The Passion

[Gypsy]

Has anyone else been following the development of this? It's a movie about the last 12 hours of Christ's life, and Mel Gibson is directing it. The entire thing is in the original Aramaic, and subtitled. Not that subs are new territory for most of us ...

When I first heard of this, I was very skeptical. The thought of a major mainstream movie about the death of Christ instantly put all my guards up. However, I happened to hear a radio program of a well-known preacher telling the story of how he was invited to the raw showing of it. He said that he broke down in tears several times during the film (and this is raw, remember, no emotional music or fancy editing) and he said what I was waiting to hear - there is a clear resurrection scene.

Obviously, the people behind this put in a lot of research hours to make it as authentic as possible. And, they didn't pull any stops on showing how violent Jesus' death was. And the trailer clearly shows this. You can find it here: http://www.themoviebox.net/trailers/moviebox_trailers/passion_tr_page.htm
Again, the trailer is pretty violent in itself, so discretion is advised if you're not on your own comp or you know that your parents would like to preview it first.

Two things I noticed from the trailer itself:

They depict Satan as a woman. Interesting approach....
Also, when they place the nail on his hand, I've always heard that it was actually the area right before the wrist that was nailed. But perhaps I'm mistaken. However, like I said before, great measures were taken to make this authentic as possible, but I don't think you can make a movie 100% the way it really happened. I just don't want a huge "That's not how it really would have happened!!" argument to break out, because that's not the point of this thread.

I'd imagine that when this movie does hit theaters (some are trying to ban it because of it's controversial content) that it will most assuredly be rated R.

[DanekJovax]

Well, I don't really care what content in the movie will be, save that it shows the unadulterated gospel, as we know it from the Word. Anything short of it is nothing less than saying the Lord's name in vain, like the Ralph Bakshi film "The Last Temptation of Christ", or the Broadway play "Jesus Christ, Superstar" (I think Weber did this one).

Both of these works, though Jesus-centered in scope, only capture an incomplete message of His life on this world, and hence only convey an incomplete salvation message. Maybe I missed something here, but that's my opinion - either show the whole gospel, or none of it at all.

[richardh01]

Also, when they place the nail on his hand, I've always heard that it was actually the area right before the wrist that was nailed. But perhaps I'm mistaken.

There is still debate about this. For a long time it was thought that the Romans would not use nails through the hands because when the victim was raised up the tissues in the hand would not be able to support the weight and therefore the victim would fall off the cross.

However, new evidence shows that the Romans MAY have used a clever "washer"-like mechanism to circumvent this effect. It is all speculation right now, and the only thing that matters, to paraphrase Paul is Christ and Him crucified, not Christ and whether the nails went through his hands or wrists...

[Technomancer]

What I've heard about it sounded good, apparently the filmmakers did a lot of heavy consultation with Vatican experts (the movie itself was filmed in Italy). Mel Gibson (the film's producer) is a very devout Catholic, as is the man playing Jesus.

Interestingly, the film wasn't even supposed to have subtitles. The producers were finally persuaded though, as it might limit the movie's appeal among North American audiences. Most of us here probably know the sequence of events off by heart anyways.

[SailorX]

OMG! I just watched the trailor and I'm in tears!!!!!!OH... Man, My tears won't stop!


But from a study of crucifixion I did a while ago, It was most likely through the wrist, between the bones to prevent bleeding, The main element death of crucifixion is suffication.

they nail the feet so the legs are bent, in order to breath, you have to stand up, but from loss of blood and other elements, you would loos to much engery, hence you hang at an angle with your shoulders are dislocated and lungs are crushed... leading to a slow miserable death of suffication...that's just the crucifixion... Add that up to everthging else!


Also the women who looks like she is Mary, Jesus' mom, Didn't she play Mary Magdilan in another Jesus movie?

Also, I wouldn't expect any surgar-coating from Mel Gibson! Look at Brave heart!.

[Gremio]

I heard about it and saw the trailer and for the most part heard it was good. untill of cource Mel Gibson gets into personal things in parts of the film. Hes whats known as a "traditional catholic", they basically dont follow the pope and hold to very old catholic views and number not so many. In this movie I couldnt help but notice his strong portrayal of it being the Jews fault for Christs crucifixion, and placing the blame apon them rather than it being his plan from the beginning and the cross being the fault of every person that sins to this day.
His father of cource is a blatant anti-semite and holocaust denier, but thats a bit off topic.

Having said all that, the core message is of cource The Gospel so its hard to flaw.

[Technomancer]

The particular term for these people is "sedevacantist" (I will not call them Catholic). They sprang into existence after Vatican II, denying the council's legitimacy and the legitimacy of Pope John XXIII (and the subsequent popes). I had heard Mel Gibson's father was of this persuasion, but was not sure about the actor himself, since the news media doesn't seem to bother with such distinctions.

[Gremio]

As far as I know, Mel Gibson actualy paid for and built the church his father and himself attend and he is the same type of catholic as him. I think I actually saw that in an article in the new york times back before the film was made months ago.

[Bobtheduck]

Both of these works, though Jesus-centered in scope, only capture an incomplete message of His life on this world, and hence only convey an incomplete salvation message. Maybe I missed something here, but that's my opinion - either show the whole gospel, or none of it at all.

Scorsesse's "Temptation" is not merely incomplete. It was made to say that Jesus was not God and that he was just another human, and he had those desires like everyone else... In other words it was a denial of the very Godhood of Jesus... Not that something like that is a shock... People all around me deny the Godhood of Jesus. And the existance of God. However, I could not watch something that's sole purpose was to defame my God. That's not saying I haven't in the Past (south park, certain episodes in particular)

Jesus Christ Superstar, on the other hand, I view as just a bit too relaxed, though I haven't seen the whole thing so... I could be wrong (I know about temptation through what I saw on Bravo as well as Scorsesse's own words...)

Passion looks really interesting to me, but there's still one issue that temptation actually got right that no other movie about Jesus has gotten right... Jesus didn't have a nice loin cloth to cover him on the cross. He was naked for everyone to see. Not that I want to see that, but temptation was more accurate in that respect... And perhaps it would aid in realizing the humiliation and not just pain that went into being on the cross. In any case, for this current generation, it could probably be said that doing such a thing would cause more harm than the good of showing another level of what Jesus went through.

I am looking forward to this movie. I hope it doesn't defame my God like some before it have.

[Gypsy]

In this movie I couldnt help but notice his strong portrayal of it being the Jews fault for Christs crucifixion, and placing the blame apon them rather than it being his plan from the beginning and the cross being the fault of every person that sins to this day.

Well, that would be a little hard to communicate across. It'd be a little unrealistic to have people in jeans, business suits, and such out there in the crowd. At the time, it really was the Jews and the Romans that killed Christ, but the importantly thing is the reason why he died - for all of us. However, the resurrection scene is where that idea ultimately will take form, I believe.

[Bobtheduck]

At the time, it really was the Jews and the Romans that killed Christ

And probably non-roman gentiles as well... In other words, we all killed him.