The Passion of The Christ (R)
A REVIEW (Written February 2004)
New to DVD Tomorrow
BY M. CHAD DURHAM
I knew the time would eventually come for me to sit down and write a review of Mel Gibson’s treatise of Christ’s sacrifice for all mankind and now that it is here I just don’t know where to begin. Those who have yet to see the movie have their preconceived notions while those who have seen it have already formulated some very strong opinions. This is dangerous territory for me as a minister of The Gospel, a Bible teacher at a Christian school, a writer, and as a reviewer for GCM. Should I write another analytical movie review? Beautiful camera work, incredible make-up, mesmerizing performances, and the like? Do I write this as a minister picking it apart piece by theological piece, the same way some preachers have done with every movie about Jesus from “The Greatest Story Ever Told” to “The Last Temptation of Christ?” Could I tackle this review as an aspiring filmmaker? The teardrop from heaven was a little over-the-top, don’t ya’ think? And what was with that Shroud of Turin nonsense?
Or should I write as a man wrought with sin living under the amazing grace of God?
I've heard people describe feeling sadness, anger, shame, and even hatred after viewing this film and if story telling is about soliciting emotional response, then this film is truly one of the greatest stories ever told. But let me suggest something here. Is it possible that the startling images portrayed in “The Passion” target whatever emotional baggage we bring into the theatre with us? Is it possible that the kind of emotional response we experience will be based on what we take into the theatre with us?
It just depends on your point of view. If you are the type of person who blames other people for your problems in life, then you will probably leave blaming The Jews or The Romans for what they did to Christ. Some folks walked in seeking points of contention and they left taking issue with Gibson’s audacity. Those who have felt the sting of human cruelty in their lives probably left feeling overwhelming sadness at the sight of man’s great capacity for cruelty. Still many more carry the enormous weight of their own guilt, and/or conviction of sin with them; they will invariably leave feeling anger or sadness because it is so personal to them—they crucified Jesus with their sin. Whatever emotional baggage we bring into the theatre will dictate our emotional response, but rest assured, this film will invoke some kind of emotional response.
Indulge me as I share mine with you.
1. Jesus prays in agony, knowing what is about to come, only to return to find his three closest friends asleep.
2. Judas hides under the bridge. As the guards cross over above, they hit Jesus so hard he goes flying over the edge, dangling from the chains, just inches above the ground right in front of Judas.
3. Peter, lost in the sea of the angry mob, struggles to flee the scene. Somebody recognizes him, but he denies he knew Christ. His fight to escape continues. Again, he denies Christ. Then they seize him, put him on the spot, but suddenly he swears and curses that he did not know the man. Jesus looks at Peter and Peter remembers what The Master told him just hours ago—you will deny me three times.
4. Jesus bends down, drawing in the sand. Men ready to stone an adulterous woman throw their rocks to the ground one by one, and Mary Magdalene crawls to The Saviors feet. Her life is changed forever.
I could quibble with the fact that we don’t for sure if the woman caught in adultery was Mary Magdalene, or gripe about the addition of things not discussed in scripture, or I might take issue with the fact that this movie had a curse word in the subtitles. But of all the scenes in this film, these four moved me the most.
I identified with James, John, and Peter because I fall asleep all the time when I know I should be keeping watch. I let Jesus down all the time. I identified with Judas because I spent so much of my life hiding from Jesus because I betrayed him. I identified with Peter because I deny Jesus all the time with my sin. And I identified with Mary Magdalene crawling on the ground more than I hope anybody ever knows.
No doubt many will disagree and say I missed the point. What about the scourging? What about the crucifixion? Didn’t these disturb you? Perhaps I’ve just seen one too many behind the scenes specials that told how they made it all look so real, or maybe I just know too much about how movies are made period. Either way, there is a detachment I feel from things that I know for the most part are smoke and mirrors.
Don’t get me wrong. There was one point during the scourging when I closed my eyes and flinched. Behind me I could hear the gasps of horror and in front of me I could see the tears flowing. That’s when I realized that everybody will react differently to this film and there is truly no safe way to handle a review.
Make no mistake; “The Passion” is a film; complete with a beginning, middle, end, and flashbacks that provide us with some relief from the brutal drama unfolding before our weary eyes. I found most of Gibson’s dramatic license to be appropriate, especially that of Satan tempting him in the garden and the allusion to Genesis 3:15, although there were other things that left me scratching my head. Not that I didn’t get them, but simply because I didn’t understand why he bothered. I have no problem with the recurring presence of Satan throughout because Luke tells us that Satan left him in the wilderness for a more opportune time (Luke 4:13). I can think of no more opportune time than during the final hours of Jesus life. I stand in awe of James Caviezel’s performance and Gibson’s willingness to drop the notion of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair skinned Jesus. Monica Bellucci is perfect as Mary Magdalene, but I do wish the film had ended with Jesus asking her, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Maybe that’s why the scenes of life touched me more than the images of his death while viewing this film. You see… that’s what I took into the theatre with me. His life is still changing lives 2000 years after his death.
