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Hyde	THE PASSION of the Christ Directed by: Mel Gibson Plot outline: It is the day of the torture and death of Jesus.  We follow his story from the Garden of Gethsemene to his dying on the cross, and see the connections his torture and death has with his philosophies and teachings, as well as his love and devotion. Cast: Cast:   James Caviezel ....  Jesus Monica Bellucci ....  Magdalene Claudia Gerini ....  Claudia Procles Maia Morgenstern ....  Mary Sergio Rubini ....  Dismas Toni Bertorelli ....  Annas Roberto Bestazzoni ....  Malchus Francesco Cabras ....  Gesmas Rosalinda Celentano ....  Satan Francesco De Vito ....  Peter Hristo Jivkov ....  John Luca Lionello ....  Judas Hristo Shopov ....  Pontius Pilate Review: Overall, I want to say this is a beautiful movie, and quite possibly one of the most important films I have ever seen.   It isn't perfect, and we will discuss the flaws. However, it really is filled with passion (no pun intended) and is for people of all faiths, and NOT limited to people of any particular belief. Also, before I begin the pros and the cons of my review, let me say that many members of the media have said this film may be anti-semetic.  This is NOT the case.  It is true that the first 20 minutes contained some material where I actually thought these people's concerns might be warrented (since it showed the Jewish priests so bloodthirsty for the death of Christ) HOWEVER, if the film is watched as a whole, you also see Jewish people weeping and protesting the torture of Jesus, saying it is cruel and immoral to treat a man this way.  ALL those who come to the aid of Jesus, point out that they are Jews.  By the end of the film, any reasonable person should be able to see that the anti-semetic concern has NO validity.  (I felt this was made to be a big deal by the media, and not by most Jewish people I know, because most Jewish people I know actually want to see the film!) Gibson has openly said that he believed the Jews of the time of Christ were innocent in his death, because they didn't KNOW what they were doing is wrong.  He also said he feels it is EVERYONE'S blame that Jesus died, since Jesus taught that he accepted the fate of the sin of all the human race...so he believes we should blame ourselves, first and formost. Oh yes, and for those who think this movie was created SOLELY to make money, Gibson spent 30 million dollars of his own money to fund it, and that is all the movie was made for.   He was already filthy rich, so if he paid for the whole movie to be made, I doubt that he was motivated by money. Pros: From the scurging of Jesus (about 20 or 30 minutes into the film) until the ending, this film is a tearjerker.  I wept during this movie.  I had never connected so many of the events in the death of Christ to his teachings. James Caviezel is magnificant in the role of Christ, and Maia Morgenstern is equally convincing as his mother, Mary. The gore isn't NEARLY as bad as I expected, but what is implied is the most shocking part. It is the acting and the presentation of these events in this dramatic form that make it so riveting.  From Jesus and his torture as a Messiah, to his human side in showing how much he loved his mother, it was a touching and meaningful movie. Cons: The first 20 minutes had WAY too much artistic license.  Using CGI to show demons isn't a good idea.  However, this type of effect is only used for about 30 seconds of the total film. (thank GOD!) A few moments are soap-operaish, and could have been more seriously done. Other than that, the movie is flawless and amazing.  Since the movie was SO good, these flaws become almost unnoticeable. Overall, I give this film an "A" on my grading scale, and say that other than JESUS OF NAZERATH, this film is the greatest movie about Christ I have ever seen. Even if you have no spiritual beliefs about Jesus, you would enjoy this movie because of the story about a truly good man, who wouldn't bow his knee to the Roman Empire.   If you are a person who holds Jesus in the light that I do, (God incarnate) then this movie will do even more to you than any film in a LONG time! See this movie!!!!
