I just saw The Passion of the Christ.

[bhunt70]

I'm not religious at all but I have an interest in religious history and comparative religion and that kinda stuff although I am by no means a scholar.

I just have to say wow. It was pretty impressive albeit very bloody, which is not an automatic minus for a movie. There were more than a few people in the theater that were crying out loud when they were crucifying Jesus. This wasn't your sunday school version of the crucifiction. It's a very tense movie throughout, with a few 2 minute flash backs that lighten the mood for a few brief moments, but mostly it was sufferering, which was done very well.

Overall I was moved by the movie, yeah I cried. I think it was because you see a guy who is portrayed as "The Quintessential Good Guy" and all he does is suffer throughout. Thats just my two cents, some people will be vehemently against this movie, some will absolutely love it. I went to see it just as a movie, and those are my thoughts on it.


Some questions for the people who may know better than I do.

1. Who is the guy who carried Jesus's cross, or is that a bit of poetic license?

2. King Herod was portayed as a kind of flamboyant/hedonistic kinda guy, also poetic license?

3. Claudia, what was her purpose or is she another bit of poetic license?

[ClassWarrior]

1. I'm not sure about Claudia or Herod's lifestyle...

But Simon, who carried Jesus' cross, was real...

[moez]

2. Do you have the history channel?

There is supposed to be a show on tonight (at 10:00 eastern) that discusses what is known of the facts of the event versus what is presented in the movie.

[bhunt70]

3. great, thanks.

[HiramAbiff]

4. I bet I am probably going to like the film too

I am not going let the political controversy surrounding it effect my opinion. Nor am I going to let Gibson's wacko politics effect my opinion.

I love Braveheart, I love the first Lethal Weapon. I will probably like this movie.

I am not a Christian. I do not believe in the divinity of Christ. Let's hope the antisemtism doesn't ruin it for me.

[Postman]

5. Here are some interesting points in this link...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=1152849&mesg_id=1152849

[Karenina]

7. Ah, yet another has become

one of the initiated! Congratulations!!! In all the hubbub and hoopla about this graphically violent piece of FICTION, I see an appalling paradox. Thousands upon thousands of Americans are flocking to the theatres, plopping down their hard-earned dough to "enjoy" gratuitous violence on the big silver screen in technicolor in a FICTIONALIZED production with a subtext that is definitely open to question.

What is NOT open to question is that on a DAILY BASIS, caskets are being shipped to Dover AFB, teens are getting their brains blown out and limbs blown off, an entire nation is being irreparably brutalized, poisoned and ripped off and there IS NO FILM AT 11!!! NOT ONE FRAME!!!

What is NOT open to question is that NO WMDs have been found and the rationales for the whole BLOOD SOAKED SHOOTING SPREE were LIES, LIES, and MORE LIES. NO FILM AT 11!!! NOT ONE FUCKING FRAME!!!

And who is clamoring for a visual reference? (Cricket chirp.)

Hey, enjoy your night at the movies, kids. Maybe a few more can check in to tell of their "religious" experience watching the kind of blood and gore that stirs the soul.

[Dob Bole]

9. Dude, this is DU Lounge...

We are lounging. Let us lounge. Chill out.

[Karenina]

10. Please do enjoy your freedom

to lounge. So many others around the world have, due in large part to U.S. foreign policy and the American citizen's disinterest, been denied such luxury. Have at it! :toast:

[Dob Bole]

12. Oh, I don't take it for granted..

It's because of DU-type people that we have it. And people like this guy...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x824366

[Character Assassin]

13. Those who abuse quotation mark are not to be taken seriously

So.

How long have you had this problem?

Ah, I see.

[Dob Bole]

6. W00t...Answers to your questions

1) Simon, who carried the cross, was real. He was traveling through the area from Ethiopia, which might be why Ethiopia was an early center of Christianity. Not sure if he was portrayed as an African in the movie, because I haven't seen it yet.

Luke 23:26
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

2) Yes. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded simply because a dancing girl at a party asked him to. Won't post those passages, they're too long.

3) Claudia is only mentioned once in the Bible, as a member of the early church. So whatever role a Claudia played in the film is probably poetic license. Like I said, I haven't seen it yet.

[Kat45]

14. Clarification on your # 2:

The "dancing girl" was his stepdaughter, to whom he told he would grant any wish. That was the wish.

