Caviezel is almost mummified beneath layers of prosthetics, skin flayed red raw like an animal carcass, leaving him more symbol than character. And amongst such vocal verisimilitude there is only the thinnest veneer of the gospels' eloquence, Christ's sanctified poetry to counter the cruelty into which he is delivered. So, be warned, it will test your mettle - not least in its determination to have Aramaic and Latin as the spoken languages, leaving English captions to feed the lines. Gibson's Passion is a downward spiralling journey into darkness and despair on an unprecedented scale. Ripping away years of indoctrinated Sunday School niceties, this is a film born less of Christ's message of love than a torrent of unfettered rage. A post-match lie-down in a darkened room comes highly recommended. When was the last time a film managed any of that? There is no doubting the impact. You may feel anger, revulsion, even queasiness at the stinging stretch of bloody martyrdom frustration at the film's obvious limitations or indelicate undertones it may even leave a residue of religious contemplation, a return to questions and confusions that scarcely reach debate in our secular times. Willingly, I might add, and with remorse for those inflicting the pain upon him.Stumbling into the light, having just endured Mel Gibson's two-hour pop-profound blitzkrieg on your senses, religious convictions (or lack of them) and prescribed interpretations of the events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ, first reactions race and ricochet like a pinball. Yes, it's only a film and Mel's interpretation, but it evoked a vision of the level of suffering that Christ endured. His film made me understand on a gut-wrenching, emotional level, what an enourmous sacrifice Jesus made for mankind. This is what, for me, Mel Gibson accomplished with The Passion of the Christ. The story has ascended into almost a parable, where one tells the story without sensing the humanity of it.
definitely.įor me (and I assume, a great many others) the story of the crucifixion is well known, but despite the intellectual awareness of what it was, the reality of it, and what led up to it is hard to comprehend.
Was it necessary? As a (recently minted) Christian, I say. There was one moment in particular where I physically cringed in my seat. Yes, it was brutal and difficult to watch. Actually it seemed like it was mainly those who lived within the city, who were probably more likely to benefit from the status quo.Īnd of course we have the torture of Christ. It was clear in the film that not ALL Jews wanted Jesus killed. Anyone who would come away from this film hating Jews is an idiot. If anyone should be complaining about this movie it should be Italians, with the portrayal of the Roman soldiers. As far as anti-Semitism? Give me a break.
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