The Passion of the Christ

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Well, I just got back from seeing the movie, and I honestly have to say that I wasn't prepared for how emotional it was. People were screaming in the theatre and sobbing. I personally didn't cry, but I am one of those people who'll bawl about it days later.

I for one think that Mel Gibson did a pretty good job in his portrayal. Was it gory and painful to watch? Yes. But you know, being crucified is in and of itself a gory and painful way to die. That's not even including the other things that happened.

Even though I think this movie definitely serves its purpose, I don't think that I can ever watch it again. I've been in Sunday school and youth group classes that have detailed how terrible that last day must have been, but after seeing it once, I don't think I could take it again.

Edited to talk about merchandising:
I don't think that the movie was planned with merchandising in mind. But like someone else said, it is a movie, and in most cases someone is planning another way to make money off of the film outside of ticket sales.

[ 03-06-2004: Message edited Tia Karina ]
 
The Passion of the Christ is the most moving and life changing film I have ever seen. It's more than just a movie. It's one of the most, if not the most, vivid and closest portrayal of what Jesus went through for all of us. Each and Everyone of us. The sins of the world were upon him. Man, I saw it last wednesday, and I am still in awe. I know there is no way we can ever fully comprehend what he went through for us, but the depiction by Mel Gibson allows us to somehow sort of grasp the amount of unconditional love he has for us. I encourage all to see this movie.

Thanks Jesus.
 
Did Mel belittle the Holocaust? I didn't hear that. If he did then boo for him. However, I know for a fact he isn't anti-Semite. If he is, he's pretty hypocritical since he cast a Jewish actress to play Mary and she has relatives who were in the Holocaust.
 
I had no interest in this movie originally, but after hearing all the hype I now find myself curious about it. And honestly, I'm more interested in the artistic perspective (the techniques he uses etc.,) than the message the film will be sending.

As far as Mel Gibson's interview. I watched it and don't understand where some people are getting ideas that he appeared "fanatical" or "almost fanatical" concerning his religion. Granted, I didn't agree with some of what he said, namely when he stated that his religion is the easiest way to get to heaven (for one), but I didn't think his views were necessarily fanatical. It's been my experience, in being around many types of religious people throughout my life is that many believe their way is the "only way" or the "right" way to get to heaven or paradise, but they weren't fanatical.
 
See I thought that was it...but when I was reading it in my Bible it didn't hit me as hard...I dunno. But it's definitely it

Thanks

Lyndsey
 
I'm definitely intrigued by this movie and will probably see it in the theater. I'm also curious to hear what Mel Gibson has to say on Primetime. Thanks for the info on the date switch - I wouldn't want to miss the interview.
 
Hmm...yet no one has really addressed the questions I and others posted on the middle of this page...

I think it's an important one and needs to be answered.
 
It's not about the Holocaust, but it has been accused of being anti-Semetic. If Mel is an anti-Semite, many people may not want to see the movie, that's all. If he didn't want to talk about it, he should have just said so. Belittling it like that is a real slap in the face to people who went through it.
 
For those of you who are non-Christians, here is what it's all about. This is John chapter 14, and John chapter 15 verses 1-17 from the Bible.


Jesus, the Way to the Father

"Don't be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know where I am going and how to get there."
"No, we don't know, Lord," Thomas said. "We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had known who I am, then you would have known who my Father is. From now on you know him and have seen him!"
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied."
Jesus replied, "Philip, don't you even yet know who I am, even after all the time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him? Don't you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I say are not my own, but my Father who lives in me does his work through me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of what you have seen me do.
"The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father. Yes, ask anything in my name, and I will do it!

Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit

"If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans--I will come to you. In just a little while the world will not see me again, but you will. For I will live again, and you will, too. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who obey my commandments are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them, and I will love them. And I will reveal myself to each one of them."
Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but the other disciple with that name) said to him, "Lord, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us and not to the world at large?"
Jesus replied, "All those who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and live with them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not do what I say. And remember, my words are not my own. This message is from the Father who sent me. I am telling you these things now while I am still with you. But when the Father sends the Counselor as my representative--and by the Counselor I mean the Holy Spirit--he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I myself have told you.
"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid. Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen.
"I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going.

This part talks about how to live the Christian life.

Jesus, the True Vine

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.
"Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father.
"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey me, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father and remain in his love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you. And here is how to measure it--the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends. You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. I command you to love each other."

[ 02-17-2004: Message edited DSP ]
 
I saw this movie and it is AMAZING...

now, I am a Christian, and I cried during the entire thing, it was so powerful... I think that even if
you aren't a religious person you'll be moved and you SHOULD SEE IT!!!

it's beautiful... the shots are amazing, the color is wonderful, the soundtrack is gorgeous... it's
very impressive, even if you don't believe what's happening on the screen...

the only thing I can say is that there is a lot of blood in it... it's very bloody and if you're
squeamish, then you might not want to see it... but it's incredible and I'm looking forward to
seeing it again...

Lashyre
 
No one said a word in the theatre. No one spoke when leaving. You could hear people crying.

I literally feel emotionally drained, the movie had that much of an affect on me.
 
