Well let me see if I can give this chosen topic the Justice it deserves, that in itself is going to be a task :smile.
Can someone explain something to me??? Why is it that movies have to have all the gore and sex to feel like they've made a great film when the story line is no better than a porn flick really, however, when someone makes a movie of substance and conviction it is ridiculed to such a degree that is just down right sickening!!
What am I talking about?? The movie "The Passion Of Christ". In case you've been living under a rock, it is a movie about the last twelve hours of Christ.
I'm anxious to go and see this movie, not because of all the hype that surrounds it, but because it is a film about someone whom has much meaning in my life.
I'll not preach, as I leave that job for my daddy, he is better at than I am since he is a preacher :biggrin. However, I will state this observation, how can anyone not expect to see blood, pain and suffering when the movie is about the last twelve hours of his life??? How can anyone actually believe they'd not witness blood, pain and suffering when while he was alive nails were drilled, okay in that age, HAMMERED, into his hands and feet??? How can ANYONE not expect to see blood, pain and suffering when a man had to carry the cross on his back through crowded streets while he was being beaten???? Can ANYONE explain to me HOW anything can be accurately portrayed without showing such things????
I mean really, let's think about it, we as a civilization watch worse things than that happen on any given movie we watch just for the "fun of it". What this film "The Passion" is portraying is a true event documented in the most read book ever written, The Bible.
Could it be that those who are so upset about the portrayal, are those who can not bare to have in their faces that one man sacrificed his life to save all of ours??? I mean, a movie to this magnitude is going to cause anyone who sees the film to reflect within themselves and let's face it, this day and age, that is not something any of us do well, at least to see the worse within us.
I've watched several interviews with Mel Gibson and how they just hammer away at him, some have accused him for doing this for monetary gain, some have flat out said "WHAT WERE YOU THINKING", yet he has also had many interviews where they showed support and patted him on the back for sticking to his convictions. I say KUDOS to Mel Gibson for this movie!!!
While watching Jay Leno the night Mel was on there; Jay stated how he felt when he left the movie; he stated that he began reflecting on his own life and instead of thinking "this is gory", he felt a sadness of how far we've fallen from beliefs ~ or something of that nature.
Then tonight while reading over the news I saw this clip go check it out.
I look forward to viewing this movie, but even before viewing it, it has caused me to reflect on my life and my lack of forgiveness towards other's and the like. I mean let's face, on a good day, I'm not a very nice person :biggrin. I welcome the brick to fall on my head and put me back on the right track. Hey here is a concept, if enough people reflect who knows maybe revival will hit the nation and/or nations whichever the case maybe and love could conquer all after all. Now there is a concept to think about!!!
Okay I"m seriously going to bed now :smile ~ tootles everyone ~
GOING TO CHURCH DOES NOT MAKE YOU A CHRISTIAN ANYMORE THAN STANDING IN A GARAGE MAKES YOU A CAR
Well there has been a lot of publicity about this film and Mel Gibson and his intentions.
Yes agreed you cannot do a film about Christs last 12 hours without terrible torture being involved, however I will not be choosing to pay to see it.
They had three panelist on a talk show here in the UK called the Richard and Judy show. Two of the panelist were Jewish and one Catholic and I have no idea why there was not a representative of the church of england which you could construe because it was jews v catholice (which Mel Gibson is). Any one of these was David Horowitz who disclaimed the anti semtic idea that was brought up and highly publiced. He said he found 20 minutes of the torture harrowing and left the cinema at the end for a stiff drink as he was so shaken by the ordeal. As a non believer of God but a believer that Jesus was some kind of Jewish prophet or politician of his day and was executed by the Romans a as any other polical prisoner would have been at that time. It was not unknown for them to execute 2,000 people at one time in exactly the same way as 'Christ'.
The only reason I can see why this film has received so much hype is the anti jewish feeling it maybe likely to cause.
I used to like Mel Gibson but when I heard that he is one of the people who deny the Holocaust happened I have changed my mind about him.
My other gripe about the film is that he spent all that time getting 20 minutes of torture correct but he portrayed Jesus with the typical european stereo type looks, when he would have been olive skinned with tight curly black hair as a Jew from the period of history. So my complaint is if your going for realism lets have it done properly right down to the last tee.
Let me know how you get on when you see it Jamie.
Love, Sylvie
I agree wholeheartedly Jamie. I think that everyone who is complaining about the blood, violence and gore should stop and think about the fact that viewing those things is only a fraction of what he went through. I don't think badly of Jewish people for what occured then anymore than I think a black person that views a movie about slavery would come out and get all worked up about the white people. Sure, there are the ones out there that will try to make something of it, but that happens all the time and the Jewish people who I've heard interviewed are the ones who talked about anti-semetism... I think it has alot to do with the fact that Jews don't believe in Christ as anything more than a prophet (from what I understand... If I'm wrong, please forgive!) They need to have a little more faith in mankind.
I applaud Mel Gibson for this endeavor. I don't go see movies because they're real or not. I go for entertainment. I take most things at face value and don't assume that it is absolute fact. Any adult should feel this same way. This movie is an interpretation just like the books of the bible are. I think everyone just needs to see it (or not) and then reflect on their own values. If nothing else, maybe this will get us all thinking about how we really should be conducting our lives and raising our children.
I'm really glad you posted this. It was very insightful and honest without being "in your face". Like you, I have many ministers (Methodist) in my family so I was taught the gospel but interpreted into my life the best I can but when things start going crazy I know the guidelines and rules are right there in the bible... all we have to do is pick it up.
Thinking of how awful those last 12 hours must have been, it certainly makes you stop and think about how things in your life might be bad but someone else suffered indignities (being spat on)wounds, being given vinegar to drink instead of water, not to mention being nailed to a cross. All of this and yet his last words were, "Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do." Life seems pretty good today when you stop and think about it, right? Sorry this was so long!
What you say here is true. I haven't seen this movie (and not sure if I will), but I think you have a point here.
Mom ~
I'm so glad you stopped by and left a comment, I actually posted this with you in my mind. I know what you believe and don't believe, hense why I value your opinion!! However, if memory serves me correctly, it was not Mel Gibson who stated that about the Holocaust, it was his father. Mel just told the person whom was interviewing him, again if memory serves me corerctly Diane Sawyer, that subject was off limits. He loved his father and his father's views and his did not always match. But then again we are working on my memory 
. I'll email you once I see the movie and let you know how I felt about it all as a whole and knowing you and I we will debate issues ~ man I miss you MOM!!!
Kristi ~ you and I being raised very similar I enjoyed reading your point of view also ~ I can't imagine anyone's life even if for one hour being lived out in such torture!!!!
Dr. D ~ thank you for your input ~ I want to see the movie but with our lives so busy at this moment I don't know if I'll be able to visit in theaters right now myself. Then again, even if I wanted too, it is sold out in our area ~ I'll let everyone know if I do see it and my take on the whole issue. I do believe however it is something for everyone to sit back and take thought on about how society as we all know it right now and how our actions contribute. Yes even mine.
Thank you all for stopping by and posting your comments!!!