My 2 Cents on "The Passion" (1172 hits)
Category: Movies & TVRating: 0.57 on 44 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Phoenix <volklcess.at.aol.com> (View user info) at 2004-03-02 14:33:59 EST
When I walked out of the theatre after seeing "The Passion of the Christ" on Saturday with my boyfriend, I was overcome with an eerie calm. It was cold outside, I could see my breath on the air - the world was silent and the right words for how I felt about the movie were denied me. I'm not a very religious person; I've argued with many a Catholic friend about the brain-washing ways of their religion, I posted my thoughts on God and religion here as well (http://www.ubersite.com/m/22810), and yet regardless of what my thoughts are on Jesus and God, I still found myself hugging my legs to my chest in horror during the movie and my eyes welled up with tears at various parts. Something about the movie displaced something inside me and I couldn't, until now, quite put my finger on what that was.
The basis of the movie is the last 12 hours of Christ's life and all the brutality he suffered under the wrath of the Romans and those Jews who felt that claiming he was their king was blasphemy, that this meager Galilean could not be their savior. From there you get to watch 2 hours and 7 minutes of one man get the living hell beat out of him with an occasional break from violence with flashbacks to better times, a brief cameo of King Herod claiming that Jesus of Nazareth shouldn't be crucified because he's simply insane, and Pontius Pilot telling the people that if they wanted to crucify this man he would have no part in spilling an innocent man's blood.
One of the parts that struck a huge chord with me was the incredibly apparent naivety of the people who, given a choice to let Jesus, a seemingly docile and harmless man who's simply expressed his beliefs, or Barbaras, a murderer who looks like he could start foaming at the mouth on cue, go free, choose to let the murderer go, and thus Jesus is condemned to death by crucifixion and a huge wooden cross is hoisted onto his already beaten and battered shoulders.
And while it is commendable that Jesus took a stand for what he believed he was; believed so deeply, in fact, he died for it, this movie didn't move me because it was Jesus. Jesus was not the first nor will he be the last person to die for their cause - I use as an example "The Life of David Gale," but perhaps an even better one is POWs who suffer just as much cruelty that Jesus Christ did all so that their society can take for granted the freedom that so many assume comes naturally.
This movie deeply moved me because it shows human nature at its worst. It reveals humans as the savages they are when one is not willing to conform - do as they say, act as they say, believe in what they say is true. If you bite than hand that feeds you, it's that same hand that will bring you to your death. It was the sadistic laughs and the pompous smiles of the men beating Jesus that sent a shiver down my spine and not so much that it was Jesus Our Savior under the whip. It was the soldiers who punished Jesus for falling with his cross that saddened me and not so much that it was Jesus who fell.
I'm not taking a stand to say it's a ridiculous monstrosity that we're worshipping a carpenter that lived over 2000 years ago, but his death and the reasons behind it has been carried through many generations and many different languages so much now that it is hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Ever play a game of telephone (or "operator" as some call it)? Stretch that into several centuries and a handful of virtually untranslatable languages and you have yourself the Bible.
"The Passion of the Christ" was powerful to me not because it portrays the last few hours of the man who supposedly died for our sins, but because it shows in full force how society feels about non-conformists and how rampant sadism can be if you're an outcast, and that makes ours a sick, sad world.
User Reviews
Submitted by Dragon (user info) at 2004-03-04 23:30:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I don't care how many reviews there are of this movie, or how sick people are of them. It was a great movie, and if people want to say so, let 'em.
Bone to pick: Would I have been as moved if it were someone else being scourged rather than the man I believe to be my Lord? Hell no. I would have said something along the lines of, "Beh, serves 'em right!" And then eaten the rest of my popcorn. I wish I had been in Roman times, I would have had a front row seat to all the Gladiatorial matches. Human pain has no effect on me.
My point is, this movie moved me only, and only, because it was Jesus on the screen. It didn't reflect society, it didn't reflect twisted views, someone's greed, people's stupidity, the dangers of LSD, how to build a deck in ten easy steps, or any other thing some dumbass brings up out of the bowels of his stinking mind to prove how it was a "bad movie".
...I'm done...
Submitted by lush (user info) at 2004-03-04 23:05:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
0 because I really don't want to see any more posts on this movie... I don't care how great it is, I am not interested.
Submitted by creep_firebombing (user info) at 2004-03-04 22:41:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I fucking love you. I didn't see the movie and I don't intend to simply because Gibson made this Braveheart 4. (B2 was The Patriot. B3 was We Were Soldiers (which I'm super-pissed about because it was based on an awesome book)).
