A Religious Pageant without the Good Friday Spell

Some of the more artistically interesting human faces abound in the Mel Gibson's uncannily popular movie THE PASSION OF CHRIST. Filmed in rich earth tones in Italy, the costumes and large supporting cast of Romans and Jews give enormous variety to what is otherwise a rather extended monotone story. One can applaud
Gibson's verismo recreation of the last twelve hours of Jesus' life and like a Good Friday church service the agony of the stations of the cross are orchestrated for powerful emotional effect. Jim Caviezel is the much beaten and suffering and crucified Jesus, but the events of Jesus' brief thirty-three years on earth are only slightly suggested. As with all of the ancillary characters we only are allowed to see only the agony of Mary and Magdalene and the sadomasochism of the Roman soldiers. Little else is there to take this pageant beyond the blood and gore of the Passion. And had Gibson been content to leave his vision there, the visceral effect would have been more moving. Portraying Satan as a morphing female and as deformed, taunting children is over the top and pushes the film into near parody. Yet the fact that PASSION is a moving experience for millions of moviegoers is heartening: there is enough power in this film to touch people's hearts and today that is good.

Masterful. Moving.

Mr. Gibson's film is masterful. It succeeds brilliantly on many many levels, but especially in how its central theme is portrayed, the immense suffering of Jesus Christ during His passion.

How this film presents its subject is astounding, without bias, convincingly portraying the crucifixion of Jesus Christ given all the related available historical data. As a cinematic event, the film pulls in the viewer in a quiet, forceful way, meaning it brings the audience into full immersion of the story, yet is persuasive without bullying or fanciful gimmicky or false sentimentality.

The movie is sincere, too. The only agenda that Mr. Gibson seems to have is to help his audience see a defining moment in history, and see it without adornments. He succeeded beyond imagination.

Also compelling were the performances, especially James Caviezel's portrayal of Jesus. With astonishing elegance, Mr. Caviezel gently disappears and the figure of Christ emerges. Watching Mr. Caviezel one thinks and feels not the actor, not the motion picture, but Christ alone at Calvary.

Given the harsh objections to the making of "Passion", Mel Gibson and his production company showed great courage, and I thank them for taking such risks in a time of such risk-aversion. May you all be richly blessed.

Praise God! For He is Risen!

I have been a Christian since I was 7 yrs old, however I like many strayed from Gods chosen path. When I saw this movie I was not only moved to tears but found my life changing in the most wonderful of ways! I prayed for forgiveness of my sins again because all of what Jesus endured, he endured for us. He didn't have to, ya know? And I now have the blessed assurance that I will go to Heaven! Amen! This movie is very graphic but the graphics are uterly necessary if we are to grasp the truth of what Christ endured for all of us. I hope that you will see this film and that Christ's journey will have a profound impact in your life as well! God Bless!