The Passion of the Christ

[Combat Chuck]

Originally posted by UB:

It was the most well-made movie I have ever seen in my life.

I agreed with you on everything but this.

SPOILERSSPOILERSPOILERS

I tend to agree with The Onion on the fact that they assumed too much in the fact that audiences would know the life of Jesus.

And they would. BUT......for a movie, for A CONTAINED STORY, it was open ended. I know who Jesus was, I knew the miracles that he performed, I knew of the importance of his crucifiction.......but if I hadn't, the film would have done a horrible job of eliciting sympathy from me seeing Jesus as a person.

The Jesus in the movie could have been seen as just a man. A man that did things. A man that was, in essence, a purely religious fanatic.

That's not the Jesus I know. Of course you're going to be shocked and moved by this film. HOW CAN YOU NOT BE? Seriously, watching ANYONE, whether it be a stranger down the street to Jesus, seeing anyone flogged with spiked whips, seeing their flesh ripped open in plain view, seeing the thorns pressed into his head, seeing his agonizing journey to Golgotha, seeing the nails hammered into his hands, his shoulders dislocated, his body hanging with no support.......HOW CAN YOU NOT BE MOVED?

But the flashbacks were meager, at the most. They even went as far as becoming only plot devices, containing non-Biblical happenings (when Mary Magdalene ran (very over dramatically) to a fallen Jesus as a child), or being WAAAAAY too vague (the stoning of the prostitute was a horribly explained flashback) for general audiences.

It was a powerful film, one of the most phenomenal films I've seen in a long time. But that's because it was real. That's because this REALLY DID HAPPEN. It's completely accurate in it's adaptation, and that's the reason why it was so disturbing, so horrifying, so unerringly capable in its abilities to change you forever.

But, like The Onion said, it lacked soul. I cried and cried during the scene where Jesus was flogged. To realize, and see with your own eyes, the pain and agony that this man took for our sins, for our transgressions, was practically unbearable.

But after that scene I was practically tearless, and that's because I began seeing Jim Cavaziel instead of Jesus being "nailed" to that cross.

Gibson deserves kudos for this one. But with all the controversy and all the hype surrounding this one, it didn't live up to it all in every aspect.

I think that if it had, I would still be crying.

[Ugly Bastard]

I can definetly respect that. I grew up with the Bible pumped down my throat, so there really weren't too many cloudy areas for me. To me, the movie literally seemed perfect, almost divine.

Looking back on it, I could definetly see how some people might be completely clueless as to what was going on at some parts, which would make a decent case for it not being the most well-made movie of all time.

-Ugly Bastard

Well it's definitely not (at least in my mind) the most well-made film of all time. The film just isnt smart, plenty of emotion, just not mentally intriguing (Pulp Fiction would by my example of a smart, well-made, intriguing film). Nevertheless, I stand by my first statement that this is the most powerful film I've ever seen, never have I witnessed a group of people this large (who didn't know each other) completely silent. It was like everyone in the theater was in a state of awe.
It's also not a film you really feel like you need to watch again, and I'm willing to bet that it doesn't hold you captive as it did the first time.

[Ugly Bastard]

DJ, when I say it was the most well-made film, I am not taking into consideration the "smart, emotional, mentally intriguing" shit that you just mentioned above. I am talking more about the scenery, the camera angles, the timing between scenes, the stuff that the director takes care of. Whether it was "emotional" or whatever, is all to the eye of the beholder. It was very emotional for me, but maybe not for you...whatever. But simply from a standpoint of quality of production, I think it was second to none. There were no corners cut, and nothing was done half-assed. Mel Gibson says he felt like God was right beside him helping him make this movie, and after watching it, I'd say that I agree. It was perfectly made.

-Ugly Bastard

[Percipere'Chan]

I really need to go see this movie.

[Combat Chuck]

UB, this is COMPLETELY my opinion. As you said, it is up to the eye of the beholder. And there were moments in this movie that were very very perfect.

But there were things like the segues into the flashbacks that seemed really really sloppy to me. And I know that they weren't going for flashy effects or anything (in fact, that would have seemed wrong, like it was being too Hollywood-ized) but there were some times when I wished that they could have gone with less conventional shots. Or had more than the usual slew of shots. The flogging scene, while the most powerful scene in the movie, fell victim to that.

And the scene in Gethsemane was muddled technically. It just seemed that the editing room rushed through some of the shots.

HOWEVER, I need to get off my negative horse here, and state something that I completely forgot to mention.

How about the girl/man who played Satan? I don't know their exact name, but I know that it's foriegn and ends in an 'a', so I think that it was a woman.

But damn, whoever they were, they gave me the chills. That was one of the best performances of malice I HAVE EVER SEEN. I would go as far to say that they should get a nomination for Best Supporting Actor in next years Oscars. Really.

And that one scene with Judas and the demon by the bridge. That scared the crap out of me. The timing on that was PERFECT. Same with the centurion kicking the water out of the wife's hands as she offered it to Jesus. I jumped out of my seat on that part.

There were more than enough powerful moments that wrenched my heart out of it's hold, and truly made me take into account my beliefs and how I truly do love the Lord and thank him fervently for what he did for me. And I think that Mel Gibson really does deserve to be proud of this movie.

I really do need to stop being so critical.

