Review of The Passion of the Christ (2004) by Michelle H — 29 Oct 2013

I can fully understand why the opinions on this film are split down the middle. A lot of people could not get past the violence, which is extreme. However, this is what happened to Jesus, it was brutal and it was bloody. Difficult viewing for sure, but I thought the movie was very profound and emotionally moving. It made me cry. Mel Gibson made no attempt to sugar coat what happened to Jesus and I admire that. I am not a christian, but I understand that there have been many martyrs who have died for their beliefs. The scene where Jesus is whipped in particular, is hard to watch. I felt every lash that rained down on his body from the cat-o-nine tails and was disgusted by the sick enjoyment his tortures where displaying. Shows how deeply disturbed these people where that they had to get wasted on booze first to carry out the torture.

The movie was very historically accurate with the costumes and the language, I felt transported to that time. There where some moments that where unforgettable. My favorite is when Jesus is being held in an underground prison and his mother is on the floor above him, pressing her face against the stones in an effort to comfort him. The love between Jesus and his mother is the most dynamic relationship in the film and makes it all the more heartbreaking as I saw his suffering through her eyes.I do not think the violence takes away from the message the movie is trying to convay and in the end, the film untimely expresses great hope. When Jesus rises up from the tomb and walks out into the light, it is represents that we too can learn from our violent past and walk into a future of peace!

I know a lot of people who where deeply affected by this film. It is very in your face and does not pull back for a moment. I think it gave people a greater understanding of what Jesus truly went through and made them think about their own life and faith in a different way. Not a film for everybody, but it is a powerful and unforgettable piece of cinema!