Nefud	[quote:029f16bd1d="Hyde"]........his dying on the cross[/quote:029f16bd1d] I thought you said no spoilers.  :x
Surlyclown	[quote:77f20d1b01="Nefud"][quote:77f20d1b01="Hyde"]........his dying on the cross[/quote:77f20d1b01] I thought you said no spoilers.  :x[/quote:77f20d1b01] Dude, [u:77f20d1b01]that[/u:77f20d1b01] is funny. :lol:  :P
PsychoAU	How can you have a spoiler free review when there is nothing to spoil.  The book has been out for 2000 years...  I guess everyone has had the chance to know the story.  We talk about Bruce Willis being a ghost and only waited a few years for that.  Oh, and the chick in the Crying Game is really a dude.  And if you don't know the story already, you are going to have a hard time understanding the events of the Passion.  It is not like they do any actual character development or anything. I love how you try so hard, Hyde.  I give you an A for effort! PsychoAU
BOB1	give him a break it's a very good and encouraging review what is the point of elaborating on the one word from the thread title - skip the title and read the main part!!
Anonymous	There are a few small internal scenes that someone might consider "spoilers."  Some involve the supernatural element to the movie, others might be the artistic license that Gibson took on a few scenes. It's not just a guy dying on a cross (and then coming back to life).
Hyde	[quote:1bf34c87a4="PsychoAU"]How can you have a spoiler free review when there is nothing to spoil.  The book has been out for 2000 years... PsychoAU[/quote:1bf34c87a4] Well let's see,  :roll: being the story isn't the surprise here, but the WAY it is portrayed and filmed with the dialogue and the acting, set to music, staging, use of lighting, and directing is the surprise...well, it certianly could have many things to spoil. This should be obvious to anyone who is smart enough to know that a book can be made into a film by several people and come out with VERY different movies.   The events would be BASICALLY the same, but everything else could be totally different.   Just another post reflecting a chance for you to be insulting and rude. Maybe you should see this movie.   It might help you.
PsychoAU	yeah...  I saw it, thought it was foolish, and moved on with my life.  But the obvious exploitation element has warranted its alternate title of The Jesus Chainsaw Massacre.   It was a decent gore flick.  But hardly anything to take seriously.   PsychoAU
Blackie	Is it that time of the month again Psycho ? Thank you Hyde .. I shall view with your recommendation.
Hyde	PsychoAU: I always talked to you because even though we debated I liked to assume that people simply disagree on many things, and that you simply tend to come across in a rude and uncaring fashion.   However, after reading this post, and the way you continue to try and push my buttons on several other conversations, I realize that you are simply a sad and low individual.   If anyone thinks I am being too harsh, I ask them to consider I am not just using the comments on this conversation as a reason to my feelings. PsychoAU, In day to day life, I hope you don't talk to fellow human beings like you talk to people on the board.   If you do, I feel sorry for you. You will simply hurt and upset people who may be willing to be your friends, or show you kindness. While I doubt this means anything to you at all, and while I am sure you will dismiss it like you do everything else I say, I hope you stop this behavior.   If you don't, I doubt you will ever have someone truly care for you.   Oh, you may have several people you can think of that you BELIEVE care about you, but if they have a mentality similar to what you display on the board, then they may not know how to care. How many friends have you lost that you thought cared about you, and how many of those did you say to yourself, "they were in the wrong" once you lost their friendship? I am willing to bet it has happened to you before. If you go on this way, you will probably spend your life in a feeling of resentment towards most people, and not know real love from other people, let alone from one person.   That's sad, and I feel sorry for you. Perhaps this is all due to something enternal.   Perhaps you don't like yourself, and you think of things you have done to hurt others.  Perhaps your mother or father didn't love you as much as they should have. The truth is, whatever inner pain you are suffering from, I hope you get past it, and stop pushing towards other people. I write this post not to be cruel, or to insult you, but to say that I see your writings as an expression of pleasure you get at saying MINOR but constant insults to others. It is simply sad that anyone can recieve pleasure from hurting others. I will follow other members advice and ignore your posts from now on. In fact, I advise others not to acknowledge your presence on this board.   Lastly, I would like to say that I think you need help. I hope you get better, and I will keep you in good thoughts and prayers.   I hope you get over whatever hatred you have against others and against yourself.
