I viewed this film a couple of days ago and realize that it is going to be impossible for me to review it in a totally unbiased manner, for the story, as presented by Mel Gibson, is pretty much as I have always believed it to have been. That is not to say that he did not embellish and emphasize, for we need to remember that Mr.Gibson is very much a child of Hollywood in his film making. Most persons reading this will be aware that the Passion of Christ details the last hours of his life, from the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane until he breathed his last breath on the Cross the next day. We were treated to far too few flashbacks of his earlier life as the story of his trials and crucifixion played out uncomfortably on screen. It seems to me that Mel Gibson went overboard in detailing the brutality, although I realize Christ's crucifixion was brutal to the extreme. Even so, I cannot see how Jesus could survive the extreme beating he received in the courtyard scene, at the very least shock and probably death would have prevented him from marching to his date with destiny upon the Cross. In real life, the bloody and battered Jesus should have been dead long before he uttered the fateful words, "It is finished." I believe this over-dramatization was done to best convey to the viewer just exactly what Christians believe Jesus did for humanity: that he accepted the sin and agony of the world upon himself for all time. I get the impression Mr. Gibson decided to make this point in a very visual way, not the psychological way that perhaps another film maker would have done.
Many things captured my attention. Jim Caviezel was perfect as Jesus, as he played him with the quiet presence and dignity I have always perceived Jesus to possess. Jesus' mother Mary and Mary Magdalene were portrayed by very fine actresses and Mr. Gibson had the good sense to offer us many lingering facial shots of the three main characters. (Indeed, all of the casting was excellent. Give Mel Gibson the credit he deserves for doing his homework on this very important ingredient). The gentleness of Mary and the subdued sensuality of the converted Mary Magdalene enhance this disturbing film greatly. We see throughout the film Satan in the presence of a quiet, unnoticeable hooded woman which truly shook me, as did in a more positive way the thoughtfulness of Pilate's wife Claudia. The cruelty of the Romans, the callousness of the Jews. (For any group which feels itself presented unfairly, I say there was plenty of guilt to go around).
As previously stated, I wish we could have seen more of Jesus' life and ministry, particularly his comments during and after the last supper, In perhaps the film's sweetest and gentlest scene, we see Mary running out of the house to check on the very young Jesus who has gotten himself into a bit of a boyish crisis. To watch Mary see her son crucified is the story within the story. One gets the idea that Jesus inherited, in a human way, much of his grace and dignity from his mother. All in all, a film far from perfect but one which is very interesting. One which you will not forget a day, a week, a year after viewing. In this respect, Passion of Christ is a success and we need to applaud Mr. Gibson and the fine cast for bringing it to us.
Many things captured my attention. Jim Caviezel was perfect as Jesus, as he played him with the quiet presence and dignity I have always perceived Jesus to possess. Jesus' mother Mary and Mary Magdalene were portrayed by very fine actresses and Mr. Gibson had the good sense to offer us many lingering facial shots of the three main characters. (Indeed, all of the casting was excellent. Give Mel Gibson the credit he deserves for doing his homework on this very important ingredient). The gentleness of Mary and the subdued sensuality of the converted Mary Magdalene enhance this disturbing film greatly. We see throughout the film Satan in the presence of a quiet, unnoticeable hooded woman which truly shook me, as did in a more positive way the thoughtfulness of Pilate's wife Claudia. The cruelty of the Romans, the callousness of the Jews. (For any group which feels itself presented unfairly, I say there was plenty of guilt to go around).
As previously stated, I wish we could have seen more of Jesus' life and ministry, particularly his comments during and after the last supper, In perhaps the film's sweetest and gentlest scene, we see Mary running out of the house to check on the very young Jesus who has gotten himself into a bit of a boyish crisis. To watch Mary see her son crucified is the story within the story. One gets the idea that Jesus inherited, in a human way, much of his grace and dignity from his mother. All in all, a film far from perfect but one which is very interesting. One which you will not forget a day, a week, a year after viewing. In this respect, Passion of Christ is a success and we need to applaud Mr. Gibson and the fine cast for bringing it to us.