I came in here not having read any of the posts, and I'll let out why now.

 

I saw the movie today. My school (Belen Jesuit Prep, before any of the prayer in public school people jumps and has a heart attack) to see it at the Falls today in the morning. Don't know why we went to the Falls, being it's ways away from my school, but that is irrelevent.

 

The movie was awesome. Absolutely no complaints on my part. I think they got almost everything right. The role of the devil in the film was awesome, and the way Gibson portrayed Satan was excellent (I won't give what I mean away, because it's something you'll have to catch on to when you watch the film).

 

I thought it was interesting that Gibson chose to portray Judas as a more sympathetic character than previous movies about the subject. Judas is shown betraying Christ in one of the earliest scenes in the movie, and is showed committing suicide later. But in between Gibson showed how he had changed his mind, he wanted to give the money back to the Jews, and how demons ate at him for doing what he did. Definately not the beaten road, but a good job nonetheless.

 

I saw absolutely NO REASON for any Jewish person to complain. First off, it is history that the Jews put Jesus to death. Pontius Pilate (and the movie showed this very well in my eyes) gave the Jews every chance to let Jesus go. The Jews chose to put him to death. But I think Gibson did a good job in showing that while the majority of the Jews on the High Council wanted Jesus put to death and so did a great number of the Jewish public, he also did a great job showing that this opinion wasn't unanimoius. He showed that not every Jew wanted to go along with this, that several high ranking Jews chose to either not attend or to leave the proceedings, that some Jews tried to help Jesus. The Jews have nothing to complain about, they were shown extremely accurate. They are overreacting.

 

The movie did a good job of showing how Pilate's arms were essentially tied. It also showed that the Romans were at fault as well. Though Pilate and his second in command felt guilty because Jesus in their eyes had done nothing, other Roman soldiers taunted Jesus, laughed at him, etc. The movie accurately put blame everywhere it had to go. I commend Gibson for that.

 

I also commend Gibson for standing up to all the criticism he is getting. The movie has to be distributed independently because of Jewish descent, however he is sticking with it, and the end product was amazing. Everyone in America should see this movie, regardless of religion or lack thereof.

 

Also, one last thing. I didn't have a good impression of the movie using Aramaic and Latin when I went in and having English subtitles, but it came out simply awesome. I wouldn't have the movie any other way.

Oh.

 

And it is probably among the most graphic movies I've ever seen. There was one short clip of about 5 seconds during the whipping where I couldn't look because of what happened with the whip (you'll see when you see it).

 

But it was probably worse in real life. So this is nothing.

 

And I read back all the comments in the thread. See this movie. I don't care why you don't want to see it or won't see it. See this movie if it's the last movie you watch all year.

You actually read USA Today!?

It's the best newspaper in the country. Why do you act so surprised? It has pretty colors. "Best" according to who?

 

Actually, when it comes to journalistic integrity USA Today is on the level with Entertainment Weekly. Once, a long time ago, I referenced USA Today in a paper and the professor gave it back to me and told me to "cite a real source."

 

Personally, I think the movie's all hype. I probably won't see it because I don't care in the least. The fact that Gibson compromised his artistic vision by bowing to pressure from outside groups and took out the scene that was stirring up all the controversy. I don't know, though as I'm already compromising my own thoughts on this movie... A hottie from my philosophy of relgion class has been asking me if I was going to see it, so maybe I'll go if it'll help get me closer to moving in on that.

 

Also, it's interesting to note how quickly religious groups jumped onto this... I got a flyer from a local non-denominational church with their "The Passion of Christ" series of lectures (if that's what you call them) and then in a few weeks they're having what they call "the sequel" to those lectures, "Where is Jesus today?"

 

This movie and it's hype and popularity just shows how America is headed back into a more puritannical direction. Hell, you want a barometer of where we're going, take a look a few weeks back to the Superbowl and the furor over a single, solitary boob. Face it folks, if you're not religous dark times are ahead. I'm already missing the days of secular living we're living in right now. But, hopefully this is just a fart in the mainstream conscience of America and it won't affect tv, movies and music too much (I mean, hell, Paris Hilton and Christina Aguillera wear crosses as a fashion statement nowadays).

