Mel Gibsons "The Passion of the Christ"

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HOPEFUL_IN_UK said:
I can actually see your point. I watched it the other day and was a bit annoyed by some of the heavy-handed cinematic devices. I don’t think it can be helped entirely: Mel Gibson is a product of his time and place. No matter who the director, I don’t think it’s possible to create something truly “timeless.” In twenty years, this movie will look as dated as anything starring Charleton Heston.

I don’t think that means the movie has no merit and can’t be an aid to devotion. It just might not have the intended effect on everyone.
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You see his point because you SEEN the movie.

I don’t know how he can SEE his own point without seeing the movie. I believe that is the issue.
 
I will most likely watch it tonight after our Good Friday service. Some of the people I know in our parish say they only needed to see it once but I think its good to see it often so we don’t forget what Jesus did for us. I think sometimes we tend to forget it.
 
For the sake of Jesus, I saw it when it came out.
Note to Self: Never watch an R movie, even if it is about Jesus.
 
Well, my wife and I just watched it and I swear, I feel emotionally exhausted. I cannot even begin to fathom, even with visual help, what Jesus went through for someone like me, so unworthy!

I love Christ and I am so thankful for what He accomplished on that cross.
 
I’ve watched it every year since it came out and my husband and I make a point to now watch it every Good Friday. Yes it is difficult to watch but this film is extraordinarily powerful in a way that no other film can compare. The Blessed Mother’s look towards the audience at the end of the film says it all.
 
Scottgun said:
Actually I believe I am holding to a developed judgement, not merely an opinion. Here is an entry I wrote when someone else objected to my desire not to see the same ol’ movieish victim-chic of The Passion: Image Problem–Is there a Difference Between a Crucifix and Gibson’s “The Passion?”
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You’re certainly entitled to the way you feel. But, just thought you might be interested to know… that the Vatican and our late Holy Father, Pope John Paul II approved of Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”. John Paul II even met the actor, who portrayed Jesus… Jim Caviezel. Here is a link…

zenit.org/article-8894?l=english

I watched it Thursday night. The result… all day yesterday (Good Friday) as I went about my tasks… I would frequently find myself wimping out and thinking “I don’t want to do this or that”… or “I’m so tired and hungry”… then, a scene from “The Passion of the Christ” would pop into my head. And I would begin to feel shame… and say to myself, “If He could do that for me… I can certainly do this, for Him”.

So, for me… watching Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” is certainly a reminder of His great Sacrifice. And a helpful incentive to forget “myself” and focus on Him.

God bless all and a very HAPPY EASTER!:bible1:
 
I thought that it was really neat when Jesus was walking his cross and along the way, He fell in front of Mary. He didn’t see her yet, but it looked like He was already dead. She then ran to him and when he noticed her, “See, Mother, I make all things new!” Just like that, He had renewed strength after his His mother. So awesome!
 
We watched the movie last night. I saw it when it came out, and three Easters since then. Do I look forward to it? Not really - but it is something that I feel I need to do to be reminded of the reality of it all. And last night as we were lying in bed saying our night prayers together and reciting the Hail Holy Queen - I was slammed home with the images of Mary as a real person in a way that seems to seep out of my mind after awhile, as she becomes so ethereal to me that I loose that feeling of human-ness. The same with Jesus - it sometimes is difficult to remember that he did laugh and play and was very human (albeit perfect).

This film, as difficult as it is to watch, reminds me of some things I need to continue to remember.

~Liza
 
I watched it last night. On my second viewing, my opinion of it is slightly lower. It feels too cinematic, what with the occasional slow-motion, and Gibson took artistic license a little too far. Main example of that: why did the robber crucified next to Jesus get his eye pecked out by a crow? Did he really need to clarify that he wasn’t a good person?
 
AngelRose81 said:
I will most likely watch it tonight after our Good Friday service. Some of the people I know in our parish say they only needed to see it once but I think its good to see it often so we don’t forget what Jesus did for us. I think sometimes we tend to forget it.
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I don’t see how someone can Pray the Rosaries sorrowful mysteries and at the sime not watch this movie. It helped me for my devotion because it is easy for one to downplay what really happened during the last hrs. At least for me it is. This movie helped me get a better picuture in my head for me to meditate on.

If this movie bothers people I am wondering what you have in your mind whenever you pray the Rosary and get to the second sorrowful mystery? 🤷
 
RodneyJ said:
I thought that it was really neat when Jesus was walking his cross and along the way, He fell in front of Mary. He didn’t see her yet, but it looked like He was already dead. She then ran to him and when he noticed her, “See, Mother, I make all things new!” Just like that, He had renewed strength after his His mother. So awesome!
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God Bless you Rodney. I just noticed your blog link.:extrahappy: What caught my attention on this thread was the fact that the last times I wacthed The Passion I kept rewinding to the part you just mentioned. When I watched it before I was on my journey to Catholicism that part of the movie passed right by me.
 
teadough said:
God Bless you Rodney. I just noticed your blog link.:extrahappy: What caught my attention on this thread was the fact that the last times I wacthed The Passion I kept rewinding to the part you just mentioned. When I watched it before I was on my journey to Catholicism that part of the movie passed right by me.
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Thank you, my friend!

God Bless!
 
