Holy cow, where do I start...
SlayerFairy said:
This film was done very nicely, in my opinion of course. It really touched me and it was also a big slap in the face. I knew Jesus suffered and died for our sins but never really knew to the extent. I mean this is something I hear of and was taught as a child but until I saw the passion, I felt the love. I felt an unconditional love that God and his son have for us. I'm so going to church now.
That was not unconditional love between god and his son. It was a fanatical devotion to a vaguely tangible concept. In those days it was a man going to the end praying for those murdering him being called a profit. In these days it's men flying airplanes into buildings to kill thousands of people being called zealots and terrorists... not that I support people that fly airplanes into buildings, I just think sacrificing yourself takes as much faith and conviction as sacrificing thousands of people.
but back to the point...
I thought the movie was well done, for what it was. It grabs the viewer by the throat with two hours of inhuman blood, gore and suffering. If nothing else, Mel's use of slo-mo and CGI could lead to a lucrative career directing hip-hop music videos. I just don't see how two hours of a man being whipped in slow motion is supposed to be required viewing for all good christians. Under any other circumstances, the violence potrayed in the movie would be completely inexcusable for any good christian household yet I personally have to argue with dozens of angry parents every day because I kicked their twelve-year old kids out of the movie. Here's a little sample:
ANGRY PARENT:
"What do you mean my child can't see the jesus movie by himself? Are you telling me my child can't learn about JESUS and become a better christian!?!"
ME:
"No ma'am. I am simply saying the movie is rated R for a reason. The MPAA doesn't think your child shouldn't see a mans ribs being ripped open until the age of 17."
Mel used the incredibly graphic images of a man's flesh being ripped open with barbaric torture methods as SHOCK VALUE, the same thing the conservative religious right says makes Howard Stern obscene.
I've heard people leaving the movie say that it's about time someone made such a stirring, powerful film about someone with undeniable faith and conviction. These people didn't seem to notice movies like Ghandi or X or Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or Schindler's List.
Instead of spending valuble time developing the character or the story, it's a character and a story that pretty much everyone knows. Wish I could make a movie with the luxury of built-in sympathy.
So to recap, I think it was a very well done movie for what it was, which wasn't really much.
Guess I'm going to hell.
Adios,
Steve