Director: Mel Gibson
Year: 2004
Country: US
Language: English
For this review I'm going to disregard my opinion of Mel Gibson as a person (I think he's a jackass) because it does not reflect Mel Gibson as a film director. This film was engulfed in controversy when it was released, though pretty much every major religious film about Christ has, from Monty Python's Life of Brian to Martin's Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ. This timem instead of being deemed "sacrilegious" like Scorsese's film, it was thought of as an extremely violent, anti-semetic film.
Passion of the Christ is a depiction of the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, on the day of his crucifixion in Jerusalem. This is after the Last Supper and after he has been betrayed by Judas (though biblical scholars still argue about Judas' intentions). The ever controversial Jesus-who has proclaimed that he is the son of God- is arrested, put on trial and then condemned to his death. He is brought to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, to hear how he will be executed. However, Pilate finds this matter to be too political and gives the choice to King Herod.
I think it's quite unfair to accuse Mel Gibson of being anti-semetic because of this particular film. It's about Jesus Christ, a Jewish man who freed the world from our sin. It is about the most important Jew in the world, according to Christianity. It is the opposite of anti-semetic. Also, to those who say it is "too violent", grow up. This is not a cartoon, this is about the suffering (passion) of Christianity's messiah! It is violent because what happened to Jesus was violent. The point of the extreme violence is to make you uncomfortable and uneasy because you should be uncomfortable and uneasy.
However, it is not perfect as there are some scenes that don't work. My friend Phillip Olson reminded me about a flashback where Jesus is showing his mother a table that he has made which she doubts will become popular, this is implying that Jesus invented modern furniture. It not only doesn't belong and isn't in the New Testament, but it's quite absurd. It seems like a deleted scene from Monty Python's Life of Brian. Still this film is a labor of love, Gibson's great testament of his faith. Even if you aren't a Christian you will likely find the film moving and packed with emotion.
In conclusion, while I find Martin Scorsese's Last Temptation of Christ a more thought provoking film, I cannot deny that Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ has great spiritual value. I respect that courage it took for Gibson to display his raw feelings about his savior on screen, it is a deep profession of love that, regardless of your religious belief, you have to respect. This film was made with the utmost care and sincerity. Praise it! 4/5
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