02-25-2004, 08:54 PM
02-26-2004, 01:49 AM
The reviewers here have absolutely panned it.
One Toronto reviewer says the torture can be felt on both sides of the screen. lol
One Toronto reviewer says the torture can be felt on both sides of the screen. lol
02-26-2004, 02:03 AM
Hav,nt seen it and dont intend to dont like violent films .
Whats annoying thou is if it as as violent as the critics say it is ,where is the outgry from the right who are always calling for bans on violence in movies cus thats the path to hell for the world ..
Why should it be any differant cus its about the christian hero ????
Whats annoying thou is if it as as violent as the critics say it is ,where is the outgry from the right who are always calling for bans on violence in movies cus thats the path to hell for the world ..
Why should it be any differant cus its about the christian hero ????
02-26-2004, 08:00 AM
BUNGLES THE PASSION REVIEW!!!
(oh how exciting!)
Weirdly everyone on the radio that went to see it said it was the greatest movie they have ever seen. So I read some reviews by Ebert and Roepr etc who said same thing and figured I'd go watch it.
Firstly - some parts of it are very moving. I don't think you need to be of faith to feel very emotionally drained at the end of the movie at all. Yet Gibson wanted people to leave inspired and full of love. ALOT of people were crying during this movie - many as early as 5 or 10 minutes in. Many people were inspired by this movie - you could tell by the huge quantity of people who gathered in groups to talk about it after the show! A huge wave of emotion went through the movie theatre at the end when Jesus returns - very VERY strong imagery there.
Secondly - the movie is two hours long, the whole second half of which is one long graffic torture of Christ. I'm completely numb when it comes to gore (my dad worked for 4 years in a morgue) so I wasn't uncomfortable - but alot of people were. It just went on for ever - and more fake blood seems to have been used than any other movie I've ever seen! Screw the factual arguments (this is the man who made Braveheart after all) but I didn't see the neccesity of seeing the Christ's mother moping up pool after pool of blood - with little bits of flesh floating in it. The amount of gore seems to suggest that Christ suffered more than any other man ever has - which isn't the point of The Passion in the gospels at all. There are so many hollywood-esque touches that remove realism from it - like panning from Jesus on the cross to a man having his eye pecked out. It was graphic and I understand why - but alot of people did think the movie was enjoying it's own violence rather than expressing the ultimate sacrifice. We are supposed to sympathise, feel the pain - you do - but I find blood and tragedy to be quite funny - it's a defense mechanism I guess - so many times I felt like I was the only one in the audience who was thinking "that's not devastating, that's just silly."
Third - there are some very nice touches - in the flashbacks Jesus is given some humanity. Don't get that much from stuffy sermons or the dodgy films you normally get but it was interesting to see Jim Caviezel play him as a happy exuberant man. I think the movie would have been more powerful if that was emphasized over the hour long slow-death.
Fourth - the movie isn't anti-semitic - but as you'll hear lots of people say - it could be construed that way. The problem obviously comes from the fact that until 40 years ago the Roman Catholic church held the Jewish Pharisee culpable - little hard to ignore that. Mel Gibson has stayed faithful to the parts of the Bible he has picked out - which is to say that the Bible can be fairly unforgiving when it comes to blame. In other words, I think that if you think the Passion is anti-semitic, then you must think that the New Testament is. Again, I don't see the movie as anti-semitic, that is an exaggeration, but it does raise the question of divisions between the Christian and orthodox Jewish faiths that have been conveniently ignored.
Anyway, Pontius Pilate is portrayed as torn between doing the right thing (not crucifying him) and giving in to the pushy Pharisee (nailing him up). Jesus even tells Pilate that the Pharisee are to blame! Part of the gospels do argue Pilate was forced, but Gibson has Pilates wife arguing for Jesus' release - which I haven't ever read before. The Pharisee are depicted as shifty, dark-corner hiding people. Gibson argues that there are just about enough other Jewish characters to balance it up, but these Jews are noted for being against traditional Jewish teaching. Still, the bad-Jews beat Jesus up (where'd this come from?), spend alot of time seeking ill-gotten money, and have not one second of screen time where they argue that they cannot believe in the Lord as a man on earth - they just want to kill Jesus.
Still, as a movie it is extraordinary. The actors do a very good job - Caviezel is marvelous. As a factual account, I don't know where you could draw the line really - so much is considered fact these days (the Virgin Mary for example). Touchy subject. I'd say that this will be considered by those who make these decisions as one of the top 10 movies of all time for a long while. I would say watch it but don't neccesarily believe it as fact - go read about Jesus' last 12 hours, read through the gospels (hey even go get An Idiots Guide To The Bible). I think it is a right for an orthodox christian to be able to tell their interpretation of their faith - I don't imagine many would object to allowign a Jew or a Muslim telling theirs.
