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02/29/2004 Archived Entry: "The Passion"

Posted by steve @ 09:40 PM EST [Link]

ELOI, ELOI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?: The last time I stepped out of a theatre where the audience was largely silent at the end of a movie was Saving Private Ryan. I went to see The Passion of the Christ this evening and I have to say that even as an athiest I was deeply touched by this movie. Mel Gibson and the cast of the movie did a truly remarkable job.

I will say that I can understand why some Jews have objected to this movie, or at least felt uncomfortable about it. Pontius Pilote was portrayed as being reticent to condemn Jesus Christ -- though the average Roman soldier had little trouble carrying out the final order -- while the mob bayed for His blood. That said, the blame is placed on largely on the High Priests who repeatedly demanded His crucifixion.

As for the movie itself...it's simultaneously as bloody as you've heard but also not as bloody. The scourging was difficult to watch (as was the crucifixion itself) because they are the bloodiest scenes but it didn't reach the level of religious pornography that some reviewers have condemned it as. The cinematography was fantastic, the acting superb and the script above reproach. If this movie isn't nominated for Best Picture next year I'll be shocked and very disappointed. The Passion of the Christ is quite easily amongst the best pictures of 2004 even though it's only February.

Replies: 4 comments

Thanks for the balanced review. The first I have read from an atheist, in fact.

Posted by izzy @ 03/01/2004 11:15 AM EST

I would suspect most reviewers are athiests :-)

Posted by Steven Martinovich @ 03/01/2004 01:30 PM EST

You are right! Hope about this?
The first one from an atheist whose
opinion I respect.

Posted by izzy @ 03/01/2004 02:43 PM EST

I wish I had time last night to write a more extensive article about it for ESR itself. The movie let out at 9:30pm and by the time I got home I had to take care of the last finishing touches on the magazine.

Another criticism that people had was that the suffering of Christ had no context without His teachings being prominently profiled. Again, I don't think that's a valid criticism. Though I think Gibson could have addressed that more, there are a few scenes of Christ teaching.

The one thing that was missing that I wanted to see was Satan's attempt to tempt Christ...

Posted by Steven Martinovich @ 03/01/2004 02:53 PM EST