PsychoAU	How appropriate...  I suggest you take a look at Matthew 7:1.   PsychoAU [quote:722afb99af="Hyde"]PsychoAU: I always talked to you because even though we debated I liked to assume that people simply disagree on many things, and that you simply tend to come across in a rude and uncaring fashion.   However, after reading this post, and the way you continue to try and push my buttons on several other conversations, I realize that you are simply a sad and low individual.   If anyone thinks I am being too harsh, I ask them to consider I am not just using the comments on this conversation as a reason to my feelings. PsychoAU, In day to day life, I hope you don't talk to fellow human beings like you talk to people on the board.   If you do, I feel sorry for you. You will simply hurt and upset people who may be willing to be your friends, or show you kindness. While I doubt this means anything to you at all, and while I am sure you will dismiss it like you do everything else I say, I hope you stop this behavior.   If you don't, I doubt you will ever have someone truly care for you.   Oh, you may have several people you can think of that you BELIEVE care about you, but if they have a mentality similar to what you display on the board, then they may not know how to care. How many friends have you lost that you thought cared about you, and how many of those did you say to yourself, "they were in the wrong" once you lost their friendship? I am willing to bet it has happened to you before. If you go on this way, you will probably spend your life in a feeling of resentment towards most people, and not know real love from other people, let alone from one person.   That's sad, and I feel sorry for you. Perhaps this is all due to something enternal.   Perhaps you don't like yourself, and you think of things you have done to hurt others.  Perhaps your mother or father didn't love you as much as they should have. The truth is, whatever inner pain you are suffering from, I hope you get past it, and stop pushing towards other people. I write this post not to be cruel, or to insult you, but to say that I see your writings as an expression of pleasure you get at saying MINOR but constant insults to others. It is simply sad that anyone can recieve pleasure from hurting others. I will follow other members advice and ignore your posts from now on. In fact, I advise others not to acknowledge your presence on this board.   Lastly, I would like to say that I think you need help. I hope you get better, and I will keep you in good thoughts and prayers.   I hope you get over whatever hatred you have against others and against yourself.[/quote:722afb99af]
Threshold_Dweller	I thought The Passion of the Christ was an aggressively AVERAGE movie, and I don't understand the hype and controversy that it has attracted. 1.  It's a very conservative view of the passion and the crucifixation as portrayed in literally THOUSANDS of books, films, television shows and stagings.  There are no innovations by Gibson, except for the use of Aramaic and Latin (which was improperly pronounced by the actors) and the graphic violence and gore.  Oh, and the absolutely idiotic Satan-as-a-woman character and the CGI Jewish kids who turn into Satan. 2.  It's not any more anti-Semitic than the gospels themselves, which are arguably anti-Semitic and have always been. 3.  There are at least three completely superior films about Christ that are widely available - Franco Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazareth, Pasolini's version and (drum roll please) Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ.  All of these movies were every bit as skillfully crafted as Gibson, but with the added bonus of having a Jesus character who was fully fleshed out, sympathetic and approachable.  Not just an unshaven weirdo getting tortured to death. 4.  Mel Gibson is an awful filmmaker.  See the boredom-fest known as Braveheart for proof - full of gigantic, violent battle sequences in which it's all but impossible to tell what's even going on.  Who's winning?  How the hell should I know?  The Patriot - revisionist history and possibly even racist.  The Man Without a Face - the deformed guy was an admitted child molester and statutory rapist in real life, but Gibson's movie makes the guy seem sympathetic...weird.  Gibson is also a terrible actor.  See him swish his way through the worst version of Hamlet ever made in Zefferelli's early-90's version. 5.  Mel Gibson is probably anti-Semitic, clearly homophobic (witness the "comedic" murder of a gay man in Braveheart), and also somewhat of an insanely reactionary religious zealot.   But all this amounts to nothing.  His movie is average.  It has nothing to offer the world.  It's not even worth this much typing. 23
