Recently in Movie: The Passion Category

The Golden Globe nominations are out and The Passion of the Christ isn't among them. The movie only made about $600 million, so maybe they didn't notice the little Christian flick? Yeah right.

This is probably an indication that The Passion will be ignored by the Oscars as well - the Golden Globes correctly predicted most of the Oscar winners last year (at least in big categories). It's interesting because Gibson made a good little movie. So why would it be ignored? I can only think of one reason: subject matter.

Pathetic.

God bless,
Jay

Just a quick note to point out the success that Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ is having. USA Today is pointing out that this week The Passion will become the biggest R-rated film ever and has already become the highest grossing movie created outside of the studio system. Note: It's already the 23rd highest grossing film of all time in the US - it hasn't been released worldwide yet.

I continue to believe that this should send a message to Hollywood. Sex might sell a little, but meaning sells much more. I also should point out that rumors suggest Mel Gibson is now considering another movie based on the Maccabees (which is a book of the Bible that Martin Luther removed). It sounds very interesting.

God bless,
Jay

Our friend at Powten asked an interesting question on his blog: what is your favorite scene during the movie The Passion of the Christ? This is actually a tougher question that it seems, primarily because Mel Gibson did such a great job of translating scripture into the movie. However, I think I've chosen mine and I noticed that Quenta Narwen likes the moment just before mine.

Mine occurs when Jesus falls under the weight of the cross and Mary runs to him. Jesus quotes a line from Revelation, but it is so profound and so perfectly placed within the context of the movie that it blew me away: "See, Mother, I make all things new." It gets to me just thinking about it; this was the essential mission of Christ - a mission that He had to endure because of my sins.

So what's your favorite scene? I'm very interested to see what others think - in my mind this is a very personal movie and I would expect to see as many answers and reasons as there are viewers. Just post a comment letting us know.

God bless,
Jay

It seems that there are a lot of questions about Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ - particularly the symbolism and characters involved. For those who haven’t seen it, the movie is full of Christian symbolism and includes many of the characters that Catholics might know, but others may not of hear of. So, I thought I would point out a few of the bigger issues and open the discussion to any other questions that readers have. We aren’t promising anything, but we’ll give our thoughts (and back them up) as to why something happened in the movie. Now for the basic questions I keep hearing:

Why does Satan carry a malformed baby?
From what I’ve read, this is the biggest question surrounding the movie. This comes as Jesus is being scourged and is quite shocking to the unsuspecting viewer. Initially, we interpreted this as sin (the spawn of the devil), but other metaphors might be more appropriate. First, Satan is attempting to get Jesus to give in. At this point in the movie, Mary watches and is unable to comfort her Son, who is being beaten severely. Satan is representing himself as the opposite of the Madonna and Child. Gibson has also offered an interpretation: “it’s a distortion of what is good.”

Was the real passion that violent?
In a word: Yes. Gibson actually did quite a lot of background study to make sure that he was accurately depicting how the passion would have taken place. Notice that those opposed to the violence and gore tend not to suggest that it isn’t realistic, it is. Jesus did go through that torment to save your soul.

Why the emphasis on the Last Supper?
In the film, Gibson does a brilliant job of juxtaposing the Crucifixion with the Last Supper – this is a real key to understanding Christ’s sacrifice. At the Last Supper the apostles were celebrating the Jewish Passover, in which they were required to sacrifice a perfect lamb, without blemish, rub the lamb’s blood on the top and sides of their door and consume the entire lamb. The entire Passover included four cups of wine which was drunk by the participants. At the Last Supper, the apostles ate the flesh of Jesus, the Real Lamb of God, and drank His blood in order to save them. In the movie, Gibson shows the bread arriving at the table covered in a cloth, as the cloth is removed, Jesus’ garments are ripped off. As the bread is raised, Jesus is raised on the cross. Why? Because Jesus is the Lamb that we must consume – in John 6, Jesus tell us we must eat [the word is ‘gnaw’] His flesh and drink His blood. He made the Passover a real meal filled with grace through His crucifixion. And on the cross, Jesus drank the fourth cup of the Passover (ending the Passover meal) and proclaimed “It is finished.” Thanks be to God. Gibson clearly showed the creation of the Eucharist by Jesus.

