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feelinahole
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 754
| Posted 2/25/2004 2:17 PM (GMT -6) |   | I am starting this thread to avoid the "Mel Gibson can't won't, he's a conservative Catholic," etc. comments in the hopes of simply reading what people think of the film they have seen. So please limit comments to what you think of the film you have seen. Thank you.
I will withhold any further comment until tomorrow night when I see it. Bye. | | Back to Top | | |
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gregw
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2001
Total Posts : 47
| Posted 2/25/2004 3:52 PM (GMT -6) | | My wife & I saw the movie tonight. We have been sitting talking about the movie. We both realized that Gibson took some creative liberties, but that overall, the movie shows the events as they happened. Below is rather sketchy and rough, but I want to weigh in with some thoughts while the movie is still fresh in my mind.
It is a very visceral, raw movie. It is hard to watch. I had to force myself to keep looking at the screen. And just before it was too much, the scene would switch to one of remembrance (his times with the disciples, times with his mother, the last supper, etc.)
Noticebly absent from the movie is Joseph. I suppose this is in keeping with the catholocism of Gibson.
The portrayal of satan is also interesting. In particular one scene is interesting. Jesus is being flogged by the Romans. In the background you see satan moving through the crowd observing the scene. Suddenly satan appears behind the Roman soldier who is administering the punishment. She (satan is portrayed by a woman) is carrying a rather ugly baby with an adult looking face. I am not sure what is being portrayed by this scene.
In this same scene (and throughout the movie) the viscious nature of the Roman soldiers is portrayed. They are sadistic and barbaric.
Also, I have trouble seeing how the movie could be construed as being anti-semitic. It does not seem this way to me, rather, it is true to the Gospels which seem to hold the Jewish people as well as all of us culpable in the process of Christ's crucifixion.
Overall I see this movie as an epic portrayal of the passion of Christ that is true to the Gospel account, with Catholic tradition and some creative license thrown in. It is brutal, but not gratuitous. It puts a visual to the words of Scripture. For me, this year's Lent season and Easter will be different. This movie will resonate for a long time in my hear and mind. It reminds me in a graphic way what Christ did for me. The only thing I would change in the movie is the resurrection. I wish that this event would have received more attention. At the same time, I understand the narrow focus of the movie and what Gibson wanted to say with the movie.
I hope the above was not too much of a jumble. I recommend the movie to believers and unbelievers. It has changed Easter for me.
Greg Woodard
http://www.usfamily.net/web/gv.woodard | | Back to Top | | |
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selah
Registered Member
Date Joined Oct 2001
Total Posts : 1210
| Posted 2/25/2004 6:26 PM (GMT -6) | | I saw the movie tonight as well. It was hard to watch. There were some very touching moments between Mary and Jesus. As a mother, I was easily drawn into Mary's perspective throughout the film. I couldn't help but wonder if this was an accurate glimpse into her reality...I would think far worse. If so, I can only imagine how it must have felt to be blessed among women at the time.
OH, and the thing that stood out most was the fact that Jesus (after being beaten to pieces) used one of His last bits of energy to pray for the people who beat Him. Again, theoretical knowledge is nothing compared to seeing it concretely. I left the theater thinking ok, that solves the problem of evil. God is SO INCREDIBLY ANTI EVIL (opposite of evil, longsuffering in evil, can't even wish evil, forgiving in the face of evil, healing ears during acts of evil...come on) there is just no stinkin way...
Jesus is Love.
That's my two cents.
love
selah
"When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment. When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world."
Scout Cloud Lee | | Back to Top | | |
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feelinahole
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 754
| Posted 2/26/2004 6:40 PM (GMT -6) | | Just incredible! Thats just about all I can say, since I just got home 15 minutes ago from the movie. The way Christ hugged the cross, how only women stayed faithful, the WONDERFUL resurrection at the end. I truly believe Gibson has made a masterpiece. The first Jesus movie that, despite knowing the story, kept my interest throughout.
A couple of points: does it stick straight to the Gospels? No. Gibson definitely takes some liberty, and Mary is very dominant in the movie (which I loved). But is it in the spirit of the Gospel? Definitely. I thought it was a full gospel presentation without being preachy. He definitely knows the gospels.
A must see! | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 2/27/2004 5:44 AM (GMT -6) | | | Stunning! I walked out of the theater at a loss for words. After a few moments of reflection I came to the conclusion that the work was a Masterpiece! The portrayal of Mary and the other supporting characters was excellent. It was inspiring to watch Simon’s initial fear and reluctance to help Jesus carry the cross revolve into a relationship that transformed Simon into a true courageous hero. One of the most touching (tears) moments was when Mary had to helplessly watch as Jesus fell carrying the cross and her flashback of helping Jesus as a young child when he fell down. I thought the movie did a very good job of showing how Jesus embraced the cross, that the enemy is Satan not people such as the Jews or Judas. He taught us to hate the sin and not the sinner. The movie burns images of Jesus into your imagination that you can not escape from. Don’t expect the whole Gospel story to be told in only two hours… but the movie is a huge kick start. | | Back to Top | | |
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feelinahole
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 754
| Posted 2/27/2004 7:21 AM (GMT -6) | | | My wife and I also thought that scene with Mary was wonderful! I thought how Jesus embraced the cross showed how he loved us and how he never lost sight of his mission, no matter the pain. It is a masterpiece! | | Back to Top | | |
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Wahoo
Registered Member
Date Joined Jan 2004
Total Posts : 142
| Posted 2/27/2004 12:29 PM (GMT -6) | | Loved the emotion of Jesus. It wasn't far fetched. The cup, the struggle that Jesus needed to endure was the temptation to defend himself. He offered himself up and stayed true to the Father. He had compassion on his accusers and his executioners. That made me cry because I know how much he loves. I have only experienced that in deep prayer. Its the fellowship of his sufferings.
