Ms. Divine Reviews
In the theater, there were warning posters trying to distract viewers not to watch the movie due to its violent content. Also my ticket said "The Passion of C", instead of "Passion of Christ". Perhaps the computer couldn't fit all the letters. Odd...
The first time I saw the movie, I wasn't paying that much attention to the subtitles, and wondered why Mel Gibson was insistent on doing it in Aramaic. After seeing the movie the second time, I realized that this was crucial in showing the moods and tensions that existed during that period. In a way it almost transported you to that era. Mel Gibson did a good job directing and James Caviezal acted his role incredibly well. Unlike other movies, Jesus was shown to be holy, reverential and inspiring.......
This movie is not anti-Semitic. Mel Gibson choose to make a good passion movie according to the Gospel of Matthew, in the Bible. Matthew is a Jew. How can that be Anti-Semitic? The movie doesn't tell you to go and bulldoze the Jews because they killed Christ.
Furthermore, then shouldn't we say the movie 10 Commandments is Anti- Egyptian? Also how is it anti-Semitic, when Christians proclaim Jesus who is a Jew as their God? Shouldn't the Jews be happy that people worship a handsome Jewish Messiah?
The roman executioners appeared to be rather sadistic and barbaric driving nails into Jesus body. So why aren't Italians upset that the movie is "Anti-Roman"?
Even some Christian priests/pastors have said the movie is anti-Semitic. Do they read the bible? or are they just butt kissers or trying too hard to be "politically correct".
Christians believe that we all killed Christ because of our sins. It doesn't matter that the Jews historically killed Christ. We are ALL sinners. It's times like this that I wonder what the word anti-Semitic really means nowadays.
Mel Gibson did not want to rewrite biblical history like most previous bible movies have. (Christ is Risen, The last temptation of Christ, Jesus, Judas). Even Cecil DeMille of the early 20's was forced to rewrite and remove the portion in his movie The King of Kings where Jews killed Christ. I am sure Mel Gibson was tired of seeing these weak, flaky movies about Jesus. I'm glad he made this wonderful movie. The time that the Passion of the Christ, hit theaters there was a slew of Jesus movies on TV.
All of them had re-written versions of history where they showed Pontius Pilate as being the evil Roman, and the Pharisee leaders were duped into handing Christ over. What reason would the Romans have at that time to kill Jesus ? Jesus wasn't a rebel. He was not rebelling against the Roman Empire as some movies claim nor was he rebelling against the Jews.
The dialog between Pontius Pilate and the religious corrupted Pharisee leader Caiaphas was very interesting. It was something that I had never seen on film. Pontius Pilate was also portrayed according to gospel, as a man torn in decision. He knew that if he didn't crucify Jesus , the religious leaders may start a rebellion causing more bloodshed. This is something that Caesar specifically warned Pontius pilate against. Pontius Pilate was under immense pressure from the Pharisee leader to crucify him or else. The actor Hristo Naumov Shopov and the Pharisee leader Mattia Sbragia did an excellent job in portraying this.
Love
Showing flash backs to Jesus teachings while he was carrying the cross made the crucifixion even more brutal.
My favorite was Jesus sermon on the Mount:
"The law of Moses says love your neighbors, and hate your enemies;
But I say to you love your neighbors and love your enemies;
For if you love only those that love you what reward is there in that?"
St. Matthew 5:43-46
"The law of Moses says love your neighbors, and hate your enemies;
But I say to you love your neighbors and love your enemies;
For if you love only those that love you what reward is there in that?"
St. Matthew 5:43-46
After this flash back, we then see Jesus carrying his cross , getting spat and taunted by the passers-by. Yet his message was clear " love your enemies".
When he was crucified, he prayed for the corrupted Pharisee who came to watch him die "Forgive him for he knows not what he does". Even the thief next to the cross was so baffled as to why Jesus would pray for the Pharisee when he was the one responsible for his crucifixion. How could someone preach this after enduring so much hate? Jesus was also continually praying for the Romans as they crucified him. Mel Gibson was able to portray this loud and clear in his movie and much credit goes towards him for that. That entire scene was very inspiring. Most previous Jesus movies just show a very glassy, washed out version of what happened and never even attempt to show the resurrection.
Controversy
It's amazing the amount of controversy that this movie has gotten. So, move over Marilyn Manson.... here comes Jesus Christ. And you thought Marily Manson was controversial. Not anymore, just make a movie about Jesus Christ according to the gospel and you will be in tons of hot water!!!