Why is so much shown about Mary?
Mary has an important role within Christianity. She alone gave her assent to God that she would allow herself to bear the role of the new Ark of the Covenant and give birth to the Word of God. Remember, the Bible notes that all will call Mary “blessed.” It is a recent phenomenon that attempts to reduce the role of Mary to that of any other human. How many people do you know that would have said “Yes” when their whole life would likely be destroyed? Mary is depicted in Revelation as the Queen of Heaven and she is given an appropriate role in this movie – that of the sorrowful mother watching the beating and death of her Son.

Who were the other players?
The first would be St. Veronica who wiped the face of Christ while He struggled toward Calvary. Veronica's Veil is the cloth with which she wiped the face of Jesus - it is enshrined in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. Another would be Simon of Cyrene who is in the Bible (Matt 27:32, Mark 15:21, Luke 23:26) helped carry the cross of Jesus. Although we don't know if Simon became a Christian, we can surmise from the Biblical notes that his sons did.

Any other questions? Post any questions below and we will make a valiant attempt to answer them. I have also heard that this is an excellent book on the movie and what it means - I haven’t read the book, but it sounds very good.

God bless,
Jay

Well, the people have spoken with their time and their money. The Passion of the Christ broke the box office record set by The Lord of the Rings. I believe the record is "Biggest opening weekend for a film opening on Wednesday" and the Passion pulled in $125.2 million.

What does this say? I think it indicates a desire by the average American to be closer to God, to know Him better. What do you think?

God bless,
Jay

I thought this was such an exceptional post on the violence in The Passion of the Christ that I would make it a post on the site. It is written by Josh, whom we at DeoOmnisGloria.com know very well:

I completely agree with what the above comments have said and wish to defend another aspect of the Passion that is being criticized, namely, its violence. This evening I was watching a movie critic on Hannity and Colmes as he criticized violence in the Passion as being gruesome and extreme, yet when asked about his review of Kill Bill: Volume I, in which he praised the movie as a brilliant achievement, he made the excuse that Kill Bill’s violence is cartoony and, as such, is above criticism and not gruesome or extreme in anyway. What a hypocrite! Caught in the act and still won’t admit it. For those of you who haven’t seen Kill Bill here’s an excerpt from Yahoo’s Movie Mom Review:
“Parents should exercise the strongest caution before allowing their kids to see this film. They should know that the movie has the most intense, graphic, brutal, and destructive violence imaginable (at least until Tarantino thinks up something new). Body parts are sliced off and blood gushes and spurts like a geyser. Many characters are maimed and many more are killed. A mother is murdered in front of her young child. A man's head is sliced off and tossed around.”
I think everyone gets the picture. Now to make the point, which I was dying for the guy filling in for Hannity to make. There is a fundamental difference between the violence in The Passion and the violence in Kill Bill; namely, the violence in The Passion is purposeful violence (I’ll explain below), whereas the violence in Kill Bill is purposeless glorified violence. By purposeless glorified violence in Kill Bill, I mean that it makes violence look cool, stylish, and entertaining, as the heroine of the movie, out of revenge, brutally kills people without blinking an eye. Of course, this violence is so cool that the audience has to see it in slow motion, while listening to a kickass soundtrack. I think I make my point. Now to explain what I mean by purposeful violence in The Passion. The violence in The Passion not once glorifies itself, but, shown in such a gruesome and realistic (a very key word here) way, it attempts and succeeds to show the audience the consequence and result of sin in this world and the abundant and inexhaustible love of a God that is willing to sacrifice his only Son, Jesus Christ, for mankind’s redemption and salvation. Throughout and continually, the movie hauntingly whispers into the viewer’s ear: “see in My suffering your sin and see in My acceptance the sacrificial love and forgiveness I have toward you.” Summed up, the violence in The Passion will not only discourage violence, but will cultivate forgiveness and mercy in the hearts of its viewers (purposeful violence), whereas the violence in Kill Bill will, if anything, encourage violence with its eye for an eye philosophy (purposeless glorified violence). To wrap things up, I would like to make an interesting comparison. In Kill Bill, which is so brilliant, the heroine is shown returning violence for violence, having no mercy or forgiveness whatsoever for those who attack her, whereas in The Passion, Jesus is brutally tortured and afflicted on all sides, yet as they lift him on the cross he cries out “forgive them, for they know not what they do.” I encourage everyone to go and see this profound and realistic movie. Don’t allow the hypocritical criticisms of its extreme and unnecessary violence to deter you, since the violence in The Passion “is as it was”-- purposeful violence.

