It is my opinion that Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ might be not OK for some adults either. I would take into account how much a person understood about Jesus, his times, the Roman history, the theological perspective.
Zefirelli’s mini-series/film (on DVD) “Jesus of Nazareth”, often overlooked, puts Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection into a better perspective, historically, and the ministry and Resurrection of Christ is presented in equal importance and proportion to the Passion. This proportion is important since Christ’s message is not just about the Sacrifice.
I am not completely against Mel Gibson’s film; I love the language authenticity, the historical detail, the “flashback” scenes with Jesus and Mary, the beauty, rawness, and truth of the Passion scenes. But I realize that watching and understanding it requires a certain sophistication. Film makes an impact. Visuals and graphic detail leave a residue in the memory. Not everyone who watches films can overlook violence or understand it in its context.
I would make sure, as an adult, that the oversights in Gibson’s Passion are not ignored.
I would think about how many movies my children have seen about Jesus, and discuss the authenticity and theological strengths and weaknesses of each. For example, the “Did the Jews kill Jesus?” perception/confusion: Mel Gibson certainly has not shown any awareness or intention of clarifying and healing the ancient misperceptions and lies. I would make my kids look at this and discuss from many angles.
And I would be very cautious if my children have experienced any traumas, violence, or mental health issues. Some can watch a film and notice the fake blood and choreographed violence; many cannot tell the difference. Movies have an impact. I would take that all into account.