Wow, nothing like religion to spark a good controversy as well as ticket sales.
Who remembers The Last Temptation of Christ with Willem DaFoe? Or something a silly as Kevin Smith's Dogma? Of course I'm not comparing either film, especially not the last one to TPOTC , but I will compare the controversy. I'm simply suggesting that movies like this--if marketed with a "Historical" theme- will not sell nearly as many tickets as those marketed with a "Religious" theme which will always bring controversy by some group.

Good luck to Mel Gibson. I think this picture will do very well at the box-office but after seeing him interviewed on a Behind the Scenes on PAX last night-I truly belive that the $$ was not his motivation. Kudos to the cast who spent a lot of time learning the Roman language. This should be a spectaular piece of film.
 
I have no problem with the merchandising. No matter the message, it is a movie. A blockbuster movie at that, so of course there's going to be items out there that can be purchased in relation to it. IMO, it's no different than many of the tele - evangelist as well as other religious outlets who sale various different products (books, mugs, special bibles etc.,) to bring money to them and their ministry.
 
Yeah, it's Jim Caviezel. You may know him from The Count of Monte Cristo, High Crimes, Angel Eyes, Pay It Forward, and Frequency.

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I am not religious, AT ALL, but I can't wait to see this movie!
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Sasha
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[ 02-12-2004: Message edited S.A.S.H.A. ]
 
Dark Noon

The "is as it was" is what is causing all the controversy.

If you read the article, the main problem -- aside from the fact that it portrays the Jewish Temple Leaders as "selling out Jesus" to save their own skin (more or less) -- Is that some church leaders don't like the fact that Mel Gibson took the four books of The Passion and basically "crammed" them together.

According to some, many believe that each book is its own interpretation and doing what Mel did with the movie was not the best way to present "The Passion" as each one is supposed to be taken as a separate account.

As an example, it'd be like taking Tom Clancy and Jack London and trying to tell the same story. Each would be VERY different from one another, even though it's still the same story.

I for one am definitely interested in what Mel has to say on Monday because another part of the controversy that some are asking is (to be blunt) did Mel "flip his lid" when he made this movie because here is (like I stated above) a well-known, A-List actor who is taking a relgious stance on something he believes in... But that might actually offend a lot of people -- Rather, the RISK of offending some people -- And was it such a good choice for Mel to do this at this time (in both his career and with what's going on with Bush, the Catholic Church and how Christians are viewed with what's going on in the Middle East with Iraq)?

It'll be interesting to see what he has to say.
 
*Juli* Glad you like the movie!! It left me speechless too!

\m/beefshake-weezer\m/ Is it this: But he was piereced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53: 5??? I'm not sure! It's a guess!
 
I think if Mel started making comments on how he totally disagrees with his father about the Holocaust, the public would feel free to interpret it as some big argument between the two. Like someone said earlier, Mel loves his father...whether or not he agrees with everything he says. Is that weak of Mel? Probably but I'm not gonna look down on him for doing that. He simply isn't willing to talk about it. Also, his relationship with his father has nothing to do with the movie. The movie's about Jesus' suffering and death, not the Holocaust.
 
I really want to see this movie it looks really good. They have a intreview with Mel on 20/20 tonight. I'm going to see this either next thrusday or sunday.
 
Well, I am ready to see this movie if only to support Mel Gibson. I realize that he is pretty much set for life in the money department, but it takes a lot of cojones to put 25 million of your own dollars into something like this. The fact that he hasn't bowed (much) in the face of all this criticism is simply another plus in my book. It's about time that someone had the fortitude to refuse to give in to the PC-police.

As for all the anti-Semitic talk, I am personally tired of it. The simple act of watching a movie should not be enough to push someone to go out and commit violence. If it is, that person is obviously a bit deranged in the first place. I think that religion just happens to be the hot button topic of the moment, and this movie is drawing criticism because of it. If it had been released a couple of years ago, I doubt that there would be this firestorm surrounding it. To say that fanatics could use this movie to do anything is kind of absurd. I can see an argument for anti-Semitics using it, but how exactly could a Muslim or Hindu, etc. use this movie as any kind of tool to justify anything?

I do agree about fanaticism. It can lead to horrible things. It definitely has in the past, and I'm sure it will in the future. I didn't get to see the interview, so I can't speak to whether Mel Gibson sounded fanatical or not. I have seen a couple of other interviews, and my personal opinion of the man is that he is someone who believes strongly in what he is doing and refuses to bow to pressure to change it to please other people. As I said, new comments may have been made in the Sawyer interview, but that is a far cry from fanaticism.

As for talk of the war in Iraq, I'm really not in the mood to go into a discussion of that. I don't think this is the best forum for that anyway. I'll just say that I believe it was going to happen sooner or later anyway. There is only so long the free world can tolerate 'terrorist states', and the removal from power of Sadam Hussein is long overdue. To try and assign some sort of religious overtones to it is ludicrous to me. I hadn't heard the comment that Unsilent Majority posted (the one from the General), but I believe it was probably said. There are always a few nuts in the barrel, and this general is probably one of them.
 
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