God bless,
Josh

Excellent insight into this issue - thanks, Josh.

God bless,
Jay

Walking out of The Passion of the Christ one thought struck me. I continually read in the papers about the violence of the movie. But that wasn’t how I saw it. Rather, the theme of the movie for me was sorrow. Sorrow that I am so weak when my God had given so much. Sorrow that I had as much to do with the horrible scourging and crucifixion of my God as anyone else. Sorrow that I could not be the perfect son of my fallen Savior.

The violence didn’t get me; the reality of God being killed by those He created in order save them did. I think what’s missing from most of the reviews I read is faith. Without faith Christianity seems silly. Why would an omnipotent God come to earth and die? Why would He allow himself to be beaten and killed by mere creatures that He could easily destroy? Faith is not only the key to understanding God, it is the essential requirement needed to comprehend this movie. Mel Gibson has created a masterpiece. I’m one of those that believes that God works through whomever He has available to do the job, so I don’t believe Mel’s personal oddities can necessarily corrupt the film – and I don’t believe they did.

The Passion of the Christ is a phenomenal achievement. The movie manages to convey our personal responsibility remarkably well. I wept through parts of the movie – particularly the scene where Christ says, “You see, Mother, I make all things new.” I was very impressed with the treatment of Mary and the Eucharist. The script does a great job of tying the Crucifixion together with the Last Supper and mentions several times that we must eat the flesh of Christ and drink His blood.

In the end, I left the theater acutely aware of my personal sinfulness. I left more determined than ever to avoid sin and follow Christ. And that may be the best thing a movie can possibly achieve.

God bless,
Jay

I have posted this article so that we would have a centralized location on this site for any of you either wishing to post a review or those searching for reviews of the movie.

I went to see The Passion today and found this movie to be one of the most profound experiences in my life. This is by far the best movie I have ever seen. Allow me to explain, the goal of filmmaking is to produce a desired affect on the viewer and to convey some message in an artistic way. Mel Gibson has achieved both. From start to finish this movie touches your heart, mind, and soul. At the end of the movie most of the audience just sat there, there was moving silence. I could tell that many lives had been touch, yet this was just a side thought for what I found my mind pondering the most was my own need for Jesus Christ, for my own need for daily conversion.

It was critical that this movie be produced by a Catholic for only a Catholic could tie in all the necessary aspects of this perfect Sacrifice. Gibson masterfully depicts the direct connection between the Passion of our Lord Jesus and the Eucharist. Even when before the high priest, Caiaphas, Jesus is accused of telling that the people that they must "eat His Flesh and drink His Blood, in order to have eternal life." The reality of this great mystery of our Catholic Faith was driven home with beauty, with Scripture, and with truth.

This film also beautifully portrayed the relationship between Jesus and Mary, the love that they had for one another and the role Mary played in His Salvific Mission. I was very impressed with Gibson's depiction of this.

Last but not least, I do want to comment on what is currently considered to be the most controversial aspect of the film - the alleged anti-Semetism. This is absolutely false. Now that I have seen the movie, I am floored that anyone would make such an accusation. There is even one point in the film where Gibson focuses in on the Jewish chief priests and Pharisees, then immediately flashes back to Jesus say:

No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father - John 10:18

It was powerful and directly showed that while the Jews and Romans were the physical agents that carried out the physical execution of Jesus, it was God Himself who desired this Sacrifice and allowed it. I can't understand why any Jew or other person for that matter would be offended by this. It is a historical fact.

Go see this movie. It will change your life.

In Christ,
Joe

A reminder: Mel Gibson will be discussing The Passion of the Christ tonight on FoxNews at 8 PM and 11 PM. Bill O'Reilly is a Catholic, although he has expressed some misunderstandings about Catholic teaching, but I'm looking forward to the discussion.

