Corporate Line: This film tells the story of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus (Caviezel), on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem. This film’s script is based upon several sources, including the diaries of St. Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) as collected in the book, “The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ”, “The Mystical City of God” by St. Mary of Agreda, and the New Testament books of John, Luke, Mark and Matthew.
The Film [the good and the bad): Usually we separate the good from the bad and let you decide on whether you want to lay your money down. However, The Passion of the Christ is the sort of movie where feelings get entirely mixed and aren’t as easy to categorize.
Twelve hours of Jesus’ life is pinched into two hours of this director’s bloodlust. The first questions that came to mind while watching were; was there some new message to be proven throughout the torment and brutality? Passion was gorier than many horror films released this year. Many times it was hard to even look at the screen. Gibson found it necessary for blood squirting everywhere and flesh torn like many pieces of paper.
You are warned; this isn’t a movie to take your Sunday school kids to see. The Passion of the Christ can turn an adult’s stomach over and give teens nightmares. Passion is grisly and brutal-leaving an ache that sat with me long after the film.
An issue that might plague box office sales is that Passion is in all subtitles; Aramaic and Latin are the only languages spoken. I found the language interesting and it gave a false sense of history.
Mel Gibson seemed too focused on the worst of Jesus days on earth. Why? He lags and lags on moments where Jesus is beaten near death and carrying the cross for seeming cinematic ages. Viewers aren’t given anything to be passionate about. You feel sad, you feel angry, but Jesus’ life wasn’t about brutal pain and agony, it was about spreading love and the word of God. This movie didn’t do any of that.
Still I’m left with nagging questions: Where is the passion in The Passion of the Christ? Where is the love? Where is the reality? Case in point; when was Pontius Pilate a good guy? The Jewish Priests are devils-Satan seems to take no issue walking amongst them.
Frankly: I was excited about seeing this film, not because I’m a Holy Roller or atheist. I thought perhaps The Passion of the Christ might be a spiritual event. Instead of leaving feeling a deeper sense of self I really only felt ill.
If Gibson hoped this would turn non-believers into believers or evokes a worldwide Christian awakening he hasn’t made the right film for it. Sure Gibson has made a striking film with gorgeous settings, and taken on a magnificent task that might have been better were we offered as many good moments in the life of Christ as bad.
The Passion of the Christ felt more like my grandmother lecturing me for hours about why I should read my bible everyday or she’ll stick her nails deep into my skin and take a pound of flesh. Even now I feel the pain of watching this movie-I only wish that pain were for the savior and not the agony of an ill belly. Everyone knows how this all has to end-only Gibson leaves us believing that if this is a box office hit he might be ready for a sequel: The Passion of the Christ: The Resurrection perhaps? Perish the thought.
+ Charlie Craine
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.