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-03-02 20:52:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
nothing against you volkless
Submitted by bob (user info) at 2004-03-02 20:51:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
IVE HAD ENOUGH WITH THESE POSTS ABOUT THE FUCKING MEL GIBSON MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Submitted by Scott_James (user info) at 2004-03-02 20:09:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
"Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:49:36 (#)
Ranking: 0
BongZilla - Sorry, my bad. I wasn't saying that POWs choose to die; what I was comparing was that a lot POWs end up dying for a cause (their country) and what makes Jesus any better than them?
Phoenix"
Well, ignoring the fact that Christians believe that Jesus died for humanity's sins - which is what makes him better, if you like, this was a well-thought out review.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:49:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
BongZilla - Sorry, my bad. I wasn't saying that POWs choose to die; what I was comparing was that a lot POWs end up dying for a cause (their country) and what makes Jesus any better than them?
Phoenix
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:48:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Matt's kick ass. I've never met a Matt I don't like - and I got one of my own that I love
<insert awwws> or <insert gags> according to how you feel about that last statement.
:-)
Phoenix
Submitted by BongZilla (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:47:08 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
"but perhaps an even better one is POWs who suffer just as much cruelty that Jesus Christ....."
get your facts straight POWs don't choose to die.
-BongZilla
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:46:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Lacy, Queen Bee is making our new friend Matt take her to the movie. She got free passes from a Pastor she used to strip for.
go figger
-Turtle
Howmany more Matt's can we make see this movie?
Submitted by LacyFace16 (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:41:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have to see this movie!
I'm making Matt see it with me when I get down to Florida. He doesn't want to buy the tickets so I have a feeling he's going to make me. He said "can you see me going up to the ticket counter and saying 'uh, 2 for Passion...'" but anyway, he's my movie partner for this one.
:-)
Michelle
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:35:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
This one's for you, pissedpanties.
"I'm not taking a stand to say it's a ridiculous monstrosity that we're worshipping a carpenter that lived over 2000 years ago, but his death and the reasons behind it has been carried through many generations and many different languages so much now that it is hard to distinguish fact from fiction. Ever play a game of telephone (or "operator" as some call it)? Stretch that into several centuries and a handful of virtually untranslatable languages and you have yourself the Bible. "
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:31:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
pissedpanties. Cute name. You read, what? The first paragraph?
Submitted by pissedpanties (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:28:35 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Well I'm glad you felt all warm and mooshy.Are you sure you didn't just cream yourself?Jesus was looking pretty hot, hung up all sweaty and what not.Now for a little backround info on the movie.Mel Gibson is a sick fuck.Son of a even more twisted racist fucker.His father say he knows that hitler didn't kill all those "pencil pushing" jews.Becasue the gas chambers (and he should know) weren't proplerly built to kill them.No they all went to the states to get more money.Now when your raised by a man with opinions like that.You know you'll grow up twisted.Thats why he spent his money to make this crappy,typical hollywood blockbuster directed,anti semetic, shit of a film.To please his fucked up daddy.Now duh, you'll feel sappy and peaceful whatching this insane man be tortured.Any weak minded,pathetic fool felt the same afterwards, and continous to feel so after any brainwashed events.
You should feel happy to know that if you told this to any christian,they would simply smile and say."Yes I pray every night that non-believers would feel the holy spirit while whatching this film.God bless you".Then you'd think shit, maybe there...is a god.PATHETIC.
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:26:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
you fuckin happy?
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:26:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
and another
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:25:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
*sigh*
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:25:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
here ya go
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:08:20 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Wait, I just have to give another. So what if i'm immature? Its fucking fun.
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:07:25 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Alright, im done responding. Go ahead, flame me.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 19:04:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
How do you know what the movie was "meant" to reflect? Did you help write it?
And on a side note, the extra -2s make a great spectacle of your immaturity. I'm not trying to get a rise out of you, I'm trying to get a good argument out of you and since you fail to present one and are giving me -2s just because I questioned why leads me to believe that you're not as intelligent as you think you are, not to mention it shows your age.
Phoenix
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:59:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Modus why are you slamming the review...
This is HER take on it. But there is no need for you to -2 it because you don't like the Movie or Mel Gibson
Basically you it is like telling Siskel and Ebert to fuck off because a movie they reviewd sucked
Fucktard
-Turtle
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:58:23 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
And another just for good measure.
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:57:32 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Heres another.
