The Passion of The Christ
Do you know Jesus? I was always under the impression that God was black, lesbian, and Jewish. After seeing Mel Gibson’s Jesus, I now understand that most people believe the Christ family was white!
Anyway, I caved into the propaganda and conspiracy and saw The Passion of the Christ. How do I explain this movie? Let me see.
Okay, imagine if Mel Gibson had made a movie, we’ll call it, for example, The Life of Jesus. Now, let’s just say that this movie was a trilogy. Instead of releasing all three movies he just releases the second film and calls it The Passion of the Christ. That’s how I felt after watching this film, like I had watched the middle of a movie.
This is a two hour movie on the crucifixion of Jesus. That’s it. No more, no less. I don’t know where the main character came from, why they wanted to crucify him, or anything that would add to a PLOT. (A plot, Mel! A plot!) The only thing I gained from this movie was how a crucifixion is performed.
From what I personally know of the tales of Jesus, as little as that may be, I can honestly tell you that the actual process of his crucifixion was the only thing I didn’t need explained. I can understand emphasizing just how horrible this was, but two whole hours?
Maybe those who are familiar with all the other details about Jesus and biblical times will enjoy this movie. I would have enjoyed a little more of a story. When someone asks me how this movie was all I can say is, “Well, there was this guy Jesus and these other people crucified him.” That and capital punishment is wrong.
I just personally found the film to be rather dull, lacking a lot in the story department, and severely overrated. I just didn’t grasp the message here, if there even was one. Maybe I should have read the book first?
I found the interview with Mel Gibson’s dad, Hutton Gibson, more interesting. Afterall, he thinks most of the Holocaust is fiction. [Full transcript here]
I just don’t think this movie really lived up to all the press it’s getting.
10 Comments, Comment or Ping
There was excellent plot andexplanation. Everyone knew who Jesus was. It explained in the movie why the pharises wanted to crucify him. How hard is that to understand? Maybe you were a bit too critical.
Mar 5th, 2004
Not everyone knows who Jesus was. I still stick with my opinion, that this movie is more so for people who understand and practice the Christian faith and need a graphic, bloody, awakening of what they think happened to Jesus.
This wasn’t a movie about Jesus and the tale of him, it’s a personal, detailed, interpretation of his crucifixion. That’s it.
I don’t know where Jesus came from, what he did, and why they wanted to kill him. And if it was mentioned in the movie, I must have missed it or fell asleep.
I am being critical because, in my opinion, it just wasn’t a good movie.
Mar 5th, 2004
I would say that you went into the movie with an agenda already in your mind by the way you framed this article in its beginning. I am going into this movie with an agenda as well.
Mar 5th, 2004
Well of course, everyone goes to see a movie with an agenda. Then, just with any other movie, you watch it and form an opinion about it when the end credits roll.
I enjoy a good film that either entertains or enlightens, and personally, this particular film neither entertained or enlightened me.
Mar 5th, 2004
It may not have meant anything to you, but to a Christian who knows the story of Christ’s Passion, the movie was incredibly moving. It affected me more than any movie i have ever seen, and i think that most people wouldnt need much of an explanation about what happened. The movie was putting a powerful image to the well known story.
Mar 10th, 2004
One must realize that not everything you know is known and recognized by everybody else. As a Christian, it’s easy for you to say that the story of Jesus wouldn’t need much explanation and the story is well known, however, not everyone is Christian and not everyone knows the story of Jesus.
A friend of mine recently saw this movie and she said that she couldn’t say that it was good or bad, just that it was moving. Which I’m sure can be applied to many religious folk who have seen it.
Personally, as a non-religious person, this movie wasn’t very moving and wasn’t very informative to me. Just because it’s a movie about Jesus doesn’t automatically make it a well put together movie. But afterall, it’s just a movie anyway.
Mar 11th, 2004
You are very cynical. Instead of saying the movie is overrated and wasn’t entertaining, which it was not and shouldn’t be, or enlightening, try reading the bible. You do not have to be a religious person to read the bible or try and find the message behind this movie. It seems to me that you just saw it to come back and knock the movie. How was this film a conspiracy? it amazes me that anyone would say that. A movie about Jesus full of propaganda and dripping with conspiracy? I hope that one day you will try to understand the works of Jesus and then again watch this movie. You got nothing out of it because you did not want to get anything out of it. You cannot expect to go see something and fully understand it not knowing any background information. PLEASE READ THE BIBLE! I Hope one day you will learn who Jesus is and what he did for you and appreciate his love for you even if you have none for him. I am a 16 year old girl who had somewhat lost my religion, but when I saw this movie, I realizes what I was walking away from.Have you ever been to church.. DO you even believe in Jesus? Going to church and knowing Jesus is life changing. Please give Jesus a chance… Please let down the wall of hostility I sense in you. I Hope that somethings I have said you will think about and I wish for the best for you in life.
Mar 15th, 2004
If a movie isn’t supposed to be entertaining or enlightening, then what is a movie supposed to be?
It’s just a movie. I’ve seen plenty of movies based on books without reading the book prior to the movie. When you make a movie, you shouldn’t make a movie with the concept that everybody knows what it’s about before seeing it, then leaving all the details that make it a story, out of the movie.
I saw the movie because it looked interesting and it seemed to be the only thing in the news for a solid week. Instead of this movie bringing a visual to the story of Jesus, it was strictly a 2 hour movie based on his crucifixion. It was boring.
I can understand your passion for the story and your religion, but because I do not like a movie, doesn’t give you the right to preach to me about religion and try to impose your beliefs on me. It was just a movie and it wasn’t interesting enough to make me read the book. But you’re right, I didn’t get anything out of it except how to perform a crucifixion, there was nothing else to get out of the movie in my opinion..
I don’t know how you misconstrued my review of this movie and turned this into a recruitment for church.
I saw a movie, I didn’t like it and wrote about it. I’m not talking about religion or downing whatever beliefs it entails. Because I don’t like a movie doesn’t mean I don’t like your religion or whatever it is you seem to be getting at.
I’m not easily influenced by movies like you seem to be, but because this movie moved you and converted you back to a religious way of life, you can’t expect it to do the same for everybody else.
Mar 15th, 2004
First of all, this movie isn’t SUPPOSED to be entertaining. I’m also suprised that you knew nothing about Jesus at all, but I guess that doesn’t really go with what I am trying to say.
You really don’t need to know much at all before you see the movie. It states point blank right in the beginning that he obviously IS the son of GOD. You need to quit being so ignorant and actually try to get a better understanding of things before you turn them down. I’ll pray for you.
Apr 9th, 2004
Ignorant? Ignorant because the movie was a horrible, sadistic, perspective of the beating of Christ. Give me a break.
The movie sucked, regardless of my understanding of Jesus. Once again, NOT EVERYBODY IS CHRISTIAN. NOT EVERYBODY KNOWS EVERYTHING ABOUT YOUR RELIGION. It was a BAD movie. Because the main character was one of your favorite characters of Christian mythology does not make this a GOOD movie. One need not be Christian to like this movie.
If a movie is not to be entertaining then what IS IT supposed to be? Please, enlighten me momentarily, ok?
Please try to refrain from preaching your faith to me because of A MOVIE. It was JUST A MOVIE. Because I did not like a movie DOES NOT MEAN you should come throwing your religion around.
I reiterate IT WAS JUST A MOVIE. A REALLY BAD MOVIE. Get over it.
Perhaps you should pray that you will no longer be so callous to people that have no interest in your religion and I’ll pray that you wake up from your delusional one religion belief.
Apr 10th, 2004
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