| The most controversial film of 2004, Mel Gibson's The | | | | The Temple Guard leads Jesus away in chains to |
| Passion of the Christ was widely derided by critics and | | | | face the high priest. While Peter and John weave their |
| detractors as a two-hour anti-Semitic pornography | | | | way through the crowd of onlookers, Jesus is |
| horror flick, complete with splattering blood and | | | | questioned by an assembly of leading priests and |
| arduous torture. But among the Christian community | | | | teachers of religious law. When Jesus responds to |
| (of which I consider myself a part) and open-minded | | | | their questioning by affirming that he is indeed the Son |
| people who actually saw the film, The Passion stands | | | | of God, the leaders hit him, spit on him, and mock him. |
| alone as the most eloquent expression of God's love | | | | They then take him before Pilate, hoping to have him |
| for mankind ever to grace the big screen. | | | | killed. |
| The Passion certainly is violent, but not anymore violent | | | | Finding no fault with Jesus, Pilate nevertheless has |
| than similarly rated films of the past ten years. But | | | | Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. This sequence |
| despite contentions by some evangelical Christians that | | | | is one of the most brutal in the film. James Caviezel is |
| everyone should see this film, I don't think young | | | | reported to have actually been hit by accident during |
| children should see it. This movie is for mature | | | | the filming of this scene. The brutality and utter lack of |
| audiences only, and I think anyone under the age of | | | | empathy on behalf of the Roman soldiers is brilliantly |
| sixteen should have a full understanding of the | | | | illustrated. In my estimation, if you can make it through |
| previous events underlying the main focus of the film | | | | this scene, then the crucifixion scene should not be a |
| before viewing it. | | | | problem. |
| The entire movie was filmed in the original Aramaic | | | | Furthermore, Gibson's cinematic genius is apparent by |
| with English subtitles. This enhances, rather than | | | | his measured and precise use of flashbacks which |
| detracts from, the film's enjoyment because it creates | | | | draws the audience away from the violence in brief |
| an emotional aura of mystery and sacredness to the | | | | intervals so as not to cause an emotional overload. |
| subject. Since most people are at least vaguely | | | | Flashbacks include Jesus teaching to a crowd about |
| familiar with the storyline, you won't find yourself | | | | his power to "lay down my life, and take it back up |
| distracted by reading subtitles as one might think. With | | | | again," Jesus washing the feet his disciples at the last |
| just the opposite effect, you find yourself paying | | | | supper, and Jesus as a playful personality interacting |
| greater attention to the visual images displayed on the | | | | with Mary. One particularly powerful scene traces |
| screen, and the power of the events unfolding before | | | | back to Jesus as a toddler. When he falls down and |
| you is amplified several times over. | | | | injures himself, a panicked Mary runs to his rescue. |
| The Passion of the Christ combines the four written | | | | This flashback correlates with the film's portrayal of |
| accounts found in the New Testament Gospels to | | | | Jesus stumbling under the weight of the cross. |
| create a vivid and powerful portrayal of the arrest and | | | | Overall, this ranks as one of the greatest films ever |
| crucifixion of Jesus Christ. | | | | made. If you believe Jesus of Nazareth was the |
| The film opens in the Garden of Gethsemane, where | | | | Biblical Messiah (which this film reviewer does), then |
| Jesus of Nazareth (James Caviezel) is engaged in | | | | The Passion illustrates the enormity of God's sacrifice. |
| prayer, asking his Father to deliver him through the | | | | But even if you think Jesus was just a common man, |
| events soon to come. A satanic figure lurks in the | | | | this film serves a valuable purpose in that it |
| shadows, dispensing a series of temptations and | | | | underscores the barbarity of a human race that, more |
| doubts. "No one man can bear the sin of the world. It's | | | | often than not, persecutes the innocent. Mel Gibson's |
| impossible. It's too much," the figure says. When Jesus | | | | greatest production to date is a film every student of |
| refuses to give into Satan's temptations, his disciple | | | | history, philosophy, and human nature owe it to |
| Judas arrives to betray him to the Temple Guard. | | | | themselves to see... |