O'Reilly is also pretty hard-hitting, so perhaps he'll be the first to ask Gibson if he follows Pope John Paul II . . . I'm still waiting for that answer.

God bless,
Jay

In a very odd 20/20 piece, Andy Rooney said a few things of note:

1. God is speaking to Mr. Rooney, despite our doubts
   
2. Bush will win in a landslide this year, despite all evidence to the contrary (NOTE: this came directly to Andy from God, so Kerry should just drop out, right?)
   
3. Mel Gibson and Pat Robertson are "wackos" (again, from God)
   

I'm thinking that most of us feel Rooney is the wacko at this point! I have some sympathy for his criticism of Pat Robertson, who has some very odd ways of interpreting Scripture, but to suggest that God told you someone is a "wacko" is off the charts nuts.

Is this simply a ploy for media attention? Is Rooney just not a fan of The Passion of the Christ? I don't know, but it's odd either way.

God bless,
Jay

Just wanted to point out that Dave Armstrong has seen The Passion of the Christ and posted a thoughful review of it here. It's worth taking the time to read.

Also - if you're planning on going I would suggest you buy tickets now (try Fandango.com). Monday I bought mine for Saturday the 28th and had trouble finding a showing that wasn't sold out.

God bless,
Jay

First, Diane Sawyer’s understanding of Christianity needs some help. It would have helped for her to have some knowledge of Christian history and Catholicism, in particular, when she started the interview. My favorite point was when she contrasted “believers” who believe in the literal translation of the Bible and “scholars” who believe it is metaphorical (she also suggested that the Bible was wrong in its view of Pilate, since “historians” see it differently). My second favorite point: “Hitler went to a Passion play . . .” Diane’s obvious annoyance with Christianity bothered me a great deal.

Now to Gibson. He says he’s a “traditionalist” Catholic and funds a private “Church of the Holy Family” in Malibu, California rather than going to his local parish. Does this make him schismatic? I would like to know this; I’m thinking it might take a Canon Lawyer to answer the question (let me know if you have the answer). I think it’s clearly questionable. I still haven’t seen anyone ask him if he follows the current Pope. Of course this in itself would not condemn the movie. Gibson came across pretty well in the interview. It was interesting to see him try and explain deep theological issues quickly and clearly to Diane Sawyer. The scenes from the movie were compelling.

Clearly Diane wanted to make the movie seem as controversial as possible, but why not one legitimate Catholic scholar? I’m always amazed by the media’s insistence on using those that have some bone to pick with the church on most issues. “What if I were an alien?” What would you be doing at the movies? Give me a break, Diane, and let someone else do interviews with believers!

In the end, I can’t wait to see it . . .

God bless,
Jay

Jon Meacham, an editor with Newsweek magazine, recently wrote a lengthy review of "The Passion", which was published in the most recent edition of Newsweek. Naturally I read the article as soon as it came out. As one of our readers just reprinted the entire article to this blog on a related post comment (singing the article's praises), I felt it would be a particularly appropriate topic. Thus, I will give a review of the review, as it were.

To summarize, Mr. Meacham's article is fit for the National Enquirer. I suppose that is a bit unfair, as Mr. Meacham's tale is much more intricately spun than what one would find in the "poop sheets" as my grandmother calls them, but the effect is nonetheless the same. While Newsweek is an unabashedly liberal publication, a sort of counterspin to U.S. News & World Report you might say, the Meacham article just does not represent the class of writing, liberal or otherwise, that Newsweek should be proud to publish.

Meacham suggests that Gibson takes liberties with Scripture. On close examination, however, his allegations are subtle, largely giving the reader the impression that Gibson has taken liberties with Scripture, but without giving any concrete examples. Where he does offer specific examples, it is Meacham that turns out to be the deceiver. For instance, Meacham states:

In an ensuing scene, Mary Magdalene calls for help from Roman soldiers as Jesus is taken indoors to be interrogated by the priests. "They've arrested him," she cries. A Temple policeman intervenes, tells the Romans "she's crazy" and assures them that Jesus "broke the Temple laws, that's all." . . . It is true that the Temple leaders had no use for Jesus, but these lines of dialogue--which, taken together, suggest Jewish control over the situation--are not found in the Gospels.

