Before I deal with the hate mail I will get for giving this film such a low rating, I want to explain that this has nothing to do with me not being religious. In fact, one of the reasons why I watched this film is because I do have respect for religion due to how it has convinced so many people to follow it's teachings
and ways of life. The most beloved and controversial religion is Catholicism and it is all due to the man that this film is about: Jesus Christ. Jesus was a man who preached about world peace, love for everyone, and to fight and die for what you believed in. If you are going to make a film about Jesus, you make a film ABOUT what he was/ is (depending on what you believe) all about. Not about his death. Yes, his death was important due to that is what freed us from the chains of sin, but you just don't make a film about that. The reason why is because you go from making a film about his pain into a torture porn version of the story of Jesus that, is just not that good. As I have said, I am not that big on religion in terms of what I believe in. Yes, I did for about most of my childhood go to a Christian school where I had the story of Jesus shoved down my throat, so I am aware of the story. Back in 2004 when I first heard of this film, I was a bit skeptic because I did not want to even know about a film that glorified (or, in this case, gorified) Jesus. Well, a few years later in 2011 I decided to sit down and give this film a chance. I have seen many grotesque and violent films, but this is a film that has destroyed any message it tried to have and has turned it into a celebration of extreme horror and torture porn films.Mel Gibson is, without a doubt, a talented actor but a terrible director. I understand that he is a devout Catholic and believer of God (and has been known to make that public). For his love and belief in religion, I praise him for that. But, it is hard to do in this film when he clearly has the focus on the torture and nothing else. He has said that the point of this film was to show people what Jesus went through during each of the fourteen stages so that people will know what he died for. Now, that is a decent idea for a plot of a film if only we were able to focus less on the brutality and more on the meaning. Mel, you had great intentions, but you destroyed them with the desire to show blood, guts, and gore.Well, that is all I really have to say about this film overall. It basically had it's heart in the right place along with having acting that is superb and make-up artists that makes everything real to the eyes, plus sounds that will make you feel like you were there, but it just fails so much as the graphic violence over shadows the true meaning of the film. I say that if you are interested in the story of Jesus and if you are interested in what he died for, watch Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ and not this film. Or, just read the Gospels. But leave this film alone.
October 21, 2011
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