And since when is the Devil being treated as a historical figure? Authentic my booty.

Which scene is it that was taken out? The only talk I have heard of something being removed was a line from the movie, but it was still there, just without subtitles. All the scenes, according to people who had seen the first showing in Miami, were intact and in the movie unadulterated.

 

If you don't appreciate the movie, then honestly that is your business. But it is a great movie on story value as well, and I still recommend highly you see it. Whether you choose not to because of the nation's "puritanical direction" is up to you. But I do highly recommend you see it.

 

What are you so scared of? That you'll become in touch with your faith (or lack thereof)? Sounds p***y-ish to me.

Actually, I'm an agnostic who leans towards faith. I have no interest in joining a Church. I have my own beliefs regarding religion and would rather not have yours pushed onto me. Thanks.

 

Anyways, they took out the scene where the Jews actually sell Jesus out. All of them. It was cut. FACT.

 

And any movie that has the devil and Jesus coming back from the dead isn't authentic, as there's no living proof that these things happened. Find proof of this happening outside of the Bible or religious publications. FICTION.

 

I'm also of the philosophic school that believes that there is no evil. God is all-knowing, all-loving. There is no evil, as God is the most powerful being concievable and in order for that to be true there cannot be an evil (it makes God weaker to allow a devil and hell). Therefore, there is no evil, only a lack of good. However, these are only my current thoughts and they're always in flux.

 

How Christian of you to insinuate I'm a p***y (hypocrite).

I'm going to see it. Thanks for the honest review Juanky.

Actually, I'm an agnostic who leans towards faith.? I have no interest in joining a Church.? I have my own beliefs regarding religion and would rather not have yours pushed onto me.? Thanks.

 

Anyways, they took out the scene where the Jews actually sell Jesus out.? All of them.? It was cut.? FACT.

 

And any movie that has the devil and Jesus coming back from the dead isn't authentic, as there's no living proof that these things happened.? Find proof of this happening outside of the Bible or religious publications.? FICTION.

 

I'm also of the philosophic school that believes that there is no evil.? God is all-knowing, all-loving.? There is no evil, as God is the most powerful being concievable and in order for that to be true there cannot be an evil (it makes God weaker to allow a devil and hell).? Therefore, there is no evil, only a lack of good.? However, these are only my current thoughts and they're always in flux.

 

How Christian of you to insinuate I'm a p***y (hypocrite).

There is no evil? Interesting opinion. I'd like to see your rational on this one.

 

Oh, and insulting a person is un-Christianlike. I did no such thing. I insulted your actions (or rather your reasons behind non-action). I again ask you, what do you possibly have to lose by watching the movie? Nothing. There is no real excuse to not see it.

You actually read USA Today!?

It's the best newspaper in the country. Why do you act so surprised? It has pretty colors. "Best" according to who?

 

Actually, when it comes to journalistic integrity USA Today is on the level with Entertainment Weekly. Once, a long time ago, I referenced USA Today in a paper and the professor gave it back to me and told me to "cite a real source."

 

You could make that argument for all newspapers, pretty much.

Are the rumors true that the man who played Jesus was struck by lightning not once but twice?

There not rumors its true. I saw it on Access Hollywood (sadly I was sick and was home watchin that) and the actor that plays Jesus says he was struck once but never heard of him being struck twice.

 

He was also badly bruised a couple times because of the whip when the actor would miss the armor in the back.

I did want to see this, simply so I could form my own opinion on it, but now I'm not quite as sure. I really don't want to, nor do I feel the need to, sit through what several critics have called the most violent movie they've ever seen.

 

Maybe I'll still go to see it, just to find out if there's anything more to the film besides what they reviews have focused on...which is torture, torture, and more torture.

During the filming, a whip missed the armor and actually took off a chunk of skin for real on the actor's back. They then decided to leave this in the movie, so it's the real thing.

Juanky your review of the movie is awesome. I can't wait to see it.

 

I don't know if this could be deemed as the most violent movie ever. That has to be a complete exageration, because I know for a fact that there have been more violent and bloody movies, that show more than someone getting whiped or nailed to a cross.

