The Passion of the Christ

[MidniteCliche]

So, what's up with this movie? (Passion of the Christ) I haven't seen it yet.... Is it good? They say that Mel Gibsons version of events blames the Jews. Agree or disagree? Or is it just a load of over-rated crap?

[memorydream]

My mother has been on this big horror/violence thing and she likes really brutal movies. She said it was too violent, so unless someone gives me lots of food and drugs and let's me watch it for free, I'm not doin' it. (Plus, Bill O'Reilly likes it.)

[HelenaHotpants]

I have no desire to see it. I am not into Christian snuff films

[Tequila Zaire]

I'm planning on seeing it later in the week...I've always been a fan of films with heavy religious overtones. It gets a lot of flack for being anti-jewish and too violent...though oddly from people who are usually fighting off such comments that they now freely toss around.

Seems being open-minded about something or tolerent only applies if it does not go against ones own agenda. The whole "Jews killed Christ" thing is and always will be a hot button issue amoung the religious...and if you follow that faith you have to make up your own mind how you see it.

Personally it always confused me since it hinges on one line and the context of how it was said and how it is all interpretted. For me it was never the point of the story or a major factor in it...ultimately Jesus had to die...can't have a good story without your lead dying...it'd go against thousands of years of dramatic tradition. (I brought this up a few times in the past...it seems that such a statement can be considered blasphemous.)

End of the day I'm sure God has a good gut laugh about it all...unless you're an athiest then you wouldn't believe in the statement I just made...though oddly athiests are some of the most vocal about their "belief" in not believeing in religions. If that does not prove God, Buddha, L.Ron Hubbard have a sense of humor then I don't know what does.

[Tequila Zaire]

I have no desire to see it. I am not into Christian snuff films

You're not the first to say that...though it's the weirdest when it comes out of the mouths of people I know love ultra violent cinema. One guy actually refused to see it...even if only for the artistic merits. He took a real firm stand...he gave me one long winded answer as to why that touched on everything from brainwashing to morality and hypocrasy of the Christian faith...yet he was the first to practicly put a gun to my head to see Fahrenheit 9/11.

Zealots come in all forms and functions...as a result of those incedents though I ended up seeing Napoleon Dynamite twice. So in a strange cosmic way it worked out for the best...I got to give my money to a film that really needed it.

Remember: Vote For Pedro!

[Amelia G]

I haven't seen the Michael Moore movie or the Mel Gibson one.

[Jasperino]

That movie pissed me off a little, but not for the reasons you might think. It pissed me off because all the christians that are anti movies and anti mainstream anything flooded the theaters in droves to see this movie. My pastor preached this movie more than he preached the bible for like a month. It really bothered me. I'm like, all that stuff was in the book, didn't you read the book!? Why did it take a movie to bring all this heart felt emotion out of all of you? The same people that would be down on me for going to see House of a thousand corpses were taking their kids to see this. It was unbelievable! As far as the Jews getting blamed, I didn't see the germans boycotting Shindler's list. I agree with Tequila, it really wasn't the point of the movie.

[Caligula]

I might go for a laugh.

To be fair to Mel, it isn't his movie that blames the Jews, so much as the source material itself. Somebody had to take the rap, and the Christians decided it would be a good move to sever their Jewish roots (Christianity was, after all, originally a Jewish heresy) and suck up to the Romans. In original translation, the Bible's actually a shockingly anti-Semitic document, especially Luke. So maybe those Jews would be better off campaigning against the New Testament. There again the Old Testament's a profoundly racist piece of work, so maybe the rest of us should be campaigning against that...

Incidentally, if nothing else, at least Mel's finally made a movie which doesn't cast us evil English as the bad guys in some fucked up historical hogwash. Maybe us English should be campaigning against Mel Gibson.

[Jasperino]

I might go for a laugh.

To be fair to Mel, it isn't his movie that blames the Jews, so much as the source material itself. Somebody had to take the rap, and the Christians decided it would be a good move to sever their Jewish roots (Christianity was, after all, originally a Jewish heresy) and suck up to the Romans. In original translation, the Bible's actually a shockingly anti-Semitic document, especially Luke. So maybe those Jews would be better off campaigning against the New Testament. There again the Old Testament's a profoundly racist piece of work, so maybe the rest of us should be campaigning against that...