This is going to be the big argument for months to come. Which I think is a good thing.
Edited because I wanted to express myself better!
(oh how exciting!)
Weirdly everyone on the radio that went to see it said it was the greatest movie they have ever seen. So I read some reviews by Ebert and Roepr etc who said same thing and figured I'd go watch it.
Firstly - some parts of it are very moving. I don't think you need to be of faith to feel very emotionally drained at the end of the movie at all. Yet Gibson wanted people to leave inspired and full of love. ALOT of people were crying during this movie - many as early as 5 or 10 minutes in. Many people were inspired by this movie - you could tell by the huge quantity of people who gathered in groups to talk about it after the show! A huge wave of emotion went through the movie theatre at the end when Jesus returns - very VERY strong imagery there.
Secondly - the movie is two hours long, the whole second half of which is one long graffic torture of Christ. I'm completely numb when it comes to gore (my dad worked for 4 years in a morgue) so I wasn't uncomfortable - but alot of people were. It just went on for ever - and more fake blood seems to have been used than any other movie I've ever seen! Screw the factual arguments (this is the man who made Braveheart after all) but I didn't see the neccesity of seeing the Christ's mother moping up pool after pool of blood - with little bits of flesh floating in it. The amount of gore seems to suggest that Christ suffered more than any other man ever has - which isn't the point of The Passion in the gospels at all. There are so many hollywood-esque touches that remove realism from it - like panning from Jesus on the cross to a man having his eye pecked out. It was graphic and I understand why - but alot of people did think the movie was enjoying it's own violence rather than expressing the ultimate sacrifice. We are supposed to sympathise, feel the pain - you do - but I find blood and tragedy to be quite funny - it's a defense mechanism I guess - so many times I felt like I was the only one in the audience who was thinking "that's not devastating, that's just silly."
Third - there are some very nice touches - in the flashbacks Jesus is given some humanity. Don't get that much from stuffy sermons or the dodgy films you normally get but it was interesting to see Jim Caviezel play him as a happy exuberant man. I think the movie would have been more powerful if that was emphasized over the hour long slow-death.
Fourth - the movie isn't anti-semitic - but as you'll hear lots of people say - it could be construed that way. The problem obviously comes from the fact that until 40 years ago the Roman Catholic church held the Jewish Pharisee culpable - little hard to ignore that. Mel Gibson has stayed faithful to the parts of the Bible he has picked out - which is to say that the Bible can be fairly unforgiving when it comes to blame. In other words, I think that if you think the Passion is anti-semitic, then you must think that the New Testament is. Again, I don't see the movie as anti-semitic, that is an exaggeration, but it does raise the question of divisions between the Christian and orthodox Jewish faiths that have been conveniently ignored.
Anyway, Pontius Pilate is portrayed as torn between doing the right thing (not crucifying him) and giving in to the pushy Pharisee (nailing him up). Jesus even tells Pilate that the Pharisee are to blame! Part of the gospels do argue Pilate was forced, but Gibson has Pilates wife arguing for Jesus' release - which I haven't ever read before. The Pharisee are depicted as shifty, dark-corner hiding people. Gibson argues that there are just about enough other Jewish characters to balance it up, but these Jews are noted for being against traditional Jewish teaching. Still, the bad-Jews beat Jesus up (where'd this come from?), spend alot of time seeking ill-gotten money, and have not one second of screen time where they argue that they cannot believe in the Lord as a man on earth - they just want to kill Jesus.
Still, as a movie it is extraordinary. The actors do a very good job - Caviezel is marvelous. As a factual account, I don't know where you could draw the line really - so much is considered fact these days (the Virgin Mary for example). Touchy subject. I'd say that this will be considered by those who make these decisions as one of the top 10 movies of all time for a long while. I would say watch it but don't neccesarily believe it as fact - go read about Jesus' last 12 hours, read through the gospels (hey even go get An Idiots Guide To The Bible). I think it is a right for an orthodox christian to be able to tell their interpretation of their faith - I don't imagine many would object to allowign a Jew or a Muslim telling theirs.
This is going to be the big argument for months to come. Which I think is a good thing.
Edited because I wanted to express myself better!
02-26-2004, 08:38 AM
Wow Bungle that was fantastic. Thanks for your review of this film.
02-26-2004, 08:57 AM
Thanks for that Bungle. I can understand what you were saying about the blood and gore - I know there are some who are unaffected by it while others - like me - cannot bear to watch. For that reason I will not go and see that film. I had no idea that the "nasty" bits were an hour long though - I won't want to see the video either then - an hour is a long time to hide behind the settee!
I am curious to know other people's views on the film - believers and non-believers alike. Given that it is a fact that a man named Jesus was crucified and that his life and death affected millions of people.
Please - all Britnetters who see this film - write a review as Bungle has done - this could start some very interesting conversations in my opinion.