Hyde	[quote:d6eca9f432="Threshold_Dweller"]I thought The Passion of the Christ was an aggressively AVERAGE movie, and I don't understand the hype and controversy that it has attracted. 23[/quote:d6eca9f432] Thanks for your response, but I do disagree. Allow me to retort. First of all, let me say it is refreshing to see someone who has watched the movie, give their opinion on this. That's cool. [quote:d6eca9f432="Threshold_Dweller"] 1.  It's a very conservative view of the passion and the crucifixation as portrayed in literally THOUSANDS of books, films, television shows and stagings.  There are no innovations by Gibson, except for the use of Aramaic and Latin (which was improperly pronounced by the actors) and the graphic violence and gore.  Oh, and the absolutely idiotic Satan-as-a-woman character and the CGI Jewish kids who turn into Satan. 23[/quote:d6eca9f432] You seem to indicate that Gibson's visual of the crucifixion is no different EXCEPT for the gore and brutality. This, to me, was the point of this film. Many people mention to each other on a day to day basis that Jesus died, but people don't ever stop to think about how BAD it was. I liked the fact that Gibson tried to capture that. I felt he could have done ALOT more, being that Jesus was crucified in the nude, the nails were probably through his wrists...ect....ect... As far as the kids and the devil.... Well, the Satan character wasn't supposed to be a woman character (even though the devil was portrayed by a woman)  The character was supposed to look very A-sexual, having both male and female traits.   I do agree that the CGI kids were a mistake. [quote:d6eca9f432="Threshold_Dweller"] 3.  There are at least three completely superior films about Christ that are widely available - Franco Zefferelli's Jesus of Nazareth, Pasolini's version and (drum roll please) Scorcese's The Last Temptation of Christ.  All of these movies were every bit as skillfully crafted as Gibson, but with the added bonus of having a Jesus character who was fully fleshed out, sympathetic and approachable.  Not just an unshaven weirdo getting tortured to death. 23[/quote:d6eca9f432] I totally agree with you here on Jesus of Nazerath, but it seems to me you are ENTIRLY MISSING THE POINT of THe Passion. The Passion, while observed by all of Christianity, has a root as a definative term in Catholicism, and is a particular part of the rosary dedicated to the torture and crucifixion of Jesus. That is what Gibson's movie was reflective of. People are complaining because the movie DIDN'T do this, or that or whatever, when they aren't even realizing that it was never supposed to do anything but show THE PASSION...which was Christ's torture and death.  That's all. So, why should it have more things than Jesus of Nazerath?   The movie THE PASSION  shows the lengths of toture Jesus went through because of his beliefs, and not as an 'unshaven weirdo".  (why the hell do you say that? )   I love Jesus... That isn't nice. I imagine in real life Jesus wasn't very cleanshaven. [quote:d6eca9f432="Threshold_Dweller"]I 5.  Mel Gibson is probably anti-Semitic, clearly homophobic (witness the "comedic" murder of a gay man in Braveheart), and also somewhat of an insanely reactionary religious zealot.   23[/quote:d6eca9f432] How can he be anti-semitic when the person who played MARY in the movie was a practicing Jew and he rewrote some of the script with her influence so it wouldn't be offensive? The murder of the gay man in braveheart certainly wasn't comical, but a very sad thing to see. Perhaps you THINK it is comical...but it isn't to me at all. I have many friends that are gay, and have talked to many of them about this, and they say how ridiculous the media is being in TRYING to paint Gibson as anti-gay. I also doubt Gibson is homophobic, and all these religious zealot attitude and anti gay crap is just stuff created by the media. I doubt Gibson could have worked to this level of fame in the entertainment industry, starred in LETHAL WEAPON, and the such, if he was some kind of bigot.   He simply wouldn't have made it in the industry.   Hell, you CAN'T make it in the industry with that kind of attitude. To EVERYONE: I DON'T GET WHY PEOPLE ARE UPSET AT GIBSON SIMPLY BECAUSE HE MADE THIS FILM. The same people who used to praise him, started DOWNING him because of this movie...but no one objects to the horrid junk made like Freddy VS jason, (which children emulate and admire the actions of supernatural serial killers and exessesive violence) but if you make a movie about Jesus...people get pissed because the media decides to cripple the movie by saying it is anti-semitic.   Bullshit. There WERE some parts that could have been done alot better...yes. AND it is totally cool for someone not to like the movie and have honest feelings in just saying it was a bad film.... But this painting if Gibson being EVIL all of a sudden is ridiculous!