Incidentally, if nothing else, at least Mel's finally made a movie which doesn't cast us evil English as the bad guys in some fucked up historical hogwash. Maybe us English should be campaigning against Mel Gibson.

When's the blame Canada movie coming out?

[Foxbird]

Blame us for what? Growing better dope?

[memorydream]

I'm planning on seeing it later in the week...I've always been a fan of films with heavy religious overtones. It gets a lot of flack for being anti-jewish and too violent...though oddly from people who are usually fighting off such comments that they now freely toss around.

Seems being open-minded about something or tolerent only applies if it does not go against ones own agenda. The whole "Jews killed Christ" thing is and always will be a hot button issue amoung the religious...and if you follow that faith you have to make up your own mind how you see it.

Personally it always confused me since it hinges on one line and the context of how it was said and how it is all interpretted. For me it was never the point of the story or a major factor in it...ultimately Jesus had to die...can't have a good story without your lead dying...it'd go against thousands of years of dramatic tradition. (I brought this up a few times in the past...it seems that such a statement can be considered blasphemous.)

End of the day I'm sure God has a good gut laugh about it all...unless you're an athiest then you wouldn't believe in the statement I just made...though oddly athiests are some of the most vocal about their "belief" in not believeing in religions. If that does not prove God, Buddha, L.Ron Hubbard have a sense of humor then I don't know what does.

Oh, L Ron had a great sense of humor, it's just that not everyone was laughing (or is, unless your Tom Cruise). Yeah, atheists and some self-proclaimed sceptics seem pretty argumentative about their "beliefs." It certainly has caused me to wonder. I guess I just don't want to put more money into Mel's pocket, or Hollywood's for that matter.

But, as far as the lead dying, they have proven with Julia Roberts that it does seriously impact sales. Of course, Jesus comes back in the sequel, which a lot of people like to pretent doesn't happen after the Passion. You know the sequel where he comes back, forgives everyone and say bye bye, as he rises in the sky.

[memorydream]

Oh, by the way, just for fun. I'll quote the Subhumans here:
"Fuck the church, fuck the state, fuck the things that make us hate!"

[HelenaHotpants]

Zealots come in all forms and functions...as a result of those incedents though I ended up seeing Napoleon Dynamite twice. So in a strange cosmic way it worked out for the best...I got to give my money to a film that really needed it.

Remember: Vote For Pedro!

Me too! Far better way for me to spend my ill gotten cash.

[karyn]

That movie pissed me off a little, but not for the reasons you might think. It pissed me off because all the christians that are anti movies and anti mainstream anything flooded the theaters in droves to see this movie. My pastor preached this movie more than he preached the bible for like a month. It really bothered me. I'm like, all that stuff was in the book, didn't you read the book!? Why did it take a movie to bring all this heart felt emotion out of all of you? The same people that would be down on me for going to see House of a thousand corpses were taking their kids to see this. It was unbelievable! As far as the Jews getting blamed, I didn't see the germans boycotting Shindler's list. I agree with Tequila, it really wasn't the point of the movie.

I can't speak to what the point of a bunch of Jesus torture porno is, but your Schindler's List analogy does not work at all. Germans in Germany today revile what Hitler did, but there is no doubt that he did it.

I hate the type of movie Schindler's List is and did not go see it. I also hate the type of movie The Passion of the Christ is and will most certainly not attend any showings. It is all pointless rolling around in misery and I hate enough things as it is, thank you very much.

[Kidthorazine]

theres no real point in arguing over a bad snuff film...

[Caligula]

I can't speak to what the point of a bunch of Jesus torture porno is...

'Jesus torture porno'? Mel should've had you writing the movie's promotional blurb!

[karyn]

'Jesus torture porno'? Mel should've had you writing the movie's promotional blurb!

thank you, sir. Perhaps I missed my true calling. I hate it when that happens.

[TheDeathKnight]

If someone is a Christian, and they want to see a depiction of Jesus's life, done in a very realistic, brutal, and powerful way, maybe this is exactly the film for them... They will really enjoy it. More power to them. And if people want to see it, just to see the violence, then fine...

I just decided not to show my support for a film that supports a religion I do not generally like.

Same way if "Schindler's List" showed the Nazis as nice guys, or was portraying an aryan perspective, I would not support that either.