Why should Mel Gibson be condemned because he choose to make movie according to the gospel. The fact that he stuck to his beliefs, did not settle or get talked in to rewriting the movie is a really brave step for that big braveheart man. I can't believe that no Hollywood producer wanted to back his movie. Strange, almost as if Hollywood is controlled by some sick force.
But despite all odds, Mel Gibson managed to put together his movie and actually release it. Kudos to him for that!! Who would have thought that a lethal weapon dude would be such a courageous film-maker. I hope other film-makers follow in his footsteps to make movies that their heart tells them too and not be controlled by the big shots of Hollywood.
Many people are even angrier that that Mel GIbson has surprisingly profited from this movie, even claiming that he planned the controversy. How could he plan something controversial when this movie wasn't controversial to begin with. Even before and during the filming of the movie, he has been faced with endless obstacles from Hollywood Producers who shunned his movie, News/TV critics who have insulted him mercilessly, even death deaths from fanatics. Most people would simply back off from this movie when they see the pressure on them, and the difficulties involved. It's not worth the money, frustration and crap that is thrown at them. But Mel stuck it out and used his own money to finance it. He believed in something and followed it till the end. That takes great guts.
It's strange how I have seen so many movies where in movies the script would often have Jesus in curse words like "Jesus F*ing Christ". That seems to be cool with many people. But heaven forbid if someone had a script that said "Holy F*ing Jew", those same people would be incredibly outraged. It makes me wonder if at all we have freedom of speech...
Even the media has gone bonkers in doing their best to throw Mel's movie into the gutter. These angry journalists/critics have been nothing short of childish, bitter, jealous remarks and insults. It's incredible how retarded humans behave. I saw this critic called Tom Shales, who writes for the Washington Post on TV. He said that Mel Gibson has reserved a parking spot in hell. This critic was shaking with anger and his face resembled some kind of deranged beast as he screamed into the mike how the movie is anti-Semitic.
Then there was another critic Phil Mushnick who wrote in the NY post and said that when he was a little boy, his friends grandma told him that Christ's blood was on his hands and that he couldn't go to heaven because he is a Jew. It's obvious that this grand momma lied to him and doesn't have a clue that Jesus died for all of us. Or perhaps the critic just decided to make up this little story so that he can play victim to Mel's movie. How pathetic!!!
These critics all have some sort of personal vendetta against Jesus.
It's a shame that we live in such a society where we are told what to think without questioning why. First we were told that the movie is disgusting as it is terribly anti-Semitic and thus anyone who supports it is a close minded racist or religious nut who encourages the persecution of Jews.
Now that those accusations are beginning to look more and more ridiculous, they are turning it into a political 2 party thing. We are NOW told that to be liberal and democrat would be to denounce Mel Gibson's movie. To support Mel Gibson's movie means you are fanatical red-necks or a religious Republican. Most people like to think they are open minded and liberal and thus figure that hating Mel Gibson's movie is the "right " thing to do, since that is what the TV says.
We are told to worship and follow what the media says. The NY times is our Bible and the TV is our God, therefore anything else that differs is ultimate blasphemy. We are told that to talk about Jesus in a positive way means you are a crazy religious fundamentalist. This is what the media labeled Mel Gibson.
South Park made a parody of Mel Gibson, where he was a devilish freak. South Park is good at comedy, but this parody didn't make much sense. The parody would have been funny if the critics were made fun of. But perhaps that's not allowed. In reality it was the retarded critics of the movie that were deranged. Their lunatic high pitched screams of "oh it is anti-Semitic" in news/TV was amusing to watch. Atleast I got my kicks just by watching these idiots on regular news. Making fun of Mel Gibson doesn't work and the devilish portrayal isn't realistic, since he was rather calm with regard to the whole ordeal.
The media has done a wonderful job in constantly manipulating people for their cause.
Anyway I can go on an on about this topic, but the "Thought Police" just might arrest me........
Thumbs up for The Passion Of Christ
Anyway, this movie is a good movie for just about anybody that has an interest in Jesus Christ and who is somewhat familiar with the biblical history of the era. Because it is a passion play (last 12 hours of Christ), it may be a bit confusing for someone who is not familiar with Jesus at all. I wish Mel Gibson showed more flash backs so that people not familiar may understand more about Christ, but the movie is already 2hrs 10 minutes, maybe he had time constraints etc..Perhaps the best way to understand the message of Jesus Christ is to read what his disciples wrote about him in the bible...