hirri	I didn't find aything that was good about this movie. I don't know how people find watching at the suffering man for longer than an hour find interesting and especually something original. I hated it. I am not religious however I can take religion seriously but this movie really sucked.. Brutal and ugly movie with no content..
cybacaT	I thought TPOTC was a very powerful movie - anything but average! I guess people are desensitized to violence these days...I personally didn't find the movie overly gory or violent.  If the viewer of the movie thinks - this is just some poor jewish guy getting tortured and killed, the end - then it would be pretty lame.  Taking a slightly more cerebral (and accurate) view, and seeing the torture and killing of a God - a God who at any time could have stopped the onslaught - the movie becomes a lot more moving, involving and special. I was really impressed with Gibson's directing of the film, the camera angles, the use of light, the humanisation of what could have been a dull repeat of an old story. In terms of it being anti-semetic, that's a bit rich.  It's the original story, faithfully reproduced...if some jews, christians or otherwise did bad things in history, then so be it.  You can't go rewriting history just because you're afraid of offending someone!  As has been said, there were jews who condemned Jesus to death, but equally there were jews weeping for him every step of the way. Overall I'd give it a 9/10 - an impressive film, and perhaps the masterpiece of Gibson's career.
Danwhy	Religion aside, as a movie I thought POTC was one of the worst films I have seen in the past few years.  Religion not aside, POTC did nothing for my faith.   I do appreciate Hyde's reviews though.  Not many people take the time he does here to get these reviews out and they are fun to read, thanks Hyde.
kittykat	DanWhy, I agree with you.  Religion aside.. parts of this film really bored me.
BOB1	I would be highly interested in hearing some more detailed opinions from those who find the film average or bad. Except for Threshold Dweller who spoke out his points very clearly you hardly go beyond two lines of "religion aside the film was bad I don't know why people liked it" Religion aside, I thought this film was worse than it could have been. I appreciated it more after the second time but still I don't think it was any masterpiece (which it perhaps had the potential to become). Yet it was not bad at all IMO. First of all it was exactly what it was meant to be by the creator. It works the way I imagine he wanted it to work. Makes watching the suffering of Christ [i:f0e68f094e]painful[/i:f0e68f094e] and tiring, makes you wanna stop it. At the same time doesn't turn the viewer against Jesus' opressors, doesn't make you hate them - because the focus is 100% on Jesus, not on the opressors. And if the film is what it was meant to be - that is always an advantage. So why was it bad?...
Hyde	In retrospect, I wanted to comment on this post, and I hope people are still interested in discussing this. I still love this movie, but after viewing it again several times, I has a feel that it was very limited. Now, as a Christian/Catholic, I can say that this film is everything it is supposed to be for me.  Basically, I am going to love this because it is the exact story as to why I can achieve eternal salvation. HOWEVER, if you don't share my beliefs, I can see why the film would BORE the hell out of you. THIS IS WHY I FEEL THIS MOVIE COULD COME ACROSS AS SEEMING HALF OF A FILM.  Take all the flashbacks of Jesus with his sermon on the mound and stuff.  Well, what if there were a bunch more flashbacks so we got to see the story of his WHOLE life, and the movie would have been more about his teachings of love.  THEN, the violence would have seemed more appropriate to viewers, because it could be used to amplify the events in Christ's life.   I wish this would have been more of an epic film, telling about his birth, all his miracles, all other events...ect...ect...ect.. It would have been better recieved, and although it would have been alot longer, it probably would have had better flow that way.   Now, I still LOVE this movie, and think it is brilliant.  I love the interpretation of the Devil, and the amount of gore.  I think all the controversy was completely ridiculous.   I just wish it would have gone more into the LIFE of Jesus and his beliefs of love, truth, and honor.  I understand this is supposed to just be the story of THE PASSION (which is a Catholic title)...but I simply would have prefered more.  I DO think it is underrated, and that people were quick to destroy this films credibility before it even came out in the theatre.
misstwnpks	blah, blah, blah ..... this movie bored the hell out of me.