I think both movies had the same objective, however.
Which was to show the brutality of "history", so that people would learn from it.
If no one made any movies about WW2, no one would remember the awful things that happened. So I see the value in it. It is just that history is not always portrayed accurately.
As I understand it, the brutality in "The Passion" is accurate.
So if the goal was to show how much someone suffered, then the goal was probably achieved.
Same way Schindler's list showed how the Jews suffered under the Nazis.
Even if we say both movies are total works of fiction, they can still teach us something.

But I don't really want to support that particular "message"...

But it has value for the Christian audience.

[devilmutt]

i've seen this movie and yes jesus is brutalized pretty much truogh the whole thing. if you are one of the faithfull you will weep during this movie, if not you will see it as a morbid and scary thing what happened to that man.also if your like me and not really into the whole religion thing you will still feel huge hatered for paul(i may be wrong)for turning his back on and denying jesus...what a pussy! as far as the movie goes i thought it was ok.

[pedar]

Alas there is absolutely no historical evidence backing 'Passion'- It's based on a book written in the 19th Cent. by a German nun if I'm not mistaken.
The earliest Gospels were written maybe forty years after the Jesus's death...no one knows for sure what actually happened..
People should check into the work of the Jesus Seminar for the best evidence scholars have abt what actually may have gone down..
P.

[Tequila Zaire]

Alas there is absolutely no historical evidence backing 'Passion'- It's based on a book written in the 19th Cent. by a German nun if I'm not mistaken.
The earliest Gospels were written maybe forty years after the Jesus's death...no one knows for sure what actually happened..
People should check into the work of the Jesus Seminar for the best evidence scholars have abt what actually may have gone down..
P.

That's pretty well known at this point since the 1001 shows that covered this film brought it up...but many still argue about if Jesus even existed as stated in the bible...It's all a matter of faith really. What one can't deny is the effect the story and faith had on the western world...and it packs a punch to this day. The overall theme really hits home for many and is at the heart of many western ideals of sacrifice in various forms.

[pedar]

That's pretty well known at this point since the 1001 shows that covered this film brought it up...but many still argue about if Jesus even existed as stated in the bible...It's all a matter of faith really. What one can't deny is the effect the story and faith had on the western world...and it packs a punch to this day. The overall theme really hits home for many and is at the heart of many western ideals of sacrifice in various forms.

hi- but I'm not aware of any shows that brought this up..Gibson responds to criticisms by claiming the Gospels are "100 percent factual eyewitness accounts"-
'Ideals of sacrifice' have existed in almost all cultures- many predating Christianity..see the work of Joseph Campbell for some popular explanations..cheers P.

[Tequila Zaire]

hi- but I'm not aware of any shows that brought this up..Gibson responds to criticisms by claiming the Gospels are "100 percent factual eyewitness accounts"-
'Ideals of sacrifice' have existed in almost all cultures- many predating Christianity..see the work of Joseph Campbell for some popular explanations..cheers P.

Dateline went into detail about the various origins that were used as a basis for the film (directly and indirectly) and even went so far as to put the interview with Gibson on DVD. Many news sites both in articles and interviews went into this when the film was at its most controversial. As far as the ideals of sacrifice go...yeah that's not a theme exclusive to Christianity...but the various christian views of it are did dominate western culture and in many cases still do.

The whole 100 percent factual account...I never bought into that. We've all heard stories told "The friend of the guy who was there when it happened" or "The guy who was there and saw it all with his own eyes"...embelishing and mistakes occur. But I'm not from the school of thought that looks at the bible as a history book anyhow.

[CPRB]

just go see it and make your own opinion....

[Nautilus]

You're not the first to say that...though it's the weirdest when it comes out of the mouths of people I know love ultra violent cinema. One guy actually refused to see it...even if only for the artistic merits. He took a real firm stand...he gave me one long winded answer as to why that touched on everything from brainwashing to morality and hypocrasy of the Christian faith...yet he was the first to practicly put a gun to my head to see Fahrenheit 9/11.

Zealots come in all forms and functions...as a result of those incedents though I ended up seeing Napoleon Dynamite twice. So in a strange cosmic way it worked out for the best...I got to give my money to a film that really needed it.

Remember: Vote For Pedro!

Yes, it's funny how ultra "librals" can be prudes about some things. A lesbian I knew, considered one of the most libral people in town, was horrified when I jokingly said fag. I fuck boys and girls and cross dress, like I mean fag in a bad way. She also refused to listen to anything remotly right wing. Open your mind a little!

