_Passion of Christ_
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- xrusos
I'm off to go see it right now. Just wanted a thread that's for those who have seen it as opposed to a thread that's all about speculation and critique without actually viewing the movie.
Please post your thoughts after you've seen it here. (I'll post mine later tonight)
- LEFREAK0
Oh man, wishing to see it. But here in Spain it will be released in the middle of Easter holidays ;) I know I'm gonna enjoy it, despite all those Gibson haters and loud mouths...
- junetic0
i just saw it...overall it was an incredibly emotional and dramatic movie..many scenes were slowed down into surreal moments with beautiful cinematography and sounds...the graphic and gruesome torture of jesus was for some reason more than just unnerving...all that blood and extremely strong visuals of pain and suffering reached beyond any emotion...no one had ever portrayed a human being that way...that kind of portrayal only makes sense because it is jesus...so 'why was the movie so focused on the violent suffering?'..it is so very clear...because the paradox is clear...that our passion and love cannot exist without self-sacrifice...if there is any truth of love...there must be an unconditional self-sacrifice...so jesus has done that...and this movie has made it clear...we are humans and will never be able to truly and unconditionally self-sacrifice ourselves...that must be pretty damn close to what truth is...
- slinky0
junetic... very well said.
I volunteered with my church event at a theater here near DC and got to see and meet people as they went in and came out... so many people were touched by the movie..
I get to see it tomorrow hopefully... since i was too busy tonight
- industry730
Pas"sion, n. [F., fr. L. passio, fr. pati, passus, to suffer. See Patient.]
1. A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion); specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the cross.
- xrusos0
All right, I just got back. Let me try to sum up my thoughts on the film while it's still fresh. Apologies in advance if it's sporadic and long.
Framed with the passage from the Bible, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5, 700 BC), this movie certainly covers the wounds, bruises, and chastisement of Jesus.
The cinematography is stylistically in line with the mood of the story line. It captures you from the beginning and draws depth from insightful flashbacks into Jesus' life.
Symbolism is peppered throughout and has caused me to pick up the Bible to look up some of the roots of the metaphors since I got back. (especially love the Satan figure*, the dead donkey, and the rain/tear drop)
*although what was the Satan-baby all about? birth of the anti-Christ construct?Despite the horrific nature of the account, the film is dramatic and beautiful - similar to Schindler's List. Mel & Company certainly illuminated the biblical account with intimate views into onlookers along the way.
The film definitely brought more humanity to the account I remember from childhood. It's there in the Bible too, but this makes it much easier to picture. (although, it's hard to say "easier" when we're talking about something so intense)
No matter what your religious heritage or beliefs, you can appreciate the cinematic artistry that went into this epic film. It draws you into the movie right from the start and I didn't look at my watch once (a nasty habit I tend to have).
Also, the scourging scene was gruesome without going over the top. (i suppose it's hard to limit that statement to just one scene since it just keeps getting worse)
An aside... A friend told me afterward that Mel's hand was the one holding the spike in the crucifixion scene.
For those worried about anti-Semitism... don't. It is clear throughout that Jesus allows this all to happen and that every group is involved in some way. Everyone in the film is either Jewish or Roman, and the only anti-Semites in the film are some Roman Centurions. If anything, people would be anti-Roman after this movie.
All in all, it is clearly Christian made and directed, but not necessarily evangelistic in nature. It is a dramatic depiction of one of the most popular stories in the Bible... a fundamental one to those who follow Christ. I don't think you have to be a Christian to see it though. It's a story of a power struggle, politics, love, and humility. It's an epic. It's beautiful.
- xrusos0
and because NT usually prefers a light-hearted reaction...
no, it's not a date movie... especially not one to make out in.
no, throwing popcorn isn't appropriate either.
as much as i wanted to yell out to Jesus, "Yo, don't tell Judas nothin' dawg! He's gonna sell you out!" it just isn't appropriate. (thanks tfs_mag, i shared that one with all my friends before the movie)
gotta love the NT funny business.
really though, go see the film. don't let the haters scare you into thinking it has magical powers to make you anti-Semitic, or that you have to buy all the films merchandise before and after each viewing, or that you'll hate it if you aren't a Christian. go judge it for yourself.
- tara|gee0
thank god u said that
jesus knew what god had planned for him all along
so it doesnt really matter who did what to him - he did it all for us
- deepanal0
I was thinking this would make a good fuck date.
- junetic0
now i know what passion really means...
- Mimio0
Torture and pain is so spriritual.
But seriously , it's intersting to see a singular vision of something so widely believed and revered.
- TransFatty0
seeing it with loudubs this weekend.
will report back
- jevad0
wow - didn't realise so many of you are practicing Xtians...
I am seeing it it this weekend, and looking forward to it
- junetic0
yes indeed mimio...when we are truly suffering and in torture...and when we are so unbelievably happy...you can feel that it goes deeper than our emotions and it reaches our soul...that is what we have to feed to grow spiritually...and the way to do that is through faith...
- Mimio0
If your favorite organ is your brain be wary...remind yourself that it's your brain that's telling you that.
- Jman0
OMG! I didn't know it would affect people this much....
- xrusos0
Please post your thoughts after you've seen it here.
- junetic0
my brain is probably more developed than my faith...but im sure my brain will understand when logical justification by itself cannot go beyond self...i need to be humbled and touched by God...
- lowimpakt0
i cant go see it on principle now. i wont buy into it.
i will use my money for some good instead.
- junetic0
lots of churches are showing it for free...
- slinky0
Looking forward to TF's review.