The Passion of the Christ (DVD, 2004, Pan & Scan)

"Gibson's immersion in the blood of Christ is an act of faith filmed with a zealot's rapture." Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (03.18.2004) I have no alternative but to agree that Gibson is a dutiful director immersed in the blood of Jesus. However, I find his pattern of being either the star or director in films depicting torture & suffering through blood-letting of various kinds as heroic and/or martyring-disturbing. Such a pattern in a person's professional repertoire seems sadomasochistic. Those who enjoy SM, especially being voyeurs of sadistic acts upon willing masochists, could find much sport in this show of blood beyond the pale. Gibson's version & interpretation of the last 12 hours of the life of his own view of the grotesque Roman murder of Jesus of Nazareth is striking, remarkable & wreckless gore. His direction seems to focus upon torturing the Jewish religious leader with more attention on blaming Jewish people than brutal Romans who crafted crucifixion & the "art" of it as a publicly terrorizing campaign through which to control society. It seems Gibson must've used such religious passion to create this film, intending for it to be a tribute to his faith tradition. I certainly wouldn't allow any child to view such graphic display of mortal violence. I will not ever watch it again. I feel quite similarly about all of the other blood-sport films Gibson either directs or acts in as the martyr masochist, who becomes a hero for willingly suffering bloody brutality. That genre of film is far too interested in the pleasure of inflicting mortal pain & bloody suffering, as well as, the glory of putting oneself in the shoes of a masochist who deliberately places themself in the pathways of tortuous sadists. This review contains my values right up front. Movie watching is a hobby I do for pleasure & entertainment, as well as education. I can't enjoy Gibson's work. I find his films so repulsively violent that I don't want to participate by being a viewer. Regardless of my personal values, it does seem that creative art & passion that went into making this film succeed for many who are more well suited to stomach it. Whether I agree with the director's style of expressing his own religious martyr's final history is irrelevant to this review. Gibson went all out to put on this show. That deserves to be viewed & reviewed.

I loved the Movie! Why? Yes, It is just a movie. But it is based on a REAL LIFE EVENT. The GREATEST EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY! The death, burial, and resurrection of the Saviour--Jesus Christ! Maybe you have heard about Jesus dying for your sins. It never made sense. Then let me help you. Watch the movie and while Christ suffers the beatings and mockery and crucifixion and yes, even death, remind yourself He did it willing for you. He had to for you to go to Heaven! For everytime you lied--that made you a liar, every time you stold-- irrespective of value, every time you blasphemed His Holy Name-- G.D. or Jesus Christ, every time you lusted after man or woman-- lust is adultery (Matt. 5:27,28), every time you hated-- murder (1John 3:15). God sees you in your sins as a lying, thieving, blaspheming, adulterous, murder at heart. You have to face this Jesus depicted in this movie when he judges the world in righteousness. Can you honestly say you are a good person if you have broken His Holy laws (Ten Commandments)? You might say "So, I'm not perfect". Actually it's worse than that... Sin isn't just doing things we shouldn't. It's also not doing the things we should.

"Anyone Who Knows the Good He ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." (James 4:17)
There's more... Suppose we could put a device in your brain that would record all your private thoughts for a week... and then play them on a movie screen for your friends and family to see. That would be embarrassing! "God knows the secrets of the Heart" (Psalm 44:21) Well ... compared to some people I'm a Saint (ex.. hitler, sudaam, kkk, osama). Besides, even if you sin just 5 times a day... In one year, that's 1,825 sins! if yu live to be seventy, you'll have broken God's law over 127,000 times! You'll have to answer for every sin on Judgment day, when "each of us will give an account of himself to God." (Romans 14:12). But won't God just forgive me? Try that in court... I know I keep breaking the law. But can't you just let it slide? Only a corrupt judge would do that. A good judge would say... Justice demands that you pay for your crimes. God is a Holy, Righteous Judge. He hates sin! Jesus warned that God, in His wrath, will cast all who sin against Him into eternal Fire "Where there will be Weeping and Gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:42) You might be asking Then how can ANYONE GET TO HEAVEN? There's only one way... If a SINLESS PERSON offered to take your punishment, then justice would be served and you could go free! God loves you so much, He sent His Son Jesus to suffer and die for your sins... ...Then He Rose from the grave- defeating death! You can't earn eternal life. It is God's gift to all who humble themselves and come to Jesus. "Turn to God in repentance and have faith in the Lord Jesus" (Acts 20:21). He will forgive your sins and give you a new Heart! "If anyone is in Christ, He is a new Creation!" (2 Cor. 5:17)

Then read the Bible and obey it. Find a good church to help you grow and tell otheres the Good news of your eternal salvation in Jesus Christ.

-- Jeremy , a experiencer of the forgiving power of Christ Jesus.

Icon Pictures presents a film directed and co-written by Mel Gibson. Starring James Caviezel and Monica Bellucci. Rated R for sequences of graphic violence. IF you are are Muslim, a Budhist, a Roman Catholic, or Jewish, or Christian, it doesn't matter. This is an amazing film that put me in tears. The movie is "godly".

5 out of 5



,¸¸,ø¤ºº¤ø,¸¸,PLEASE VOTE FOR THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS REVIEW,¸¸,ø¤ºº¤ø
* ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) * Thank You* ¸.•´¯)¸.•´¯) *

I have watched very few movies that I truly enjoyed but when I first watched The Passion of the Christ I left in tears. This is one of the most wonderfully created movies of all time. The special effects are simply amazing as they truly bring the events of over 2000 years ago to life before your eyes.

I must warn you that this film is not recommended for the squeamish or faint hearted as the torture scenes where Christ was beaten almost to death and the flesh ripped from his body are very realistic and dramatic.

Also be aware of the subtitles in this film. The characters speak in the native languages of the persons they are portraying which adds a lot to the dramatical recreation of the events.

Sit back to watch this film and be carried 2000 years into the past in one of Mel Gibson's finest works ever.

I bought the Passion of the Christ DVD because I saw this movie in a movie theater when it first came out, and it was so AMAZING that it is still fresh in my mind after all this time. I have seen other movies about the life of Jesus Christ, and they were good, but this one is truly the BEST. No wonder it received so much controversy that year (2004): the story is such a powerful one, and the details, art, acting, sounds, emotions that Mel Gibson packs into it, make it unforgettable. I would say that anyone who has not seen it, regardless of their religious preference, really ought to see it. In fact, I purchased this DVD solely to give to a friend who hasn't seen it yet.