I did see it in the movies when it came out. I don’t go to R
rated movies, so this was an exception. The movie affected
me deeply, so very hard to watch (I have never been able
to actually watch the scourging scene, just listening to it
is painful enough for me) but it really makes you realize
just how horrible it really was and the depth of his love for us.

Since then I have watched it on Good Friday but this year last
night instead. I love the scene with Jesus and the Blessed
Mother with the table, so sweet and it makes you think about
how they loved each other and interracted here on earth. You
have those great scenes with the disciples and such but the
rest is so hard to watch, I cry and shake during a lot of it. I think
if this is so hard to watch just imagine the real thing and what
the Lord went through. I also think about our Blessed Mother
and what she went through. That scene when she is holding
Jesus after being take off the cross when she looks straight
into the camera is very powerful.

I agree, I don’t think the scene with the birds and the thief
were necessary, but all in all, I think the movie is a masterpiece.
I think the movie really is helpful by bringing the reality of the
cross more alive for us despite the fact that it is painful to watch.
 
EphelDuath said:
I watched it last night. On my second viewing, my opinion of it is slightly lower. It feels too cinematic, what with the occasional slow-motion, and Gibson took artistic license a little too far. Main example of that: why did the robber crucified next to Jesus get his eye pecked out by a crow? Did he really need to clarify that he wasn’t a good person?
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It is a choice. God tells us we have free will. One of the two men chose to follow Christ, and one rebuked any form of wanting to follow him.

His choice was not as beautiful as the other. You can not rebuke the lords desire to want you near, and expect beautification.

as far as cinimatic differences, i am really not educated in the differences to say anything other than i loved the movie because of the message i learned, and what it did for me speritually.

My son died on January 9th, 2004…just before the theatrical oppening of this movie. We had planned this outing where we were both excited to see this movie together. He was just a few weeks prior to his 19th birthday when he passed away.

It was hard for me to watch for two different reasons. One, i had just lost a son, and how deep the paralelled similarities for a mother to watch her son do the right thing, yet suffer so deeply. Two, the original reasons for the movie…to bring the message to those of us that take for granted, or forget the awsome debth of his love for us, that he would die for us. Not just die, but die horribly and painfully, and not give up on his prommise, or his trust in his father’s guidence.

My son was terminal for many years, but dealing with longevity, you would be surprised how very wise anyone is when they address life with responsibility. Responsibility for their own destiny, soul, and the lives they filter out into. Yes, he was close to God, and he lived a normal teenagers life, loved dramma and religion, and fought for air daily with love oxygen levels.

But he moved forward knowing God did it, and so should he. He should do the best he could with each and every day…“carpe diem” was often written and lived by him…And yes, not being presumptious, but i did find many things in Mother Marys story that made me realize i had a champion of compassion on my side…as she too lost a son that was trying to do the right thing daily. I did not feel alone…like the only one who lost a son.

Truly, i felt her expressed pain of helpfulness…

i21.photobucket.com/albums/b282/Lanasshoebox/72.jpg

I tell you this Scott, cinamatography is not a big enough reason to boycott this or any other movie. Look at LOTR’s first cartoon…ahhhh sad by our standards, yet we loved the tale. A story is what you make of it, and i find it odd that such a story os Jesus’s passion, in any cinimatograpy format would not do more justice being watched and praised for the strengths first. It is not wrong to disagree by any means, but i think the educated guess, be it a friend or not, should not form such an oppinion for you…you trust deeply and you just might be missing something, for there is good and bad in everything.

Just as there is good in what you say, and we respect it. But without an educated oppinion from your own eyes, how “do” you expect to be held in company who HAS seen it. Education is important first hand, and after all, it is your name you are putting on this oppinion of others about OUR Lord.

I would never trust others to do such a thing for me.

Lana
 
It’s also part of my Triduum routine now. I watch it on Holy Saturday since the last scene is Christ rising from the tomb. Watching it then helps me meditate on what has happened (the Passion) and what is about to happen (the Resurrection). Great movie.

I think my favorite characters are John, Mary Magdalene, and Caiaphas. The first two show unwavering love to God in Christ by staying with Mary and I really like the scene after Satan’s freak-out where the temple veil rips and Caiaphas begins to cry because he knows the weight of what has just happened.

Did anyone else catch Joseph of Arimathea in the Sanhedrin trial? The first priest who questions the validity of the proceedings? (Doesn’t tradition hold that Joseph was part of the Sanhedrin which provided him the perfect cover to remove his Savior’s body from the cross using the Sabbath laws as a red herring for his real motives for burying Jesus…)
 
Did anyone else catch Joseph of Arimathea in the Sanhedrin trial? The first priest who questions the validity of the proceedings? (Doesn’t tradition hold that Joseph was part of the Sanhedrin which provided him the perfect cover to remove his Savior’s body from the cross using the Sabbath laws as a red herring for his real motives for burying Jesus…)

I missed this completely…seen the movie for the second time with my children of 8 and 9 this year. This year my oldest was overwhelmed with the pain Jesus must have felt being crowned with thorns. We resumed the next day.

With Eagerness, they will watch anything about Jesus/God!

Lana
 
I believe things were worse for Him in real life than what was in this movie.
 
I remember hearing that Christ revealed to a visionary saint the wounds they inflicted on Him during the scourging and it was actually worse than what was depicted in the movie. He said they pushed a dull nail through His tongue and filled the wounds from his plucked beard with hot oil among other things.
 
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