The Passion rings true!

The Passion of the Christ opened yesterday, and my anxiety for this movie was paid off. Prior to my viewing, I read and watched a lot of professional and non-professional reviews, both pro and con, they are editorials, and as such; personal points of view. I like to form my own opinion, and I strongly urge you to do the same.

Everyone seems to speak about The Passion of the Christ as Mel Gibson’s project, I think that’s because he is the name we all would recognize. His participation was major in that he co-wrote the screenplay with Benedict Fitzgerald, directed, and co-produced the movie, but is not in front of the camera at all. Shaila Rubin did an awesome job of casting.

The Primary Cast:
Jesus: James Caviezel (Diggstown, Frequency, Pay it Forward, The Count of Monte Cristo)
Jesus’ mother Mary: Maria Morgenstern (a Romanian with many foreign film credits)
Mary Magdalene: Monica Belucci (Tears of the Sun, The Matrix Reloaded)
Pontius Pilate: Hristo Shopov (Dark Descent, I am David, Alien Hunter)
Caiphas: Mattia Sbragia (The Golden Bowl, Heaven, The Order)
Simon: Jarreth J Merz (Curiosity and the Cat, Chill Out, Taking Sides)
Satan: Rosalinda Celentano (Dominica, The Order)
Peter: Francesco De Vito (I am David)
Judas: Luca Lionello (Gangsters)
John: Hristo Jivcov (a relatively new Bulgarian actor)

The Movie:
Although the language(s) spoken throughout the movie are foreign to me (Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew) it was very easy to follow the captions in English, and still view the entire movie. I’ll admit that sometimes when I check out a movie, and the voices are so low I have to turn on the captions, I miss a lot because I’m spending more time reading than seeing. I am learning to watch movies, and read with two questions in mind, 1) What is the meaning of the story teller? 2) How will the listener or viewer grasp what the story teller is trying to convey? Approaching things with an open mind is a beginning in this process, this becomes somewhat difficult when an individual is familiar with the story and is biased.

In my minds eye, and the way I think of Jesus’ teachings, I think of Him being deliberate in the delivery of his message, speaking so that he may be understood. This is the way the captioning comes across to me. The movie embraces several *flashback* moments as Jesus goes through these final twelve hours of his life, which began in the Garden of Gethsemane prior to His arrest. Some of the flashbacks include his foretelling of Peter’s denial of Jesus, the sermon on the mount (or plain, depending which Gospel you’re reading), washing his disciples feet, and memories of his mother’s love for him, and the Last Supper.

Much of the pre release controversy has been that the movie is Anti Semitic, I did not see this to be correct. The Passion of the Christ does not aim at placing blame on the Jewish people, past or present for the Crucifixion of Jesus. It does show the High Priest (Caiphas) calling for death to Christ, but also shows other temple elders trying to stop the demand for death. The movie depicts more of the Roman soldiers scourging and taunting of Jesus. I will state now, rather than at the end of this review. The primary message that I received from watching The Passion of the Christ is that Jesus did MORE than die on the cross for my sins, (this is my belief as a Catholic Christian) He SUFFERED!!

The movie makers go to great lengths to show the suffering that Jesus incurred on his way to Calvary. His pain must have been excruciating, and as I heard one reviewer say this morning, “The root of the word excruciating is the same as the word, crucifixion.” Pontius Pilate struggles, as he can find no reason to do what he must do, and Hristo Shopov is believable in the role. His original orders are to have Jesus punished, but not killed. This is where in the movie, most wounds are opened up. I was able to hear other moviegoers gasp, as some of the lashings were quite graphic. This is not to be compared with other “blood and guts” movies that are out there that show blood for the shock value, this is an accurate depiction of historical fact and the instruments of punishment for those times.

James Caviezel plays Jesus as well as any actor I have seen in the past and I could see the pain on his face as he made the way of the cross, he made the movie “real” to me. Maria Morganstern, who played the Virgin Mother, Mary had very few lines, but showed the love that a mother has for her son in such a beautiful way. The anguish of a mother watching her child suffer was truly there. Mattia Sbragia as the High Priest, Caiphas, wow! If looks could kill there would have been no need for the crucifixion. Rosalinda Celentano as Satan, again a player with very few lines, but what the costume designer and make up crew did for her, made it immediately evident, what her role was in the film. Luca Lionello as Judas, another good part. Francesco De Vito as Peter left a little to be desired. I don’t know who it was that played the murderer, Barabas, but in the midst of Jesus' suffering, it was almost humorous to see the joy in the face of Barabas, and the way he laughed in the faces of the Roman Guards as they had to set him free.

I remember thinking to myself, last night after the movie ended, How surprised I was that I don’t remember Hristo Jivcov as John, having any lines. The reason I know he was John is my familiarity with the Gospel representations of the event and his proximity to Mary and the cross. I thought then; not too many actors needed to speak, this was a depiction of the Passion of Jesus Christ. From his arrest, to the scourging, to the crucifixion. As a Catholic Christian, I believe that the story did not end with His death, and neither does the movie, the picture of His resurrection is different than any I’ve ever seen before, beautifully done.

Was it a bloody movie? Yes, but I think in an honest sense, it had to be.

Do I recommend this movie for viewing? Absolutely! It is rated R for violent content, and I would caution parents to watch it first before taking your children to see the film.

What is the right age to see the movie? I would place that more at a level of understanding. Knowing who Jesus was and a certain preparation for the fact that he truly suffered is what this film is about.

I’ve heard people talk about how awful it was for Jesus to be put through such agony, but I think of it as an absolutely wonderful sacrifice. As for me, I say, “THANK YOU, GOD!”


If this review looks familiar, I misplaced it yesterday in the video section of movies......I wondered why there were so few reviews of this wonderful movie listed. I've deleted its original placement and moved it to its more appropriate category.