A TRULY MOVING EXPERIENCE

So, was the movie as good as the hype I've been hearing? Or, was it a vehicle for anti-Semitic neo-Nazis as some have claimed? My quick answers to these questions are "yes" and "no" respectively.

My best friend and I bought tickets to the movie last Sunday. We could only obtain the late feature (9:55 p.m.) as all earlier showings were sold out. For the first time in years, we waited in a long line to get into the movie (I know this is a common experience in big cities but it's unheard of in Odessa, Texas). I wish that we could have seen the film earlier in the evening so that we could have visited about it. Although, I'm not sure we could have spoken due to emotion. I asked my friend's wife what she thought of the movie as we were leaving the theater, and she was unable to talk.

WAS THE MOVIE AS GOOD AS THE HYPE?

I've already answered this in the affirmative but I want to tell why I believe it was one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. First, the acting of the main characters. The most obvious character, Jesus, as most of the earth now knows, was played by James Caviezel who also appeared in "The Count of Monte Cristo" and the recent so-so "Highwaymen." The only thing I would be worried about if I were Mr. Caviezel is how to come close to this performance in any other movie. Also, there is the worry that Caviezel might be "typecast" into this type of role but I really don't think he cared. As a devout Catholic himself, I believe he put his entire heart and soul into the role. It shows.

All the other characters also shine. Maia Morganstern plays Mary the Mother of Christ to perfection. She is stoic at times as she too knows how the events will unfold. But, the pain that is shown in her eyes reflects what any mother would think while losing a child. Monica Bellucci plays Magdalen beautifully and Rosalinda Celentano portrays the Devil as I've never seen that character presented. Rosalinda's voice was not used but her performance at times brought chills to me. Evil personified.

After the acting, the cinematography, the music, the makeup work on Jesus and the special effects are all fantastic. Also, the screenplay, based on the Gospels, is very true to the Bible. If I have a complaint, I wish that the movie had "flashed back" more often to emphasize the teachings of Jesus. Rest assured, a number of his finest moments are represented but I would have liked a few more.

Gibson also chose to present the movie in the original languages of the time, Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew. This did not bother me but added a sense of authenticity to the film. The use of subtitles is another reason that small children should not see the film (although not as important as the violence.)

THE VIOLENCE

I have seen thousands of movies in my life. I like sci-fi and murder mysteries although I'm not fond of many of the slasher movies of the last twenty years. However, even though I loved this film, the violence, in my opinion, is far too harsh to show to young children. I realize that Gibson was attempting to show what he believes is an accurate representation of what Jesus went through, but I don't thing small children should be subjected to this. There was a young child behind me in the theater and she cried and moaned through much of the film. How is she going to process this violence in contrast to the teaching that God is a loving entity. I suppose that's an individual decision but I would see the film before taking a child to it.

IS THE FILM ANTI-SEMITIC?

I answered this in the negative at the first of the review. Why? Well, in the film, it is obvious that it was the leaders of the Jewish community (the Pharasees) who were all for Jesus being crucified. Whether you believe the Bible or not, it was obvious that Jesus was a thorn in their sides. This story has been told for centuries now. If you watch the movie closely, you will see that most of the Jewish people are portrayed as opposing the killing of Jesus. As a friend of mine pointed out, much of the hatred in the film can be aimed at the Roman soldiers (although not at all of them). Does that mean we should call the film "Anti-Roman or Italian? I am writing about a sensitive subject here but I feel as though Mel Gibson was not trying to get us to "hate" anyone except those who act out of evil intent.

Once again, whether you are a Christian or not, Jesus himself asks God "to forgive them, for they know not what they do." He says this while hanging on the cross in excruciating pain. Why can't we look at the love this man showed us rather than emphasize hatred.

I commend Mel Gibson and the entire crew of this film. I believe that the movie has brought religion out of the shadows that it sometimes seems to lurk.

Finally, a few words about the title to my review. I've been known to cry while viewing Hallmark commercials so I may not be the most reliable sources for reporting emotional impact. That said, I was not the only person around me who needed tissue. Also, after the film, very few people stood up and NO ONE said anything. It was as though we had just been to a very emotional funeral of a loved one. It seems to cheapen the movie to rank it but I have to give it FIVE STARS.

p.s. At the end of movie reviews, we are given three choices of whether we would see the movie again: Never again, If I'm bored, and Yes, but I'll wait for the video. I will see this movie again on the big screen as my wife did not get to see it.