[Dob Bole]

15. Yes....one big Hedonistic screwed up family

Herod's wife asked her to ask him for John the Baptist's head...on a plate! Surely she didn't eat it...that would be like Haggis, wouldn't it?

[Jeebo]

8. Mike Malloy said...

...that the movie was so fixated on the brutality that was inflicted on Jesus that it was two hours of "pornography for Christian masochists" -- something like that. And a DU poster observed the other day that it was a "helluva good S&M flick."

I see what they mean, having seen the film myself Thursday night.

And I have to wonder about Mel Gibson's mentality. First there was that awful stomach-churning disemboweling scene at the end of "Braveheart," and now this. Is the man obsessed with this sort of thing or what?

Ron

[magnolia]

11. I saw the movie and thought it was excellent.

I'm not a Christian nor do I believe in a literal interpretation of the bible. I do appreciate the symbolism of the death of Jesus, so it was meaningful to me. It's made clear in the movie that it was the will of God that Jesus die...so I don't see any point in squabbly over whether it was the Romans or Jews...and it senseless for either one to feel offended by it.

Furthermore....I'm not going to let the rightwing dictate how I should feel about a movie. I'll judge for myself...thank you!

As a movie...it was artistically beautiful. The message was about love, tolerance and forgiveness.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Answers...

1. Who is the guy who carried Jesus's cross, or is that a bit of poetic license?

Simon of Cyrene. It's in the Gospels.


2. King Herod was portayed as a kind of flamboyant/hedonistic kinda guy, also poetic license?

Herod does indeed to have been a hedonist. What I have read about the film, though, is that he is portrayed as gay. That definitely is not in Scripture, but Mel seems to need to have at least one of the bad guys in his movies be flamboyantly gay, so I assume Herod drew the lucky straw... :eyes:


3. Claudia, what was her purpose or is she another bit of poetic license?

The Gospels relate the story of the "wife of Pilate," who merely sends him a message that she had had a bad dream about this, and warning him not to allow the Crucifixion. The idea of expanding her part, giving her a name, having her meet with Mary, etc., etc., were all inventions of the filmmaker (or the nun whose visions he based part of it on...I don't know for certain).

[fujiyama]

17. I saw it earlier as well...

I can't really add a whole lot to those that have already reviewed it. I'm not Christian and neither is my family, but my mom was able to drag my dad and I to the film. She's interested in religious and historical flicks (though of course the historical validity of this film is definetely in question).

First off, I'll say that this is a well done film. The cinematogrphy was especially impressive. I thought the actors playing Mary and Pontius Pilate were especialy good (though the film is disturbingly sympathetic to him).

It is extremely violent as many others have said. I myself was cringing and I'm mostly desensitized to violence on screen. As a few others said, it seemed like an S and M flick, a giant orgy of blood and gore. Jesus is whipped, then whipped again, then he's whipped again - but with a bigger and sharper instrument. This is one giant torture film. There also isn't much of an explanation for the violence. As Rob Cordury explained on the Daily Show after watching it, "I just saw it with my nephews...They asked me, why is he getting beaten...I replied, because he's...Ummm a really nice guy?!". That's basically it.

Is it moving. Yes, you could say so, but it feels a bit disjointed, because after a while I became somewhat numb with all the violence. You do feel sympathy because Jesus is a very sympathetic character. He espouses the best values mankind has to offer -- charity, love, kindness, and hope. It's no surprise that millions around the world have found inspiration in him and his teachings. Ultimately, I found the relationship between Mary and her son the most moving aspect. I wish more was focused on the bond they have.

Finally, the question everyone is asking. Is it anti-Semitic?

In various aspects, yes it is. The film portrays the Romans as being under the control of the Jews. The Jews are portrayed as evil -- and comically stereotypical, including the hooked nose, and sharp teeth. The portrayal, at times, feels straight out of a German propaganda poster. Fortunately, the Roman soldiers are depicted as being very brutal, but still, the high Roman command is absolved of any guilt, and the decisions to kill Jesus come from Jewish preists (and . The high preist, Caiphus (I think) is portrayed as especially cruel, continously calling for crucifiction.

So, that's my take. I'm not a biblican, historical, or theological expert, but I have heard that Pilate was a much more cruel man than depicted in this film. My ultimate impression is that you will most like come away with whatever you felt about this movie beforehand. It really didn't shock me or surpise me in any way.

I'd give it **1/2