My buddy Nathan tipped me off to this review, written by someone who saw the rough cut of The Passion. What did this guy think of it? If I’ve ever seen a reviewer gush out a review, it’s this one. He said,
The Passion is a stunning work of art. It is a devout, act of worship from Mel and his collaborators - in the way that Handel’s Messiah and Notre Dame
were artistic acts of worship in previous times.
I can’t explain it really, except that it would be like standing in the Sistine Chapel next to, well, someone like Mel Gibson. Great art is a great leveler.
Let’s get the controversy out of the way right at the top. The film is faithful to the Gospel, particularly St. John.
For those of us who love Jesus, The Passion is devastating to watch. It is so good, I almost couldn’t stand it.
It is the greatest movie about Jesus ever made.
The film is strongly Eucharistic.
Every Christian needs to see this film at least once. Just to remember, in our current comfort zones while evil is closing in, the price that was paid for us. On my way home from the screening, I found myself praying in the car, “Jesus, I’m so sorry, I forgot…” How many films have led you to compunction lately? The Passion is a miracle.
June 28th, 2003 at 7:09 pm
It’s too bad the movie is an entire film depicting pictures of Jesus Christ, and thus breaks the Second Commandment. If it weren’t for that, I’d definitely see it…Jim Caviezel and Mel Gibson are two of my favorite contemporary actors.
July 1st, 2003 at 10:52 pm
You sound pretty cocksure about this, Pieter. I’d like to see you make the argument.
July 3rd, 2003 at 5:30 pm
Just check the excuse for an argument by Peter Barnes in his little pamphlet published, not surprisingly, by Banner of Truth called Seeing Jesus.
It’s really sad to see lame stuff like this get published.