UB - What did you think of the multiple times Jesus fell down?
Sure it's historically accurate, but that part of the film really seemed to break the flow, and be unnecessarily repetitive. I found watching that segment very frustrating (and not frustrating in the meaning that we are frustrated for Jesus, but for this cycle of fall down/ get up to just get over with).

[Ugly Bastard]

Originally posted by DJ FC:
UB - What did you think of the multiple times Jesus fell down?
Sure it's historically accurate, but that part of the film really seemed to break the flow, and be unnecessarily repetitive. I found watching that segment very frustrating (and not frustrating in the meaning that we are frustrated for Jesus, but for this cycle of fall down/ get up to just get over with).

I could see how that would get boring. I even felt a twinge of "oh shit, not this again" when it happened one of the last times.

Reviewing movies is a completely subjective science. There is no correct answer when someone says "What is the most well-made movie of all time". If I was asked that, I would say 'The Passion of the Christ'. If you were asked that, you would say something else. We're just going in circles trying to convince each other that we're right. The bottom line is, no two people will ever agree 100% on every criticism and compliment of every movie. I respect the fact that you have a few qualms with 'The Passion', and hope that you respect the fact that I do not have any qualms with the movie.

[Combat Chuck]

I think that the whole "falling down time and time again" thing got to me sort of how it got to UB. It was just a "how much more of this can I watch? How much more can they show?" I seriously wanted them to have cut to Golgotha (or at least, the climb to Golgotha) much sooner, just because the carrying of the cross was really hard to watch.

And UB, I'm sorry if I came off as trying to run everyone around in circles on whether or not this was a poorly or well made movie. I completely understand that your opinion is your opinion and so forth.

I apologize if my criticism was seen as forceful.

[I Drink Alone]

I have tickets to see it on Saturday and i am really looking forward to it.

[Shigmy]

It certainly was one of the most powerfull movies ever. I just saw it tonight and I've never ever been to a film that caused muliple people in the theater to cry out loud for most of the movie. That alone is enough to move you.

[Pliedes]

So, just to comment on a few things. People have been mentioning that they would have liked more stuff before and after the crucifixition, well, to be honest, thats not really what "the passion" is about. "the passion" has actually be produced via a variety of plays all over the country for the past few decades.
Anyway, as to the continual droping of the crucifix, I actually thought it was done very well. It really dragged out didn't it? It got old, you wanted it to be over... I think that was done intentionally to drive the severity of the whole process home.
I'm completely in agreeance that his movie was second to none in production. This movie will win oscars for it's audio and sound production if anything.
I personally was a big fan of the Gestemene scene, but thats just me, I liked the blue and grayscale.
I remember some girl saying before the movie "I heard that it's really violent"... and I was thinking "yeah hun, crucifixitions usually are "

[the Butcher]

Tonight...5 pm...I'm looking forward to it.

[I Drink Alone]

I just saw The Passion, and wow. It seriously moved me, and made me think about the way I live my life. That is definetely the example of ultimate suffering.

[AcTivE]

Originally posted by I Drink Alone:
That is definetely the example of ultimate suffering.

Good point. Kind of puts things in perspective... Just finished getting second half of the movie off of ShareReactor. Looks like it's almost DVD quality...I think it is.

Watched a little bit of it, but am going to wait for first half to finish first. Looks like a good one.

[Fruitacious B]

Illicit downloading of "The Passion of the Christ"? Interesting.....

[I Drink Alone]

I don't know what it may or may not have done for all of you, but for me it was what i guess you could call a affirmation or reaffirmation of my faith for me. It does put alot of things in perspective.

[the Butcher]

I saw it last night, and as bad as this sounds, it didn't fucking affect me. The gore was the shit and not at all hard to watch. It did nothing for me. The only thing I really have to say about the movie is that it was extremely well made. However, no more or less passion has been taking place in me since I've seen it. Oh well.

[death_by_technology]

I saw The Passion last night, now i am an extremly agnostic person but that movie did something to me it's making me think alot more about the way i live my life. The most moving part of the movie for me was his chastising, it brought me to tears to see that happen to someone. I really don't know what else to say but Mel Gibson has made the most moving movie i have ever seen

[StDx]

It didn't live up to the hype.

[I Drink Alone]

Dude your so gay, Jesus shouldn't have to live up to hype dickhead, he's fucking Jesus, show some goddamned respect.

[AcTivE]

Just finished watching it.

Wasn't exactly how I thought it was going to be--I was expecting quite a bit out of it.

Still easily one of the best put together movies I've seen. Defienetely puts what 'suffering' truly is in perspective in my mind...

Highly recommend seeing it.

[St. Anky]

Originally posted by I Drink Alone:
Dude your so gay, Jesus shouldn't have to live up to hype dickhead, he's fucking Jesus, show some goddamned respect.

"Goddamn respect..."

[StDx]

Originally posted by I Drink Alone:
Dude your so gay, Jesus shouldn't have to live up to hype dickhead, he's fucking Jesus, show some goddamned respect.

You poor, dumb bastard. I said nothing about jesus, I simply stated that the movie didn't live up to the hype. Maybe if you didn't let your father skeet directly into your fucking eye next time, you'd be able to read.

I liked the movie, it just wasn't nearly as profound and moving as I had been led to believe it would be.

[St. Anky]

I love it how anyone who goes to WCHS has this same ignorant mindset. Damn, I'm so glad I'm out of there.