My Passion...



I have seen 'The Passion of the Christ' twice, here are my thoughts:

1) The media, ah the media. It is very interesting how they hype whatever they think will better their agenda. Yes, I said agenda. The media is very good at taking the complaints of, well I don’t know who it is, people/groups, who are in agreement with their views and turning it into a complaint against this movie. The first one I heard was that it is “anti-Semitic”. Like I said, I have seen it twice and it is so powerful and the message so fundamental that you don’t worry about the Jews or their actions. The story is the story, read the Bible. I felt nothing for or against the Jews as they were depicted. I did feel that the Romans were idiotic drunks, well except Pilate. He comes off as very thoughtful, which is curious based on the stories I heard about him growing up. There are many times in history where one group of people has done something to another group, but that does not mean it will happen again or that it should. It is history and should be treated as such. In fact, I would not even of thought about that if it were not for the media.

2) To violent. This is the one thing I've heard that really makes me wonder about the people making the complaint. The reason I wonder about this is because I know the story. I know that Jesus took on the sin of the world. The whole world, for all time; past, present and future. Since he took that on, don’t you think it would be violent? Pick your villain; read the history of what that villain did, now put that on Jesus. He took it all. It was the reason He came.

The first time I saw the movie I was an alone (well as alone as you can be in a theater that is almost sold out). The reason I went alone the first time was to see if I could take my son, who is 12. He was raised knowing the story of Jesus, but do to the reports of “extreme violence” I did not want him to see it if it was inappropriate. After seeing it last Thursday alone, he came with my wife and I this time. His comment after the movie, which by the way, he could not stop watching, was that “it was gory, but good”. Talking to him a little later I ask him if it bothered him. He said, “no, because Jesus went through that because no one else could and that he had to, to save us”. Smart kid. Would I recommend the movie to children that do not know about the Bible in total, not sure, but out of context (which must be how all the dissenters are seeing it) the violence would make no sense. Oh, wait, that is like the violence in about half of the movies Hollywood puts out, violence for violence sake, never mind.

3) The movie. It is the story I know. It is done better than any other one I have seen on the subject. It is very enjoyable; in fact, it passed my good movie test. If you forget you’re at the movies, if you are so into it that you don’t notice your surroundings, it is a good movie. I have "lost" 4 hours of my life and I am glad I have. The use of 'flash-backs' to add very important context is brilliant. Satan is just creepy. Again, I would say that this movie means much more and is more enjoyable if you know the story. One more thing, the ending makes the whole movie work, if you have seen it and know the story, you know.

4) I hope it continues to sellout theaters and I can’t wait for the DVD. We will show Hollywood what we care about and the kind of movies we want, with our money.

Go see it, well worth your time and money. Note to everybody that is making a big deal out of this movie, it is a MOVIE. Good yes, important yes, but still just a MOVIE.

Other notes:

--The first time I saw it there was a couple behind me, the 'wife' asked, "do you think all these people are Christians?" The 'husband', "In name only". But I guess the movie worked because I heard them both crying a couple times during the movie.

--The 'ticket-taker' kid warned us as we walked in that the "movie contained extreme violence and was rated R". The first time I saw the movie I thought that this was curious, the second time I asked if they had given the same warning for every movie that had violence? I said, " Did you warn everyone going in to see 'Kill Bill'?" He just said no and that the management made them say that, hmmm.

--Watching the people come out of the showing before mine and watching the people watching us leave was very interesting.

--How everyone acts after the movie is like nothing I have ever seen before. I am sure you will see it when you go.

Other reviews that I would agree with: The Moderate Voice (via Lee), Allan's thoughts, Joshua has his and here is another very interesting take.

Want another view? These folks didn't like it. It will be interesting to see others comment.

Update: More reviews are coming in, here are "Tom Paine's" first impressions. And the backpedalling begins.


Posted: Sat - February 28, 2004 at 06:13 PM      

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