Dir. Mel Gibson
�Of course I would dear. But do you know what would make it even better? If we could also see his mother watch the whole thing, and have her know that it�s his destiny.�
�Oh yeah, that would be great. It really won�t be worth our time, though, if it didn�t have more gore than a hack �n� slash movie.�
�True, true. You know, if we could find a movie to fit all those criteria, we could bring the kids.�
If this sounds like a conversation you could have, I�ve got a movie for you to see.
I realize that makes it sound like I hate the movie. Nothing can be further from the truth; it�s an incredibly powerful movie. I think it is wonderful and fantastic, and very, very emotional. Although I personally don�t believe in the Christian mythology, I look upon this as a very moving story. It�s also very hard to watch. Not only do you get to see a man horribly brutalized, but you get to see people who love him stand by and witness each atrocity, tears streaming down their faces, unable to stop it, and unable to look away. It�s gut wrenching.
The actors are amazing. Every single one of them is speaking a language that has been dead for centuries. (It is subtitled in English. I know at one point they weren�t going to do that, but the subtitles are there.) They do a beautiful job drawing you into their world, helped by costumes and scenery. The person who plays Satan is astonishing. The woman who plays Mary is heartbreaking. The woman who plays Mary Magdalene is underused. The man who plays John is mesmerizing. The man who plays Jesus is gripping.
I have heard that this movie is anti-Semitic. I can see why. I think it could easily be interpreted that way or just as easily not be. The most power-hungry, vicious, malignant men in this movie are high-ranking Jews. These are the men who look at the broken bloody body of Jesus, and demand crucifixion, over the objection of the roman governor. But the men are men of power, and power corrupts, especially when it�s threatened -- that doesn�t have anything to do with what faith those men are, I think it boils down to humanity. The people in the mob are Jewish, and delight in the suffering they are causing this man. However, mobs are never made up of people. They are made up of a horde of the darkest, worst emotions and instincts in man, and that can make humans do things that even animals would never do � and some animals eat their young. I am sure some people point to the biblical treatment of Christ as a reason to hate Jews and rejoice that this movie is going to confirm that attitude for them. Those people, however, are idiots who are looking for any excuse to hate, and will of course find many. Ironically, this is exactly the attitude the man they worship preached against. So who cares what idiots think, anyway?
In the end, it�s a wonderful movie. I think people who are of the Christian faith are going to get more out of it than I did, but everyone should be able to recognize the great story. Not that everyone should see this movie. Anyone who has a problem watching a man mangled systematically should avoid this one. I really don�t care if it was necessary for the religion or not, if it was his destiny or not, if he accepted it willingly or not. It was still hard to watch, and should/will be beyond some people.
I rate it: Full Price
James Caviezel as Jesus
Maia Morgenstern as Mary
Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene
Hristo Jivkov as John
Hristo Shopov as Pontius Pilate