I think people ought to be able to believe what they wish, and be respected by others in the process.

If I gave offense at my take on TPOTC, I apologize. I'm sure that, for the Believer, it must be an awful experience to see the gospels represented in such literal and graphic fashion.

Ding Ding Ding! Most tasteless Cellar joke award nominee.

I humbly accept this nomination on the grounds that I thought it was one of the most tasteless, yet hysterical, jokes I'd ever heard.

I've always liked the one where Jesus keeps calling to John from the cross, and John keeps trying to reach him but is repeatedly beaten by the guards, etc.; finally, John manages to get close to Jesus, and just before the guards drag him away for a final beating, John says, "Yes, Lord?" and Jesus says, "John...I can see my house from up here!"

Btw, I've heard that the Devil in 'PofC' is scary, but I'll bet he/she isn't scarier than Viggo Mortensen in 'The Prophecy'. As The Comic Book Guy might say, "Best Satan ever!"

I was discussing it with a friend of mine, and I threw out the following idea that seemed to sum up the film pretty well.

The Passion is like a magnification mirror - you take out what you went in with, enhanced by ten. If you had anti-Semitic feelings inside going in, they were on the outside coming out. Same for people alert for - the uncharitable would say "paranoid of" - hints of anti-Semitism. So on and so forth.

What I loved was that there was all these people protesting the movie before they saw it. I saw it in Teaneck, NJ, a town with a very large Jewish population. People were saying, "Oh, it makes us Jews out to be the evil ones!" I said "Did you see the movie?" "Well, no, but we know without seeing it!" It's amazing that these poeple were that stupid, considering that one of them was a rabbi. Yes, some of the high priests were in on the killing, but several were stongly opposed to it. They were promptly ignored. However, the make-up effects were outstandinig, and the camerawork was able to intensify scenes.

Ever notice on some statues of the Christ, there's a sign above his head that reads "INRI"? That means "I'm Nailed Right In".

From what I remember, the reaction after the initial screening in certain theaters by Christian groups was that they were not overly happy or unhappy with the film. In fact, most of the people that were interviewed said they left the theater in amazement. The tone of their voices told the story: breathless and wonderment. They seemed pleased with the way the film was shot and the acting. And I guess for some, it cemented their faith.

Not sure if I even want to see the film, but I thought the reactions were quite interesting.

Actually, Mel is oddly catholic. I think they call themselves First Family or some such.

Well, maybe...but I didn't see anyone coming out of the last Matrix movie crying about Neo being The One, or that Trinity died to save them. :D

I dont really think I want to watch this film. ...I find it hard to suspend disbelief as soon as it involves events I was taught by my teachers to view as history and then discovered were actually up for interpretation.....

I find any movie that takes as it's base an assumed existence of God or an assumption of historical accuracy on events that are unproved difficult to get into. Not just the serious stuff. I found that Jim Carey film fell flat for me for the same reason. ....Just the way I am. I dont mind films where the characters hold a religious belief, I can empathise with them and their belief...I just find it hard to get into a film which needs the audience to assume an existence of God or the truth of those events for the plot to work.

I am intrigued though to know how you guys got along withthe Aramaic? Did it work? Did it heighten the sense of immersion in a time and place?

Well, DanaC, I feel that the Aramaic and Latin helped the movie. If it had been done in English, I don't think it would have worked too well. (Remember "Robin Hood" with Kevin Costner? Robin with a California accent? "Dude, he swiped yer girl! What a bummer!") TPOTC uses subtitles, but they're onscreen long enough to read them and not lose track of the movie.

That's true of "Johnny Tremain" as well.

And I suspect you have linked the wrong AIG.