Seems pretty clear that Gibson is way out of touch, right?. But hold on to your underpants... what's this?!! The Bible (you know, that book that the story comes from) states that "a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests ... stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him." Matthew 26:47-50. In verses 57-67, Jesus is taken before the high priest, interrogated fiercely, spit on, and beaten. So, Meacham was right that the specific lines of dialogue never took place. But his insinuation that there was no "Jewish control over the situation" is, Biblically speaking, false. A deception. A lie!

Just wanted to point out an article by Rabbi Daniel Lapin on the Mel Gibson's movie. Rabbi Lapin is of the opinion that Jews should not be concerned about the movie and fairly critical of those portraying the movie as anti-semitic. It's a good read.

Thanks to Mark Shea for pointing this out.

God bless,
Jay

Because of the sheer volume of interest, we've compiled all of the reviews and information about the movie The Passion of the Christ into one section of the website. Of course, I encourage everyone to visit other areas as well!

We now have less than a month to the actual opening date of the movie, which occurs on Ash Wednesday, February 25th, 2004. In my mind this is the perfect way to start Lent: take a day off, watch the movie (good mental preparation) and go to Mass. From all that I've heard, this is a life changing movie. Justin, a relative of those at DeoOmnisGloria, saw the movie and gave us his review of the Passion of the Christ here. He's a strong Christian, soon to be a priest, so when a movie "changes" his "life," I sit up and pay attention.

Anyway, our officialThe Passion of the Christ movie category is now up. We will add more posts as information becomes available. By the way, you should also check out the official website of the movie here.

God bless,
Jay

Gibson's 'Passion': The Greatest Story Ever Told, Like You've Never Seen It Before

Movie Review by Thomas Minarik
January 21, 2004

(AgapePress) - Silence. Absolute stunned silence. Not even a whisper. Only an intermittent sniffle and a few deep sighs. That was the reaction of 50 or so guests and journalists, including myself, who watched a private screening in Washington, DC, of an unfinished version of The Passion of Christ, produced by actor Mel Gibson.

As the movie ended and the screen went black, the audience was collectively dumbstruck at the realization that what they had watched was more than just a good story portrayed by a cast of good actors. It was much more profound than that. It was, in truth, nothing less than each viewer's personal encounter with the terrible consequence of sin -- and not someone else's sin, but his or her very own.

The image of a remorseful Julia Marchmain comes to mind. In his novel Brideshead Revisited (a classic piece of literature which retells the story of sin, remorse and conversion), author Evelyn Waugh includes a scene in which Julia breaks into a fit of hysteria when her brother matter-of-factly tells her she is "living in sin" with her lover. For the first time in her life, the free-spirited Julia comes to grips with the ugliness of sin. In trying to explain her tears to her lover, Julia tells him that her decision to live with him in spite of the fact they are not married is indeed "my sin." She weeps bitterly because the mask she had placed over her comfortable lifestyle was ungraciously ripped off, exposing her disfigured soul, which was designed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit.

It is much the same with The Passion of Christ. But in this case, Mel Gibson plays the role of Brideshead and every member of the audience is Julia, masking our comfortable lifestyles in order to cover our sins and minimize their consequences. Like Brideshead, Gibson uses the graphic and bloody imagery of The Passion of Christ to literally rip off that mask and force us to confront the reality that it was our sins which caused the innocent Jesus to suffer so terribly.

Throughout the movie, one by one, our sins are exposed before our riveted eyes through the actions of various persons of the Gospel: our laziness (the Apostles in the Garden); our betrayals (Judas); our denials (Peter); our lusts (the brutal scourging at the pillar); our cowardice (Pilate); our pride (the leaders of the Sanhedrin); our apathy (Herod); and our fears masqueraded as courage (the unrepentant thief on the cross). The experience is both overwhelming and shaming.

Try as we might to resist, The Passion of Christ will not allow us to hide our eyes from the terrible, brutal and bloody consequences of our own sin. So much so that you will want to cry out to heaven, "Oh, my God, what have I done?" only to hear Our Lord say, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And that's what makes this movie truly life-changing.