BY M. CHAD DURHAM
I knew the time would eventually come for me to sit down and write a review of Mel Gibson’s treatise of Christ’s sacrifice for all mankind and now that it is here I just don’t know where to begin. Those who have yet to see the movie have their preconceived notions while those who have seen it have already formulated some very strong opinions. This is dangerous territory for me as a minister of The Gospel, a Bible teacher at a Christian school, a writer, and as a reviewer for GCM. Should I write another analytical movie review? Beautiful camera work, incredible make-up, mesmerizing performances, and the like? Do I write this as a minister picking it apart piece by theological piece, the same way some preachers have done with every movie about Jesus from “The Greatest Story Ever Told” to “The Last Temptation of Christ?” Could I tackle this review as an aspiring filmmaker? The teardrop from heaven was a little over-the-top, don’t ya’ think? And what was with that Shroud of Turin nonsense?
Or should I write as a man wrought with sin living under the amazing grace of God?
I've heard people describe feeling sadness, anger, shame, and even hatred after viewing this film and if story telling is about soliciting emotional response, then this film is truly one of the greatest stories ever told. But let me suggest something here. Is it possible that the startling images portrayed in “The Passion” target whatever emotional baggage we bring into the theatre with us? Is it possible that the kind of emotional response we experience will be based on what we take into the theatre with us?
It just depends on your point of view. If you are the type of person who blames other people for your problems in life, then you will probably leave blaming The Jews or The Romans for what they did to Christ. Some folks walked in seeking points of contention and they left taking issue with Gibson’s audacity. Those who have felt the sting of human cruelty in their lives probably left feeling overwhelming sadness at the sight of man’s great capacity for cruelty. Still many more carry the enormous weight of their own guilt, and/or conviction of sin with them; they will invariably leave feeling anger or sadness because it is so personal to them—they crucified Jesus with their sin. Whatever emotional baggage we bring into the theatre will dictate our emotional response, but rest assured, this film will invoke some kind of emotional response.
Indulge me as I share mine with you.
1. Jesus prays in agony, knowing what is about to come, only to return to find his three closest friends asleep.
2. Judas hides under the bridge. As the guards cross over above, they hit Jesus so hard he goes flying over the edge, dangling from the chains, just inches above the ground right in front of Judas.
3. Peter, lost in the sea of the angry mob, struggles to flee the scene. Somebody recognizes him, but he denies he knew Christ. His fight to escape continues. Again, he denies Christ. Then they seize him, put him on the spot, but suddenly he swears and curses that he did not know the man. Jesus looks at Peter and Peter remembers what The Master told him just hours ago—you will deny me three times.
4. Jesus bends down, drawing in the sand. Men ready to stone an adulterous woman throw their rocks to the ground one by one, and Mary Magdalene crawls to The Saviors feet. Her life is changed forever.
I could quibble with the fact that we don’t for sure if the woman caught in adultery was Mary Magdalene, or gripe about the addition of things not discussed in scripture, or I might take issue with the fact that this movie had a curse word in the subtitles. But of all the scenes in this film, these four moved me the most.
I identified with James, John, and Peter because I fall asleep all the time when I know I should be keeping watch. I let Jesus down all the time. I identified with Judas because I spent so much of my life hiding from Jesus because I betrayed him. I identified with Peter because I deny Jesus all the time with my sin. And I identified with Mary Magdalene crawling on the ground more than I hope anybody ever knows.
No doubt many will disagree and say I missed the point. What about the scourging? What about the crucifixion? Didn’t these disturb you? Perhaps I’ve just seen one too many behind the scenes specials that told how they made it all look so real, or maybe I just know too much about how movies are made period. Either way, there is a detachment I feel from things that I know for the most part are smoke and mirrors.
Don’t get me wrong. There was one point during the scourging when I closed my eyes and flinched. Behind me I could hear the gasps of horror and in front of me I could see the tears flowing. That’s when I realized that everybody will react differently to this film and there is truly no safe way to handle a review.
Make no mistake; “The Passion” is a film; complete with a beginning, middle, end, and flashbacks that provide us with some relief from the brutal drama unfolding before our weary eyes. I found most of Gibson’s dramatic license to be appropriate, especially that of Satan tempting him in the garden and the allusion to Genesis 3:15, although there were other things that left me scratching my head. Not that I didn’t get them, but simply because I didn’t understand why he bothered. I have no problem with the recurring presence of Satan throughout because Luke tells us that Satan left him in the wilderness for a more opportune time (Luke 4:13). I can think of no more opportune time than during the final hours of Jesus life. I stand in awe of James Caviezel’s performance and Gibson’s willingness to drop the notion of a blonde-haired, blue-eyed, fair skinned Jesus. Monica Bellucci is perfect as Mary Magdalene, but I do wish the film had ended with Jesus asking her, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Maybe that’s why the scenes of life touched me more than the images of his death while viewing this film. You see… that’s what I took into the theatre with me. His life is still changing lives 2000 years after his death.
Why seek the living with the dead?
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