 

I am going to see this movie, because just seeing the trailer gave me goosebumps and it will help me understand once more, why he died for us and why we continue to inflict pain upon him. Also, I know Mel Gibson is an awesome movie director and I know that this will make this movie all the more powerful.

Juanky your review of the movie is awesome. I can't wait to see it.

 

I don't know if this could be deemed as the most violent movie ever. That has to be a complete exageration, because I know for a fact that there have been more violent and bloody movies, that show more than someone getting whiped or nailed to a cross.

 

I am going to see this movie, because just seeing the trailer gave me goosebumps and it will help me understand once more, why he died for us and why we continue to inflict pain upon him. Also, I know Mel Gibson is an awesome movie director and I know that this will make this movie all the more powerful.

Awesome sig...

 

Just got done watching it. :thumbup

Can't wait till Saturday! That's when I'm gonna see it. Thanks Juanky. Dang, I can't wait.

 

Friday night: Club Dread comes out

Saturday: I watch Passion

I wonder if club dread is going to be any good...sophmore effort by the Super Trooper boys.

Broken Lizard = good

Broken Lizard = good

Do they release anything before ST?

Actually, St. Augustine, a philosopher came up with this theory. His theory was that there was no evil, only a lack of good. God is all good so he created man in his image. Therefore, when man does something, even something we deem as evil, he's doing it for some good (his own, etc.). Saddham Hussein isn't evil, he's just working towards his own good and the good of his people (his people being his family and the rest of the people in power). It sounds cracked out, I know, but if you actually read Augustine's argument it makes sense.

 

And not only that, but in the original translations of the bible Hell doesn't exist. It actually has been blown way out of proportion thousands of years later. In Augustine's time hell was a purgatory and basically meant it was a place where you did penance before you came back to the world to get another go at life and living towards a good.

 

I personally don't believe in the devil. God made man in his image and man made the devil in his. That's the way I take it (I'm referencing a philosopher named Hick, here). Basically, we use the devil to describe why we do bad things, the reality is there's just a lack of good (our sense of what's right is messed up and we go for short-end good as opposed to suffering through for something that would be good in the long run).

 

Also, my professor today was talking about this, all that stuff about bad people being punished is bull. Everyone, eventually reaches the highest possible level of achievement or attainment. He said, (and it's interesting hearing a Jesuit Priest talk about these things) that the reason the devil and hell were created to be such a bad thing is a motivational tool, because mankind is basically lazy. They need to have some motivation to err towards the side of good.

 

And, to be honest with you I'm not interested in seeing the movie at all, moreso I'm interested in the so-called controversy. Put this next to Euro-Trip as a movie I don't care about seeing and probably won't see. I just don't care and don't really feel compelled to see it.

i dont think there was anything before ST, if so I want to see it.

 

Passion of the Christ is gonna be incredible. I'm all antsy to see it now.

There is no evil? Interesting opinion. I'd like to see your rational on this one.

 

Oh, and insulting a person is un-Christianlike. I did no such thing. I insulted your actions (or rather your reasons behind non-action). I again ask you, what do you possibly have to lose by watching the movie? Nothing. There is no real excuse to not see it.

Is not caring a good reason not to see a movie? That's mine.

 

I don't understand why this movie HAS to be seen.

 

And to answer what I have to lose, 8.50 and 2 hours of my life.

There is no evil? Interesting opinion. I'd like to see your rational on this one.

 

Oh, and insulting a person is un-Christianlike. I did no such thing. I insulted your actions (or rather your reasons behind non-action). I again ask you, what do you possibly have to lose by watching the movie? Nothing. There is no real excuse to not see it.

Is not caring a good reason not to see a movie? That's mine.

 

I don't understand why this movie HAS to be seen.

 

And to answer what I have to lose, 8.50 and 2 hours of my life. souls are at stake here.

There is no evil? Interesting opinion. I'd like to see your rational on this one.

 

Oh, and insulting a person is un-Christianlike. I did no such thing. I insulted your actions (or rather your reasons behind non-action). I again ask you, what do you possibly have to lose by watching the movie? Nothing. There is no real excuse to not see it.

