Mel Gibson’s The Passion Of The Christ is a winner. The story is kept tightly on topic and deals almost totally with the crucifixion of Jesus. It starts with the betrayal of Christ by Judas. We get a sampling of other moments through flashbacks that occur throughout the story.
The story meditates on the process of the crucifixion. In this regard it is very bloody. Gibson is very descriptive in showing the process and the audience feels the beating that Christ undergoes.
It is instantly a moving tale to any that were raised under the Christian tradition since Christians are familiar with the tale and know right of the back that an extraordinarily peaceful man is being torturously put to death for the sins of man. Each lash or prick of the flesh can almost be felt. The whipping and torture all seem to be atonement for the sins of man and we get to see how sinful man is through the whipping and torture of Christ. Each painful lash or nail driven through the flesh is for the sins of man.
The story basically stays true to the tale told in several of the books of the New Testament. It does indicate (as most Christians already know) that the high priest pushed for the death of Jesus because he was a heretic in their eyes. Gibson is just retelling the tale in the Bible and according to the Pop and many Christian leaders (who know more about the Bible than I) it is pretty faithful to the story.
It is not anti-Jewish, but just the tale as it is. Many Jewish leaders must accept this fact and stop trying to see something sinister in this basic and very important Christian tale. Christ is the central figure in Christendom.
Since the story told is just a meditation on the crucifixion I did not expect detailed character development or a story of Christ as a man or his teachings although the main tenets of Christianity are cleverly snuck in there through the all too brief flashbacks. These flashbacks succinctly describe Jesus as a man and summarize the main point of Christ’s teachings.
The only problem I have is a problem that I have with many movies and that is the clarity of the story. To me the story is very clear, but to an audience not raised in the Jewish, Christian or Islamic traditions the story is lacking clarity in certain areas.
For instance if you are not familiar with the Christian story you will not know who or what the guy is in the black cloak who is periodically seen in the story, especially at the beginning of the story where the character tries to convince Christ that the burden he must bear is too great. This character of course is Satan but to those unfamiliar with the tale this would not be known and the story does not identify him although he appears throughout the story overlooking the events and yelling after Christ is crucified. Could this be a slick way for Mel to get one to pick up a Bible (and possibly convert) or just a coincidence that may be a blessing for Christendom?
For all Christians the Passion Of The Christ is a solid winner. It will move you and give a better understanding of the suffering Christ went through for all people.
For all viewers The Passion Of The Christ is worth the cost of a movie ticket and popcorn (subtitles, blood and all). I give it a grade of A.