Hey, Napoleon Dynamite is not showing in my town but I've heard good things--what's it about?

[Tequila Zaire]

Hey, Napoleon Dynamite is not showing in my town but I've heard good things--what's it about?

Oddly trying to explain what it's about is the hardest thing to do with this film...it basicly follows a few weeks in the life of a very unique teenager who just standing still makes you laugh out loud. Worth scoring on DVD for sure...it's just filled with scene after scene of hilarious moments.

[Caligula]

'Life of Brian' captures the atmosphere of biblical Judea far better than any of the Hollywood epics. With the possible exception of poetic license in the case of the alien scene.

[Tequila Zaire]

'Life of Brian' captures the atmosphere of biblical Judea far better than any of the Hollywood epics. With the possible exception of poetic license in the case of the alien scene.

See I thought that was the most accurate scene in the film.

[moonheart]

Dont want to see a movie that is a promotional movie for religion. Every body has his/her own believe without movies that try and convince us what is right and what is wrong. I class it as propaganda.

[Amethyst]

I watched it because I got change to see it withouth supporting it financially. I think it expresses suffering pritty good. But as I don't like either christianity or jewishness or any other religion it's hard for me to say was it suitable or not. I think it gave pritty barbaric picture of jewish and the hole jewish world as nearly all of them were willing to personally slaughter jeesus. It also gave very anarchic and false picture of the jewish world. I think it isn't good as a move but good material to plant even more hatred between religions. Go go kill you each other, I just don't fucking care anymore.
Now we just need a movie that tell about arabics killing christians when spreading islamism. But if someone made a movie about christians raping and robbing countries and by sword making them christians, well I think everyone can quess what kind of welcome it would get.

[SomethingSelfrighteous]

i didnt like it that much...it lacked flubber

[postcoital]

I've seen the southpark episode. But that's it. Funny one, tho.

[cOrE_dUmPeR]

I thought it was great. I saw it opening day with what seemed like HORDES of Christians.

I am not religious at all, but I can appreciate a well-made flick anytime (even through all the "Hallelujah!" crap from the movie-goers behind me)

It was bloody, but what I don't see is why weveryone was bitching that it was too graphic. HELLO!!!! they beat him into a bloody pulp, that is what the bible says, that is what Mel Gibson portrayed. What did they expect to see? A verbal crucifiction?

[BrightStar]

I thought it was great. I saw it opening day with what seemed like HORDES of Christians.

I am not religious at all, but I can appreciate a well-made flick anytime (even through all the "Hallelujah!" crap from the movie-goers behind me)

It was bloody, but what I don't see is why weveryone was bitching that it was too graphic. HELLO!!!! they beat him into a bloody pulp, that is what the bible says, that is what Mel Gibson portrayed. What did they expect to see? A verbal crucifiction?

They acted like it was "Sunshine, Fluffy Bunnies, GumDrops, and Lollipops."

I know people who actually took kindergarten children to that movie! Those same people who took the children are the same people who try to get Pokemon banned for being too violent !

Bah! Most people are Hypocrates anyway.

[macabrette]

I saw it free of charge because I guy I worked with had a bootleg. I wanted to see it in the first place because I loved Braveheart. (Yes, I'm a dork.) Pretty much, it wasn't up to the same standards. Some parts were cool, but..... I was completely distracted by how completely inappropriately cast Mary was. OK, I know she's supposed to be the mother of god and full of grace, etc., but in reality, and human being at that time at her age would NOT look that good. It was really unsettling to me. Also, in the scenes where they were beating Jesus, there was an unrealistic amount of blood, forcing the audience to buy into the whole son-of-god perspective, due to the fact that it's completely impossible for any human being to lose that much blood and not pass out. The human body only contains 8-10 pints of blood, and he had at least three strewn about the pavement. As far as the Jewish blame is concerned -- Jesus WAS a Jew, and the movie made clear that fact. If God has such a problem with Jews, why would his son be one? I think that exonerates the "chosen people" in and of itself......

[Caligula]

'Braveheart'? 'The Patriot'? That Mel Gibson's a stickler for historical accuracy. The man's a butthole.

[countessnichole]

At least Mel didn't put Jesus in a kilt...

[postcoital]

At least Mel didn't put Jesus in a kilt...

Blue makeup and a claymore would be cool tho..