------------------------------
It deserved a -2 becuase of the reaction you had to it. IT was not, in fact, a "powerful movie." It wasn't meant to reflect society. It was meant to get mel gibson money.
Submitted by beer-turtle (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:56:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good review Erika,
Modusjoe what you are not looking at is the fact that movies are reflections on how events were interpreted.
You are criticizing her review rather than the movie it self.
PLease lurk some more and figure out how to rate people material before even THINKING about hitting rate this item
-Turtle
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:50:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
modusjoe - You're absolutely right. It is "just a movie." My post was about how, as a movie, it reflects society. I'm not insulting your intelligence, I'm just curious to know why you felt my post deserves a -2.
Phoenix
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:44:12 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I read it, and I just read it again. In the future, please insult my writing, not my intelligence.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:41:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
modusjoe - Please refer to the response I made below, specifically the part that says, "please read the whole thing thoroughly before you rate it because apparently a couple people are jumping to the conclusion that they already *know* what this post is about."
Hey thanks.
Phoenix
Submitted by modusjoe (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:35:17 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Its just a movie. I honestly dont see how its that popular. But you know what pisses me off the most? All the profit from that movie is going into Mel Gibson's greedy little pocket. Hell, I havn't seen such blatant capitalization off of people's emotions since the "September 11th Lucky Charms."
Submitted by Kimba (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:29:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Well done.
Submitted by Falconer (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:25:01 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 18:17:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Agh. I didn't say I don't believe in God, and that's not even what this post was about! To clear things up: I *do* believe in God, but my idea of what God is is probably a little different that what most people imagine Him to be. I don't know where in this post you got the idea that I don't believe in God, but to people who might read this post in the future, please read the whole thing thoroughly before you rate it because apparently a couple people are jumping to the conclusion that they already *know* what this post is about.
Phoenix
Submitted by JesusSaves <sinner@doorstep> at 2004-03-02 17:50:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
He loves you all most of all. If you search within you, deep within you, you already know the answer.
Are you a good person?
Have you ever lied?
Have you ever stole?
In order to say there is no God, you would have to know everything in the universe and know it as fact.
I amnot judging, just think about it.
I respect the authors honest opinion.
Submitted by Nator (user info) at 2004-03-02 17:15:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And because it was so gory and violent I now have a repartee when Christians try to take my videogames away. Yes.
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:56:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I see what you're trying to say, Caulaincourt, but my post isn't even really about Jesus and feeling empathy - it's more about society.
Phoenix
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:50:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
" I didn't say I felt no empathy for Jesus, and I wasn't completely indifferent to his beatings."
I never said you did.
Rephrased: Mel Gibson tried to connect the audience with his Jesus character with blood&guts 'cause no one in their sane mind wouldn't feel bad for someone being beat up so fuckin much on IMax screen.
That's why I think this movie sucked.
Using gore in the name of Faith (whatever that is).
Submitted by Sideburns (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:42:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:22:38 (#)
Ranking: -1
This movie sucked bad. Sensationalism.
How can you not feel empathy for someone who's getting so much punishment ?
Beat up anyone that bad on screen, even Hitler and you'll feel bad for the guy.
Nice way to restore people's faith Mel.
----------
totally missed the point of the post.
Did you even read it?
Submitted by volklcess (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:32:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Caulaincourt - I didn't say I felt no empathy for Jesus, and I wasn't completely indifferent to his beatings. My point about Jesus being killed for his beliefs was simply that why was his death so enamoured? He's not the only one who's died for his cause but his has been made a spectacle of.
Phoenix
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2004-03-02 15:22:38 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
This movie sucked bad. Sensationalism.
How can you not feel empathy for someone who's getting so much punishment ?
Beat up anyone that bad on screen, even Hitler and you'll feel bad for the guy.
Nice way to restore people's faith Mel.
Submitted by Judoka (user info) at 2004-03-02 14:57:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I've said it before and I will say it again: It's a snuff flick.
Submitted by Sideburns (user info) at 2004-03-02 14:53:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Wuv wu Ewika
Submitted by reallybored (user info) at 2004-03-02 14:44:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Im still waiting for somebody to compare this movie using the BTiLC method.
Submitted by Sideburns (user info) at 2004-03-02 14:42:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Nice.
Submitted by Magnum_Opus (user info) at 2004-03-02 14:41:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post. I saw the movie this last weekend and I had the same reaction when I left. Prior to the film my girlfriend and I had plans on going out to one of the clubs near by. But when the movie ended we just wanted to go home. The mood to party was gone. Although the film made me want to cry and throw-up at times, it was awesome. Does that make sense?