Review of:The Passion of the Christ (2004)
Director:Mel Gibson
Rating:R for sequences of graphic violence
Starring:James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Rosalinda Celentano, Sergio Rubini, Mattia Sbragia
There are very few times when a film can accentuate the book version of itself. I would think it would be doubly hard to bring to the screen a book as great as the bible. In Mel Gibson's‚ “The Passion of The Christ”, we must celebrate the first version that brings about the complete understanding of the last twelve hours of his life, and what that sacrifice must have been like.
The Passion of The Christ won't be hailed by everyone as the great cinematic experience that it is, there are too many people who are concerned about the effects that this film will have on modern day life. A fact that is astounding in itself. Who would imagine that a book written so long ago would have enough relevance today that it would concern so many people.
This film‚ which is based off of several different sources‚ "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ", "The Mystical City of God" by St. Mary of Agreda‚ and the New Testament books of John‚ Luke‚ Mark‚ and Matthew is short and to the point. Why would Mr. Gibson just choose those last twelve hours of his life to portray when there is so much that has been written. The answer‚ in my opinion‚ is that he wanted the world to see the travesty it had carried out on the man.
The film has been hailed as anti-semitic or at the very least irresponsible to the facts it portrays of the past. In my viewing of the film I came up with something different. It seemed to me that every faction of man turned his back on what was happening. People who thought him innocent didn’t lift a hand to help him‚ and those who had walked with him and experienced his miracles turned away when things became tough. It left me thinking about how I would feel‚ if I had come to help of my own choice. Eyes turned away as I was led to a death that I didn’t deserve. In this day and age its hard for us to handle someone not saying thank you.
That was one of the reactions that I had to the film‚ and it was the first time I had complete understanding of what I have read and been told my whole life. The words from the bible had taken on visual form and I achieved a greater understanding because of it.
The scenes that were supposed to be anti-semetic in nature were to me more closely related to differences in social class. The haves were trying to hold on to what power they had by any means necessary.
The fact that the violence in the film was so strong that it knocked me off the pedestal of complacency was not lost on me, but to be completely honest it is necessary to get across the main focal point of the film. With each punch or every whipping I came to understand the totalness of the crimes perpetrated against Jesus. A man who only wanted to make life better for those he came in contact with, and who's only crime was that he wanted to show the world a different way. Instead he was punished for it with the taking of his life.
Does Gibson go over the line with his portrayal of what happened to Jesus in those last hours? No, I don't believe so. He is letting us see what is so wrong with what is going on.
It is hard to say how actor James Caviezel (Jesus) did in the film as far as his acting is concerned. It doesn't take much acting to show the things Jesus went through in those last hours. There is no true outstanding performance given in the film, but it holds your attention nonetheless.
This is a film that should be seen. It is a film that will definitely change the way religious films are produced in the future. Mel Gibson has brought his passion to fruition, and has fashioned it into ours.