Many noted film directors have attempted to render to celluloid the greatest story ever told. Franco Zeffirelli did a superb job with his Jesus of Nazareth. But no film retells the last 12 hours of Jesus' life like Gibson's does. The Passion of Christ is so powerful and so literal that it reaches out from the screen and grabs the viewer by the collar, shakes him and shouts, "See! This is the reality of sin!"

No wonder Our Lord told those He forgave, including us today, to "go and sin no more!" He knew the price He would willingly pay. He would feel the sting of the soldier's whip. He would experience the pain of the punches. He would endure the torn ligaments and muscles. And ultimately He would suffer separation from the Father.

Is the movie controversial? Without question, it is. But the real controversy isn't over the widely reported allegations of anti-Semitism. In fact, Gibson has gone the extra mile, even omitting some words of Scripture which, although historical and accurate, might give credence to the false accusations. Besides, viewers might use those words as an excuse to point the finger of blame for Christ's passion and death away from themselves and onto someone else.

And that is precisely what The Passion of Christ will not allow any viewer to do. Mel Gibson rightly places the blame for the brutal death of Jesus squarely where it belongs -- on each of us. And that's what makes the movie controversial.

This Lenten season, do not miss The Passion of Christ, and don't let your friends miss it. But a word of caution: When you do pick a date to view it, don't make plans to go to dinner afterward. You won't have the stomach for it. Instead, go home, find a quiet place and pray.

UPDATE: Judy was kind enough to point out below that this was not written by Paul Harvey, but by Keith Fournier at Christianity.com. Here is the actual article. I've edited the article below and removed Paul Harvey's name, but I still believe the review is worth reading.

The majority of the media are complaining about this movie.

Keith Fournier's words:

I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had also read all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe much of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply held aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of anti-Semitic thought, language or actions.

I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in Washington DC and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened. From the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very human and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced.

In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded, this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC were shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes heaven touch earth.

Now is the time to show your support of Mel Gibson’s The Passion. You can now officially buy vouchers that will get you into the movie once it releases on February 25th of this year. Why buy now? The pre-sales of tickets can indicate the popularity of a film, which means that early sales translate to more theaters and more opportunities for the world to see this movie.

Still not sure about the movie? Click here to read Justin’s review of the film. Justin is currently studying for the priesthood in Rome and is a reliable source (he’s related to several bloggers on this site). This film just might change the world.

Click here to buy tickets for The Passion or call 1-800-353-6102. We need to support movies like this – otherwise we may not have a chance to support them in the future!

Thanks to Catholicity for providing this information.

God bless,
Jay

Some of the contributors to this blog have a brother studying for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome. He wrote this to us the other day:

Hey family! So yesterday seemed to be another ordinary day going slowly by when at about 5pm I was informed by some of the guys that at lunch that day (I had classes during lunch time on Fridays) there was an announcement that there would be a real showing of the movie the Passion that night (Last Night). So it turns out that the rector experienced it the night before with the producer of the film who happened to be in Rome with his wife. After viewing it, he asked if it would at all be feasible to play the film for all the seminarians at the NAC. Seeing that we had the equipment for such a showing he agreed and so last night I experienced the "PASSION". Of course it was not in its final version, needing some effects and its own music, but all in all it was incredible. Awesome!!!!! A must see!!!! I have never been moved by a film as I was last night. It truly is a great depiction of the passion of Christ with the theological emphasis on Mary's role in the Church, the wickedness of Satan, and the Eucharist in connection with the crucifixion itself. I know that it will not be released in the States until Ash Wesnesday 2004 but I really suggest talking this up to all you meet and be prepared to see the world change by the beauty of this horrible death of our Lord experience in a real manner in this film. Well, off to the rosary and lunch! Talk to ya'll later! May my charity be with you always in Christ!

Through Mary to Jesus,
Justin

We're going to email him back for a more indepth review, but needless to say he can be trusted. I'm glad to hear from someone whom I can trust that the movie was that good - - Mel Gibson has a few odd beliefs. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to seeing The Passion next year and I hope you'll take the time to view it as well.