've ever seen, even though it focused largely on the last twelve hours of His life. It was a very descriptive and moving motion picture. Even though it was filmed in three languages of Jesus day (Aramaic, Hebrew, and Latin) with English subscripts, I was mesmerized by the power of the visual message. Do you want to know the Truth about the sufferings and crucifixion? See the film!

The Passion Of The Christ is a biblical retelling of the betrayal, trials, suffering, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, detailing the last 12 hours of His earthly life, artfully intertwining flashbacks to earlier moments in His life and ministry. The film is a project in which Gibson invested 12 years of his life and $25 million dollars of his own funds. As a director and Academy Award-Winning Actor, Gibson, who is credited with such movies as Braveheart, The Patriot, and Forever Young, explained to our pastoral audience, "I had to do this movie. It was a calling, I did not have a choice."

Nationally known Christian leaders like Billy Graham, Chuck Colson, James Dobson, and Bill Bright have endorsed this movie as one of the most truthful and inspiring depictions of Christ's suffering and death on film to date. I agree. For this reason, it has been rated R for "graphic violence. In this case, rated R stands more for Realistic. Nevertheless, I strongly urge adults to preview the movie before bringing younger people to see it. I think the content is too graphic or mature for all children 12 or under.

After the preview concluded, Gibson was interviewed by nationally known Christian author, Lee Strobel ("The Case For Christ"). While Strobels questions covered a wide range of serious topics about this biblical drama, Gibson often brought the crowd of clergy to laughter with his lighthearted humor. For example, Strobel asked Gibson, "Why did you choose the actor Jim Caviezel to play the role of Jesus? Gibson wittingly answered, Its because hes thirty-three years old and his initials are J.C.!"

On a more solemn note, when asked about the criticism the movie is already receiving from some Jews, Muslims, and theological liberals, Gibson replied, "Im sorry if some people are offended by the truth. The film is historically true, though I did take some poetic license in a few parts. My concern in making the film was to be authentic, right down to cultural customs and practices. Other films about Jesus havent always done that. At times they have even depicted him with blonde hair and blue eyes. My film is based upon the historical accounts of the Bible. I dont understand those people who dont believe the Bible as history. The Gospel writers were eyewitnesses. Its not only history; its the Word of God. I didnt make this up! I also consulted with many bible scholars about the film."

As far as the personal reasons for producing this film, Gibson passionately confessed, "The film was born at a turning point in my life 12 years ago, when I was literally looking down from a 15-story window. Something wasnt right. I had all the fame and money in the world., but I had to make a choice, whether or not getting out of this frying pan was just jumping into another. At that point, I re-examined the Truth. Christ's wounds healed my wounds."

Bottom line, see the movie. Then read The Book.


Hope from Horror   April 9, 2004
S. D. Hawkins (Waltham Abbey, Essex, UK)
24 out of 27 found this review helpful

There seem to be a lot of question marks over the authenticity of Mel Gibson's portrayal Christ's final hours. If the frequent plea from some reviewers is "go back to the Gospels" then what do we find?

We find the Bible, in Isaiah, describing Jesus' condition as so severe that he was almost unrecognisable as a man. We read of his back being "as a ploughed field." We read that men hid their faces from him.

Maybe the real challenge is that we are faced with a man who is clearly portrayed as giving up his life of his own accord. Squabble about Jews and Romans if you please, but the Bible is clear that Jesus voluntarily went to the cross, pushed by the Jews and punished with Roman processes.

So - yes the film shows a horrific process, a lot of blood, a scourging of appalling proportions, but people did used to die from Roman scourging. I wonder how a man could stand, let alone walk, after such a beating, but this is no sanitised Jesus film. The public flock to cinemas week in week out and watch violence and abuse, yet this outcry seems to bring a challenge of the heart. The film is superbly photographed and designed, the flashbacks to pre-Passion a welcome relief from the tortuous treatment as events moved on to the crucifixion.

I would have liked a little longer at the end, just a little longer look at the Risen Christ. That apart, 5 stars for a bold, in your face movie, an affront to the politically correct, an inspiration to those considering this Jesus who just never goes, and will never go away.