Blog on the Lillypad
Tuesday, March 09, 2004
By Their Movie Reviews You Shall Know Them...
One Reviewer's Comments Strike a Chord
Graphically bloody 'Passion' unintentionally serves as a powerful condemnation of conceit in organized religion ...."The Passion of The Christ" serves as a powerful condemnation of any organized religion that aspires to governance or allows its clerics to preach contempt, espouse a "we're right, you're wrong" world view, and whip sheepish followers into a frenzy instead of encouraging people to think for themselves. --Rob Blackwelder, SPLICEDwire
Notice that the reviewer said this particular message is unintentional. It is. Mel Gibson is telling the story of the passion of Christ with conviction and and an undeterred determination that is both majestic and awful. He wasn't trying to be political or make a commentary on modern religion.
Nevertheless, in spite of protests about anti-Semitism, this movie depicts an evil religious oligarchy, not an evil race. And the warning is implicit in the story. Beware of men who are self-appointed, dictatorial guardians of what they declare is truth. The people who hold the truth in righteousness can afford to be tolerant and kind. But ignorant, fanatical, and disobedient religious leaders will be cruel, will resort to cruelty, and will ultimately indict themselves by suppressing the real truth, even if it means having to put God Himself to death.
Ultimately, such religious leaders are judged and destroyed by God. But in the meantime, they cause a lot of suffering. Christ Himself told us to watch---not for claims of righteousness, or vestments, or high office, or great majesty, but the real fruit of knowing God: Love, compassion, a concern for those who have no defender, an ability to let go of grudges, a strong desire to know God more and more.
More Comments/Reviews from Across the Spectrum
Comment most likely to make you wonder if this person actually watched the movie
"Mel Gibson shows once again that he's skilled at depicting violence. But you'd be hard pressed to find evidence of 'tolerance, love and forgiveness' that the producer-director-co-writer insists he's trying to communicate."
-- Gene Seymour, NEWSDAY
Most thoroughly analytical cinematic comments
"Powerful and heart-wrenching, gorgeous to look at, and fascinating to contemplate. All issues of religion aside, those components generally result in a film worth seeing."
-- Scott Weinberg, EFILMCRITIC.COM
Mr. Weinberg gets bonus points for this additional, incredibly insightful comment: "Movies don't make people hate; ignorance does."
Most extravagantly biased (against) comment
"Unrelentingly anti-Semitic, excessively grotesque and overly narrow in its scope"
-- Mac Verstandig, THE BADGER HERALD
Most theologically naive comment
"It's as if Gibson is measuring God's love by the amount of blood he shows on the screen."
-- Glenn Whipp, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
Most comprehensive review
"If this will be the most watched version of the Passion in history, then Gibson, through a passion of his own, has met an enormous responsibility head-on with a job well done."
-- Craig Roush, KINNOPIO'S MOVIE REVIEWS
Most ironic comment
"As a religious experience, The Passion of the Christ makes a damn fine movie."
Josh Bell, LAS VEGAS WEEKLY
Comment most revealing of a lack of classical education in the commentor (or most revealing of only a modern education)
"If you come seeking theological subtlety, let alone such modern inventions as psychological depth, you'll walk away battered and empty-handed."
-- Ty Burr, BOSTON GLOBE
Comments most clearly from an IFB Preacher
“There is no question The Passion is not true to the Bible. There is no question The Passion adds to the Word of God. There is no question The Passion perverts the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
--Terry Watkins, “The Poison in The Passion,” Dial-a-Truth-Missions
Biggest quibbles from positive reviewers Highest praise from positive reviewers Too much slow motion (just about unanimous criticism) Presence of Satan reinforces the context of what Christ was doing Satan intrudes too much into historical continuity Cinematography spectacular Flashbacks too brief Intensity of depiction of Christ's suffering The Lord falls so many times bearing His cross it becomes a repetitive distraction Use of original languages creates an authentic feel that surpasses typical syrupy, stilted religious epics Pilate more compassionate than Bible depicts --
