The Passion of the Christ
- Thread starter Decado
- Start date
- Status
Tyrone Slothrop
Banned
i thought it was pretty good, even bought the dvd.
once you get past the controversy you have a pretty solid movie, tells a compelling story (and no, i'm not a christian wingnut)
once you get past the controversy you have a pretty solid movie, tells a compelling story (and no, i'm not a christian wingnut)
Stoney Mason
Banned
It's an interesting movie visually.
If you are a big time Christian you will probably find it a lot more enjoyable and meaningful than if you are not.
As an atheist I was interested to watch it once and I don't regret it but I'd pretty much never watch it again because it doesn't have anything deeper going on unless you are especially religious.
If you are a big time Christian you will probably find it a lot more enjoyable and meaningful than if you are not.
As an atheist I was interested to watch it once and I don't regret it but I'd pretty much never watch it again because it doesn't have anything deeper going on unless you are especially religious.
Tyrone Slothrop
Banned
i think jesus' story is pretty universal IMO
Stoney Mason
Banned
Tyrone Slothrop said:
His story might be universal but I doubt watching a person getting beat for 30 minutes is especially universal or compelling entertainment for most people. If it wasn't Jesus taking the beatdown most movie goers wouldn't have sat still for that long.
The Braveheart torture scene by comparison is neither as visually graphic nor goes on for as long which is more normal for movie entertainment.
Stoney Mason
Banned
On a side note if you want to watch a movie that actually does something a bit more interesting with the mythos and aren't afraid of getting offended I would suggest The Last Temptation of Christ.
faceless007
Member
It's like a Saw film bookended by overdramatic Mel Gibson crap.
Make sure to bring the kids.
Make sure to bring the kids.
I look at it as the coming out party for Action Jesus. It plays out like a hero's tale, with the ending coming complete with war drums as Jesus steps out of his tomb to claim the souls of the world.
Really though, it's a very visually interesting film, and a pop culture touchstone that can be a little shocking if you're not prepared for parts of it. Plenty of controversy surrounding this one, from Jewish groups, and even to Evangelicals who felt Gibson's portrait of Christ to be overly Catholic, particularly with the reverence towards Mary, and the focus on the five wounds of Christ.
Really though, it's a very visually interesting film, and a pop culture touchstone that can be a little shocking if you're not prepared for parts of it. Plenty of controversy surrounding this one, from Jewish groups, and even to Evangelicals who felt Gibson's portrait of Christ to be overly Catholic, particularly with the reverence towards Mary, and the focus on the five wounds of Christ.
Lifeonmars?
Member
It was horrible.
LiveFromKyoto
Member
I haven't seen it, but I'd like to. From what I understand, Gibson took a lot of his framing from classical religious art, particularly depictions of the stations of the cross. I'm not a churchgoing Christian or anything, but I think Jesus movies are interesting because as a director you can't half-ass it. Expectations and scrutiny are through the roof, moreso than any film you can make, and it has to be your big spiritual statement.
Last Temptation I thought was a decent film that didn't have the same energy as the book. Harvey Keitel as Judas was brilliant though.
My personal favourite is Pasolini's Gospel According to St. Matthew. It's a remarkable film done in a semi-cinema verite/neorealist style which manages to depicts Jesus as a fiery radical without changing a single word of the Gospel; it moved even Roman Cardinals and won the Golden Lion, yet was made by an atheist who had just spent 4 months in prison for homosexuality. It's a pretty inspired film if you can track it down.
Last Temptation I thought was a decent film that didn't have the same energy as the book. Harvey Keitel as Judas was brilliant though.
My personal favourite is Pasolini's Gospel According to St. Matthew. It's a remarkable film done in a semi-cinema verite/neorealist style which manages to depicts Jesus as a fiery radical without changing a single word of the Gospel; it moved even Roman Cardinals and won the Golden Lion, yet was made by an atheist who had just spent 4 months in prison for homosexuality. It's a pretty inspired film if you can track it down.
Stoney Mason
Banned
Stitch said:
You know while people like to position the film that it beats up on Jews, a lot of the new testament and early origins of christianity do the same once they started to split from Judaism.
So I guess I'm saying that while I could understand that a jewish person might not be the greatest fan of the film, I think inherently there will be conflict when anything from the "Christian" perspective is presented from that era.
For what its worth I didn't think it was an especially Jewish bashing movie although we all know where Mel Gibson stands so I understand the distate for the man.
Stitch said:
I thought that whole thing was being exaggerated by the media and Jewish organizations, but the whole point of the movie is the political attacking of Jesus by the Sanhedrin. So it's kind of there on the screen. But the brutality is all handed out by romans.
But it's not like anyone is altering history, since it's not based on a lick of historical evidence anyway. So whatevs.
thesoapster
Member
It was a pretty good film when I saw it (as a Christian). Now I'd consider it an OK movie.
dark_chris
Member
Besides the torturing scenes which was hard to see, the movie was wonderful. Loved the idea of a different language.
Steppenwolf
Member
It's a gory fairytale. I kinda liked it.
ElectricBlue187
Member
Gouty said:
He can't be any worse at directing than he is at acting
Decado said:
Yeah, it is. I laughed my ass when
Jebus was getting whipped and all the blood that wept from his bloody was awesome!
But Gibson is a closet anti-semite so it depends if you're jewish and/or are offended how jews are depicted in the film that kills your PotC experience.
AndresON777
shooting blanks
I love it when they nail him to the cross, that was epic.
Best Jesus movie ever by far....hell I'd call it a regular movie really.
Best Jesus movie ever by far....hell I'd call it a regular movie really.
brandonh83
Banned
I thought it was brilliantly made but that's about it. I saw it once in theaters and have no desire to see it again. I appreciate its beauty and how great the cast was, and the music was phenomenal, it's just not something I find very watchable. I'm not a very religious person so it has nothing to do with the content, I'm just not the type of person to be like oh man I can't wait to see that Jesus-beating scene again.
Great film IMO, but only as a single-viewing experience.
Great film IMO, but only as a single-viewing experience.
Instigator
Banned
Decado said:
If you absolutely have to watch a Jesus movie, you can do a lot better by skipping the Passion and watch these superior Christ flicks:
SaggyMonkey
Member
There are definitely better slasher films than this one.
Warm Machine
Member
The whole Passion part of the movie is what makes it the film it is. The movie is beautifully shot and even though the story is ultra simple it is worth a watch. You'll just see a 45 minute stretch of a guy getting beaten towards death.
Touching the Void was the better torture movie. Jesus could have miracled his away in the blink of an eye. Poor bastard in that just had to suck it up for days.
Touching the Void was the better torture movie. Jesus could have miracled his away in the blink of an eye. Poor bastard in that just had to suck it up for days.
Love To Love You Baby
Member
Gibson's films are all ridiculous, and this is not excepted.
- Status