The Passion of the Christ (Widescreen Edition)

I still cannot believe that people made a fuss over the "violence". I will admit that it's pretty harsh but Mel was trying to fit the Isiah 53 description of Christs' death. I like how it touched base with Christs' last temptation which WAS NOT temptation for a woman but satan tempting Him not to die for us because we don't deserve it. I also liked the relationship status briefs it shows on Him and His disciples. For a believer, and someone whom is a reader of the Bible and believes it, this will bring to life what you have read, and for those whom do not believe..this film will probably be just another over-dramatic film (I've heard these terms from some folk thats why I mention it here).
Over all, the acting was great but of course I do agree with some when they say this is not a film that you watch over pop corn and soda pop...

However, I just wish they would have left the first version of Mel's film alone, how funny to complain about an accurate descriptive film (that includes violence) and yet we except pornography and MUCH more violence in everyday films...just go to show how our world is running today. I loved the film because it's my roots, whether or not people want to believe it, thats a different story...do you own research...

This is a masterpiece! Not so sure if you will be as moved if you are not a Christian. However, the film depicts what Jesus Christ did for ALL of us.

I was one of those who was surprised by the extensive critiques of the film as anti-Jewish....believing the film simply reported what was in the Gospels.

Many years later, my understanding of the critique has deepened. Christianity has for two millenia treated Jews as responsible for the crucifixion, and utterly rejected Jesus' commandments to Love Thy God with all thy heart, and Love Thy Neigbhour, as well as other important commandments to not embrace Mammon, and not Exalt themselves. The history of Christianity is a history of Hate Thy Neighbour especially the Jewish Ones, and follow Mammon at all costs including the colonization of other nations, the slavery, exploitation and even genocide of their people (eg. the millions of Natives killed in the Americas).

How does Gibson's film feed the anti-Jesus practices of Christianity? It focuses on the Church's teachings that Jesus' suffering 'paid' for humanity's sins, so that those who 'believe' in Him are 'saved', whereas those who do not, especially the Jews, go to Hell. Simply put, Jesus never said or encouraged such absurd notions. On the contrary, He specifically said 'I come NOT to save the world...'. and His parable of the Pharisee and the tax-collector specifically contradicts the arrogance of Christians who imagine they are already 'saved' because they believe in Him as the 'universal' Saviour, when He Himself contradicted these notions.

By focussing morbidly on the beatings, torture, and crucifixion of Jesus, carried out by sadistic Romans, not Jewish priests (who simply wanted Him dead), Gibson encourages precisely the wrong teachings of the Church, which Jesus' own statements deny and contradict. No doubt it is based on a sincere effort by Gibson to portray what he has been taught, but those teachings are a distortion of what Jesus Christ Himself said. But then it is foolish to expect a Hollywood star - later exposed as an anti-Jew in his arrest in California in a drunken state making rabidly anti-Jewish ravings - to understand, let alone convey, the true teachings of one of the great Masters...

So many well-meaning Christians have found something to like about this film that I, a lifelong film buff but also a Christian, hesitate to express my views. Alas, I find little about this film that is likeable or meritable.
First, the makeup and prosthetics were lamentably bad! The film had the feel of a concoction. For me, it lacked depth, gravity, artistic impact, rather like watching someone paint by numbers, or else place ingredients into a jar and shake them up, hoping they will come out arranged in some artistically rewarding order. Where was the inspiration?
The one scene I liked- and I liked it very much- was when Jesus was at home and working as a carpenter. It boded so well...
Alternatives? 'Jesus' starring Brian Deacon, or even the silent 'King of Kings'- neither of which is unimpeachable, but both of which are preferable.

The Passion of Christ is a truely different movie about the cruxifiction of Jesus Christ that all people should see in order to more fully appreciate what he went through during the Good Friday-Easter weekend ordeal of 1st century Roman "Capital Punishment" execution.
For Believers it will give you a very detailed view of what Jesus did when He took on the our sins and died in our place and will leave you with the decision to make regarding taking your faith and belief for real and living it instead of just hiding behind it.Time has come to walk the walk.
For those that don't know about their own personal belief and how Jesus fits into it this movie will give you some new food for thought. The ministry fo a Jewish carpenter, who's claim of being the Son of God and His examples of treating others and defying the law for the sake of doing what he claimed was God's will, should chalange you to consider if He is who He claimed to be, God's Son come down to earth for a brief moment in time with a message you might want to explore deeper.
The way Mel Gibson captured that message leaves each of us with a decision to make in our own personal live about who we say He is.