The Passion of the Christ
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| Thu, 02-26-2004 - 12:58am |
I knew it would be opening big, but I was surprised to find out this morning that one of the local 20-plexes was showing it to sold out crowds on every screen from 6:30 this morning to around 11:00 when their usual lineup started and The Passion only continued on a few screens.
I've been reading incredibly moving reactions to it like this one in National Review--
"THE PASSION IN HARLEM
I just got out of a screening at the Magic Johnson Theatres up at 123rd and Frederick Douglass in Harlem. The theatre was packed, with an audience that was about 85 percent black, and included many seniors (of course: daytime). The response to the film was just about universal: Loud applause at the end, and vocal endorsements of the movie as we exited. One sweet elderly lady, I’d say about 80 years old, was shaking her head on the way out, saying: “If you read the Bible, that’s exactly what happened.†Another woman, in her 30s, was brushing away tears. “It’s not the movie,†she said,†it’s the reality of the thing.†During the screening, the man I set next to—a guy in his 20s, tall, strong, and vigorous-looking, nobody’s wimp—gasped at some of the cruelties inflicted on Jesus. (When Jesus’ cross is turned over on its face so He can be nailed to it more securely, this man blurted out, “Oh, s***, that’s too much.â€) Before the movie started, there was a little film in which Magic Johnson explained the rules for his theatres: “No talking. . . . No hats or colors . . . . If you have a problem on the street, don’t bring it inside.†I couldn’t help thinking: There is a problem on the street, every street, and this movie is about the solution."
I wanted to see it this weekend, but now the local news is reporting that virtually every showing in Dallas through the weekend is already sold out, so now I have to wait til next Saturday.

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Of course, you're right in that the resurrection is the whole point of Christianity; that's why our church displays an empty cross. The resurrection is Jesus's triumph in all of his supernatural glory, and is a wonderful end to the story of salvation, but I don't think that considering a different period of Jesus's life takes anything away from it.
In fact, I've always thought that the passion makes the resurrection more personal and meaningful. As God, he didn't have to become a man to save humanity. He could have saved humanity with no effort or cost to himself. The true beauty of the resurrection is not that he loved us enough to save us, but that he loved us so much that he paid the biggest price to save us.
I think that the focus of this movie on Jesus the man when he was spiritually alone for the first time in his life, when he had been rejected by God, and had to endure a torturous drawn out death that was as painful and horrific a death as anyone has ever suffered. This is not Jesus the God, or Jesus, the 'God-in-waiting' teaching the lost about love and salvation (in the movies, usually with a few rays of sunlight forming a halo around his head). This is Jesus showing his love and paying the human cost of salvation.
This isn't a movie that I 'want' to see, but one that I feel I must, but I recognize that there are lots of people who feel differently.
Renee
This is my first posting ever to this board. I logged on to see what you all thought of the movie. I saw it Wednesday night, and felt like it was a truly religious experience for me. Since I am a practising, life-long Catholic who seeks out Christian literature and enjoys two Scripture Study group (1 Catholic and 1 interdenominational), I expected to be moved and engaged -- not blown away.
I think everyone over age 12 should see this film. Especially if they are Christian and believe that Christ died for us. Actually, we should take it very personally -- if we each realized that He would have done that for us on an individual basis, we'd all be better people. I hope that's clear.
I disagree that Catholics think that the Passion is the most important part of our religion. Many times I've heard priests and religious educators say, "We are an Easter people." But the only way our Messiah could defeat death, was to die! Graphic -- yeah. But how many violent movies have been made that was senseless violence -- not a depiction of the most important event in the the history of the world?
This movie wasn't about the violence -- it was about what Jesus endured because of His love for us.
And it isn't about the Jewish people -- it's about "our" Jew! I don't mean "our=Catholic", but "our=all people, believers and non-believers".
Andy Rooney -- who's he? I haven't watched 60 Minutes in years. What a nasty commentary that certainly doesn't strike me as humorous. But he's entitled to his opinion.
That's MY opnion of the movie -- and of Andy Rooney.
I saw James Caviezel's interview--they faced life threatening ordeals making the movie. People were converted on the set. Was all this for money?
But why shouldn't Mel Gibson make money? Didn't he do the work? God is not cheap and he does not want His people to be poor he wants them blessed. Mel Gibson has blessed millions of people by making this movie. God says "give and it shall be given back to you good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give into your bosom." If Mel is getting millions it's because God is not a liar. He does what He says he'll do and Mr. Gibson is wise enough to believe it.
Like one of the previous posters, I felt that I needed the second time to absorb more of the actual "message", other than the raw violence.
I am a Christian. I felt compelled to see the movie....and I haven't seen a movie in years ("Dance's With Wolves"--my LAST movie--sorta dates me, huh?)
When I saw the movie, the place was packed with what appeared to be mostly college age kids. Before the movie, there was your expected high volumn of talk/laughing/kidding around........comming out, there was silence, as each tried to absorb what they had just witnessed.
The biggest thing that I got out of this movie was the fact that "I" did this to Jesus......He willing died for "OUR" sins, and that includes me. You hear that all the time at church, but this brought it so much closer to home. I think sometimes we get so used to hearing the crucifixion story that it is almost not real in our minds---and after seeing this movie, I doubt that there will ever be a time in the rest of my life that it isn"t VERY REAL in my mind.
The other thing it left me with was a desire to leave that place and to be a BETTER Christian. It was like "If Jesus could do that for me, then surely I can do a better job as a Christian living my life to please him."
But of course, that is just my opinion.
Always charge for God xx Kim xx
I have not seen the movie yet. However, as a recent born-again Christian, the images from the movie so far have made me very sad.
I believe it was Gibson's intent to show what Jesus went through for all of mankind, all of the violence was part of that. It's just so upsetting to know that's what happened. How could He have done that for us?
I know the answer, but for some reason, it's still hitting me really hard. Has anyone else felt like this?
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