I also loved the eye contact he makes with various characters in the film. I loved the dialogue with Pontus Pilate. I'm still processing. | | Back to Top | | |
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quest for truth
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 2/27/2004 3:06 PM (GMT -6) | | | The movie was amazing. I couldn't even cry -- I was in shock. I was struck by the eye contact Jesus had with some of the people throughout the movie. I could feel the pain Mary felt as she watched. The role Satan played in the movie was far different from I had imagined it be. The only area I had a difficult time understanding is why Mel Gibson had children play the part of demons? The folks I went with couldn't stop talking about the movie and the impact it had on them. I am still processing days later. Through experiencing the brutality in Christ's death through this movie I am even more aware of the enormous love he has for us. | | Back to Top | | |
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Truth Aficionado
Registered Member
Date Joined Dec 2003
Total Posts : 1544
| Posted 3/18/2004 9:11 AM (GMT -6) | | | Has any one seen the movie for a second time? I have heard from Dr. Boyd and others that they liked it even more the second time around. | | Back to Top | | |
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 3/19/2004 7:55 AM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by quest for truth
The role Satan played in the movie was far different from I had imagined it be. The only area I had a difficult time understanding is why Mel Gibson had children play the part of demons?
(Jo-Anne) Quest, we're way behind all of you in the "Great White North" The movie won't arrive for another two or three weeks. Last night I was watching the Mel Gibson interview with my son and his friend and we were commenting on how Satan is represented in the film. Before the interview I had read your comment about it and was surprised, then thought how insightful that was. Children appear innocent, gentle. We are drawn to them. Then when I saw the interview last night I thought the same of the woman. At first her face appears soft, but it changes and you realize she is evil. The enemy doesn't come looking like evil (at least not all the time), especially when he wants to deceive. He'll come looking like something wonderful, enticing us. He'll look "harmless." That's why so many of us are enticed. If we recognized him right away we would flee from Him and from what he was enticing us with. Evil has many faces. That was obvious when Jesus adressed Peter by saying, "Get thee behind me Satan." He recognized the work of the enemy in his beloved disciple.
And after watching the interview, I believe Mel Gibson has definitely had an encounter with the living God and this is his expression of that. I think I will be able to see the film (after watching the interview). As hard as it is going to be for me, I want to see it.
God Bless,
Jo-Anne 
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 3/28/2004 8:56 PM (GMT -6) | |
Hello Everyone,
I prepared myself mentally for the graphic nature of the film - or so I thought. What I wasn't prepared for was the way Christ was tortured. It made me realize that that wasn't the Father. I believe that was the enemy. When we talk about God taking a risk in giving us free will - I guess I realized tonight what that risk looked like. The film did a good job of depicting the enemy "prowling about" and I was amazed at how much evil comes looking like something harmless but quickly reveals its "true colours."
For parts of the film I sat, head bowed, eyes closed and I cried. Nothing could have prepared me for the torture that my Lord endured. Gibson did a good job as portraying Him as a "lamb led to slaughter" for our behalf. He was a lamb, but in dying became the Lion of Judah. Amazing contrast between meekness and the warrior who died for us.
I think it will continue to sink in. One thought that I have had is that the enemy wanted Jesus dead before the cross. But Jesus had to lay down His own life. No one was going to take it from Him sooner or in any other way then at the cross. This is where I see God intervening and perhaps limiting free will to accomplish His overarching purposes. What do you think?
The film is powerful. I have no doubt that it will transform lives. How ironic that the film showing right next to it was Dawn of the Waking Dead. It comes down to a battleground where we have to choose Christ or reject Him and by not choosing - choose death. The enemy was evident throughout, lurking, weaving in and out among the people who seemed to have gone temporarily insane. Evil is not rational. It is the exact opposite of the fruit of the spirit.
I expected a line up here but the theatre was barely three quarters full. I was surprised. But I have no doubt that this will have a tremendous impact on eternity. There were some creative liberties taken for sure, but the cross of Christ was clearly and compellingly depicted. It was a clear Gospel message. Easter will never be the same for me. I loved Him before. Now I have a better understanding of the price that He paid, the cost of that risk that the Father took in giving us free will.
Another thought that I had was that the torture was the enemies doing, not part of the price that Jesus was intended to pay. The cross was where He was headed. I believe that the torture that He endured (prophecied) was the enemy's attempt at preventing Him from getting there. Obviously He was kept supernaturally and His suffering was beyond our comprehension.
I'm sure it will sink in more over the weekend and tomorrow I'm in an all day Evangelism Explosion course. Good timing. I've taken it before but it will encourage us all to be ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us.
God bless you all,
Jo-Anne 
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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