Review of The Passion of the Christ (2004) by Ladyviper_23 — 19 Jun 2020

The Passion of the Christ shows in an incredible realistic way the last hours of Jesus Christ, whitout a doubt one of the most important event in the history of mankind. Though there are a lot of movies about this event and about the life of Christ this is by far the most authentic, powerful and honest one.

This movie has something that the others are missing. It was made with the intent to show what the Crucifixion really was, without omit anythig. Mel Gibson's work with this movie was incredible. You can see it by reading the interviews with cast and troupe members.

The atmosphere in which they worked was incredible. All the resource use by Gibson to give a proper rapresentation of the events was admirable. And without a doubt Jim Caviezel give us the best interpretation of Jesus ever.

How he prepared himself for this part is something else compared to a normal actor work. Because for him, for the director and for the majority of the workers on this set it was not a "normal" job.

It was something more profound and strong. This is what you see in the movie (especially if you read the stories behind the making of it). There are so many powerful scenes: the look in Barabba's eyes when he sees Jesus, Mary that runs towards his Son when He fell with the Cross, Pilate that wash his hands, the death of Judas.

.. It's all so rich of details and precision. The location, the costumes, the screenplay, the cinematography are all really impressive. And the use of the real historical lenguages makes the movie even more perfect.

I suppose that the approach to this film by an atheist or a non-Christian it's very different compared to the one of a Catholic but I think that everybody can appreciate a work made with so much dedication and cleverness.

The negative reviews, especially the ones from film critics really make me believe that they don't really see the movie or they have been affected by prejudices against Mel Gibson of course and indeed by their opinions about Chrisianity and Catholicism.

The ones who accuse this movie of beeing too violent or too graphic have to undestand that this is what happened, simply as that. We see the beginnig of Saving Private Ryan: it shows extreme violence of course but it a true rapresentation of what D-Day was and so we consider it a masterpiece.

Why don't use the same treatment with this movie? Why show an historic event (and really, if anybody has a doubt about the historical accuracy of the life of Jesus, please literate yourself with some Roman historians like Tacitus or Pliny the Younger) for what it was it's controvesial? The tortures, the Via Crucis, the Crucifixion was brutal, violent, difficoult to watch but this is what it's supposed to be.

If they feel unconfortable to watch maybe it's because they can't or don't want to stare the truth. I honestly can't give this movie anything other than 10/10. One of the greatest movie ever made, and without a doubt the one with the most profound meaning for those who see it and for those who have done it.