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04/05/2004 Entry: "“Just another day in Jerusalem”"
Another review of Mel Gibson's The Passion, not so scathing as mine, but raising some good points.
There is barely a light moment in the whole two and a half hours. The acting is melodramatic, and there are numerous long stares and exchanges of ‘meaningful’ looks between the players. It feels as if Gibson has laid on with a trowel the message “hey, something important is going on here!” The historical reality is perhaps that for many of those present, this was just another day in Jerusalem.
Replies: 3 comments
Watched this film myself last week. I found it difficult to sit through it to be honest but as a film it has to be applauded for its overwhelming power. I am not really a Christian but it has got me thing about Jesus for the first time in my life - in a real substantive way. I have even read chunks of the Bible in the last couple of nights, something I never thought I would do.
As far as I could guage, the Bible did not detail any of the brutallity that is portrayed in the film but it was in the depiction of the cruelty meted out to Jesus that makes one empathis with him. Most other films portray im (imhp)as an other wordly character, interested in but also instrinsically aloof from the around him. This film successfully humanises and makes one identify him - rather than just watching him on screen and thinking of him as some wondrous supernatural being. Jesus beliefs and saying are made all the more powerful in that he kept them even through such horrifying circumstances.
The scenes which also stuck with me were the ones that displayed the cruelty of the Roman occupacy - laughing and jeering at Jesus as he is literally torn to pieces. The ending of the film is also excellent - showing Jesus whole again and cleansed.
The only scene I thought should not have been included was the Raven plucking out the eye of the man being crucified with Jesus. Although this often happened, for such an incidient to occur at that precise moment turned the scene into Omenesque territory. I guess it might possibly be cut from future versions on DVD.
Posted by chris @ 04/06/2004 09:23 AM GMT
That's exactly what I thought, Chris, that that scene with the raven plucking out the eye should have been left out.
Just this past weekend I also heard about young people around here asking questions about Jesus and about Christianity for the first time because of this movie.
Keep exploring!
Posted by Swan @ 04/06/2004 05:26 PM GMT
I hope and pray that more people will ask questions after seeing it. I questioned the making of this terrible film, but if it makes people want to know more about Jesus, let's go for it!.
Posted by Jean P @ 04/06/2004 07:19 PM GMT