PsychoAU	If it didn't have all those religious freaks falling all over it, I would have said it was a mighty decent gore flick.   PsychoAU
kveld-ulf	Hyde, may I ask whether you are a Catholic? (Seriously, not meaning to be offensive) [quote:9353d418dd]let me say that many members of the media have said this film may be anti-semetic.[/quote:9353d418dd] Course its anti-semitic, they torture and nail up this jew guy who never did any harm to anybody!! WTF?! [quote:9353d418dd]other than JESUS OF NAZERATH, this film is the greatest movie about Christ I have ever seen. [/quote:9353d418dd] Come on now, you seriously saying its better than 'Life Of Brian'? :D
PsychoAU	Life of Brian had nothing to do with Jesus Christ...  it was about a guy named Brian. :) PsychoAU
kveld-ulf	Oh yeah, silly me. I guess I read into it some kind of 'metaphor'. There's me over-intellectualising again. :-ow
Hyde	[quote:173bd18c94="kveld-ulf"]Hyde, may I ask whether you are a Catholic? (Seriously, not meaning to be offensive) [/quote:173bd18c94] Not offended at all. Yes, but I am a very PROGRESSIVE Catholic.  (meaning I want to see things like Women Priests and birth control allowed by the Church)
BOB1	[quote:1f8f1844c5="BOB1"]I would be highly interested in hearing some more detailed opinions from those who find the film average or bad.[/quote:1f8f1844c5] [quote:1f8f1844c5]blah, blah, blah ..... this movie bored the hell out of me.[/quote:1f8f1844c5] tjaa... it's not [i:1f8f1844c5]exactly[/i:1f8f1844c5] what I meant ;-)
B	[quote:79c8d985ba="misstwnpks"]blah, blah, blah ..... this movie bored the hell out of me.[/quote:79c8d985ba] Taken literally, I guess this quote means you were saved. :D
Modus	I think this film was pretty ok. The good thing about it is that it follows the bible very well and unlike many stupid swedish film critics who think every filmmaker should have their own versions of a story I think it's great that he just go by the book. And Threshold_Dweller, "The Patriot" wasn't written by Mel Gibson. The only part he did was playing the leading role which was originally given Harrison Ford.
Kevin07	I enjoyed your review Hyde.  What I found interesting about The Passion was all of the things surrounding it when it was first released.  I found the Passion refreshing.  Because many movies I watch with a Christian theme seems to really suck.  I think Christian theme would be the right word.  I am unsure.  Because I believe art is just art it isn't Christian art or any other kind of art.  It is just art and the things that are within you will flow out of your art.  Like Mel.  He seems to have a thing for suffering.  It just flows out in the projects he seems to do.  Even in Braveheart and Lethal Weapon.  God has given Mel a revelation in the area of suffering.  But I am glad to see the Passion done with high production vaule.  Other movies I have enjoyed with high production vaule that seem to have postive christian views or roles are as follows: David The Turner version Jermiah (unsure what version) A Walk To Remember The Straight Story Also, the scene in the Elephant Man.  I cry everytime I watch it. And a few others. Movies that I don't like are any of the rapture movies.  To me it is like watching cheap porn without the sex scenes.  I thought Dawn Of The Dead was closer to a good rapture movie.  Most of the movies you find in Christian bookstores.  Even though I think the movie Esther by TBN may be good with good production vaule.  I know I really enjoyed the parts I read of A Night With The King by Tommy Tenney.
Anonymous	Lord of the Rings .. now that's Christian soft porn .. [size=7:6c6ff09edc]imho[/size:6c6ff09edc]