I am curious to know other people's views on the film - believers and non-believers alike. Given that it is a fact that a man named Jesus was crucified and that his life and death affected millions of people.
Please - all Britnetters who see this film - write a review as Bungle has done - this could start some very interesting conversations in my opinion.
02-26-2004, 09:25 AM
I just checked out the merchandise site.
This is going to erk alot of people. Bare in mind that people do wear crosses. Nails though...?
I do recall when I was a little tott getting a cross amde from nails from the RAF chaplain. Still, little wacky.
This is going to erk alot of people. Bare in mind that people do wear crosses. Nails though...?
I do recall when I was a little tott getting a cross amde from nails from the RAF chaplain. Still, little wacky.
02-26-2004, 12:31 PM
mrbungle2103 Wrote:
BUNGLES THE PASSION REVIEW!!!
(oh how exciting!)
(oh how exciting!)
Good review Bungle.
Quote:
Part of the gospels do argue Pilate was forced, but Gibson has Pilates wife arguing for Jesus' release - which I haven't ever read before.
That's not in the Bible but it is in the Gospel of Nicodemus - supposedly Procle/Claudia feared God and converted to Christianity. She's actually a Saint in the Greek Orthodox church.
02-26-2004, 12:34 PM
Think I'll wait for the DVD. Big weeper here. embarrassingly so.
Will be listening to folk talk all about it tonight, off to see my pal, who got a free pass but didn't take it up as he was only given it half an hour before the midnight show. Entire church congreations in the Bay area are going. The reaction from a lot is it makes you realise we should love more.
I still like the last temptation. Ah well, long wait for DVD.
Good review Bungle.
Will be listening to folk talk all about it tonight, off to see my pal, who got a free pass but didn't take it up as he was only given it half an hour before the midnight show. Entire church congreations in the Bay area are going. The reaction from a lot is it makes you realise we should love more.
I still like the last temptation. Ah well, long wait for DVD.
Good review Bungle.
02-26-2004, 12:49 PM
I've got tickets to see it on saturday and will probably leave a short review later on.
02-26-2004, 10:36 PM
A very good review Mr B~Thanks.
02-26-2004, 11:42 PM
DGood one Mr B wink
I think I will probably wait for it to come out on DVD as well Annie, I dont like going to "full house" movies at the best of times but if there is a lot of crying/emotional participation happening in the audience then I dont think I am up for that, would prefer the privacy of my own home. I had to bite my tongue a few times at work today, a few people were a bit over the top with their comments (well I do live in the bible belt)and their opinions, but I guess it will all calm down in a little while.
I think I will probably wait for it to come out on DVD as well Annie, I dont like going to "full house" movies at the best of times but if there is a lot of crying/emotional participation happening in the audience then I dont think I am up for that, would prefer the privacy of my own home. I had to bite my tongue a few times at work today, a few people were a bit over the top with their comments (well I do live in the bible belt)and their opinions, but I guess it will all calm down in a little while.
02-27-2004, 05:30 AM
I haven't seen it yet, will probably wait for the dvd as am in Holland and don't want to be faced with a bunch of emotional dutch people. But by the looks of it - the movie is a =success no matter which way your opinion sways. Obviously enticing alot of emotion whether the content was agreeable or not. Well done to Mr. Gibson for having the balls to tackle such controversy, I say.
Edited for spelling! Doh!
Edited for spelling! Doh!
02-27-2004, 01:12 PM
mrbungle2103 Wrote:
ALOT of people were crying during this movie - many as early as 5 or 10 minutes in.
I felt like that when I saw Star Wars Episode 1.
02-27-2004, 03:20 PM
Maureen Dowd (or Mad Maureen if you prefer) offers up this insightful review of The Passion
"This is a Mel Gibson film, so you come out wanting to kick somebody's teeth in. In 'Braveheart' and 'The Patriot,' his other emotionally manipulative historical epics, you came out wanting to swing an ax into the skull of the nearest Englishman. Here, you want to kick in some Jewish and Roman teeth. And since the Romans have melted into history . . ."--Maureen Dowd, New York Times, Feb. 26
http//www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/opinion/26DOWD.html?ex=1393131600&en=2b45f99c4ce38841&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
Can't say I felt that myself.
"This is a Mel Gibson film, so you come out wanting to kick somebody's teeth in. In 'Braveheart' and 'The Patriot,' his other emotionally manipulative historical epics, you came out wanting to swing an ax into the skull of the nearest Englishman. Here, you want to kick in some Jewish and Roman teeth. And since the Romans have melted into history . . ."--Maureen Dowd, New York Times, Feb. 26
http//www.nytimes.com/2004/02/26/opinion/26DOWD.html?ex=1393131600&en=2b45f99c4ce38841&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND
Can't say I felt that myself.
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