Is not caring a good reason not to see a movie? That's mine.

 

I don't understand why this movie HAS to be seen.

 

And to answer what I have to lose, 8.50 and 2 hours of my life. souls are at stake here. Exactly, It's just a movie. Plain and simple. I don't care what it's about, it's still just some movie that Mel Gibson had made. I tend to go to the movies to be entertained in someway, this story has zero interest to me. I already know it. I don't need to see someone get beat up for 90 minutes, unless it involves swords, karate, and a cool soundtrack.

Actually, St. Augustine, a philosopher came up with this theory. His theory was that there was no evil, only a lack of good. God is all good so he created man in his image. Therefore, when man does something, even something we deem as evil, he's doing it for some good (his own, etc.). Saddham Hussein isn't evil, he's just working towards his own good and the good of his people (his people being his family and the rest of the people in power). It sounds cracked out, I know, but if you actually read Augustine's argument it makes sense.

 

And not only that, but in the original translations of the bible Hell doesn't exist. It actually has been blown way out of proportion thousands of years later. In Augustine's time hell was a purgatory and basically meant it was a place where you did penance before you came back to the world to get another go at life and living towards a good.

 

I personally don't believe in the devil. God made man in his image and man made the devil in his. That's the way I take it (I'm referencing a philosopher named Hick, here). Basically, we use the devil to describe why we do bad things, the reality is there's just a lack of good (our sense of what's right is messed up and we go for short-end good as opposed to suffering through for something that would be good in the long run).

 

Also, my professor today was talking about this, all that stuff about bad people being punished is bull. Everyone, eventually reaches the highest possible level of achievement or attainment. He said, (and it's interesting hearing a Jesuit Priest talk about these things) that the reason the devil and hell were created to be such a bad thing is a motivational tool, because mankind is basically lazy. They need to have some motivation to err towards the side of good.

 

And, to be honest with you I'm not interested in seeing the movie at all, moreso I'm interested in the so-called controversy. Put this next to Euro-Trip as a movie I don't care about seeing and probably won't see. I just don't care and don't really feel compelled to see it.

I'm familiar with this theory, but it isn't commonly believed in more modern times. Kind of surprising since there are so many different sects and cults of the major religions, but nonetheless the old religious philosophers have become somewhat ignored outside of the educated level.

 

The Bible can be interpreted in many different ways. The Bible makes references to many things that either aren't believed by the modern Church/Jewish Community or are just flat out ignored. The Gospels especially. The Gospels also contain four completely different accounts of Jesus' life, one for each different Gospel. The Bible is one interesting book when you get down to analyzing it.

 

The Jesuit priest comment might surprise anyone else, but not me. That is the way Jesuits are. Being educated by Jesuits for the past 6 years of my life, I have come to realize this. They take a slightly different approach to religion. They are the backbone of the Church if you will, being the thinking sect of the church as well as the "enforcing" sect. Instead of breaking off with Martin Luther during the reformation period, they stayed and changed the church from within. They were reponsible for most of the successful missions in the New World. It isn't a coincidence the second most powerful person in the Catholic Church is the "Black Pope", the Father General of the Jesuit Order. If you want to know how influential and depended upon the order is, just look at the credits for the Passion. They were one of the main advisors to the film, making sure things were accurate.

 

I firmly believe that if St. Ignatius of Loyola never converted, the Church might have died long ago.

There is no evil? Interesting opinion. I'd like to see your rational on this one.

 

Oh, and insulting a person is un-Christianlike. I did no such thing. I insulted your actions (or rather your reasons behind non-action). I again ask you, what do you possibly have to lose by watching the movie? Nothing. There is no real excuse to not see it.

Is not caring a good reason not to see a movie? That's mine.

 

I don't understand why this movie HAS to be seen.

 

And to answer what I have to lose, 8.50 and 2 hours of my life. souls are at stake here. Yeah, didn't you know everybody in America's a Christian? And if they're not, they durn well should be!

 

Damn (insert obligatory religion here)!

 

Religion is a belief, and just because you believe in it, doesn't make it true. Not everyone should see this movie. I'm not seeing it because I don't care about the movie or Christ.