The Passion Of The Christ: Zerosun's Movie Review
"Rex es tu?"......Pontius Pilate
"You can be totally moved, to tears, by fiction. But nobody is going to say you've got to believe that this is true."…….Richard Dawkins
When asked what albums he would bring with him to an abandoned desert island, best selling author and devout atheist Richard Dawkins listed a famous piece by Johan Sebastian Bach as one of his choices. Bach, of course, is well known for his devotional orchestras. The woman interviewing Dawkins was baffled that such an outspoken non-believer would enjoy such pious music. "It's beautiful music, and its beauty is indeed enhanced by understanding what it means. It's like fiction". This is exactly how I feel about what is perhaps the most controversial film ever, Mel Gibson's, "The Passion Of the Christ".
I've always been able to separate the art from the artist. "Rage Against The Machine", is my favorite rock band. They are also a group of militant communists, which becomes clear if you read between the lines of their lyrics. Mel Gibson's transgressions have been well documented, but he is my favorite director. "The Passion" must be credited as a film that marked his ascension as one of the worlds most courageous and gifted filmmakers. No one but Gibson would be brave (or crazy) enough to tackle such an incendiary topic such as the Crucifixion. I applaud him for his willingness to take such artistic risks, as should we all.
As an outspoken critic of religion myself, it may come as a surprise that I am so fond of this movie. I am in fact, a great admirer of the aesthetic achievements of the faithful. The music of Bach, the paintings of Caravaggio (which influenced this film heavily), the architecture of St. Peters, all cannot be ignored by a person who has an affinity for art, music, fiction, and culture overall. I add "The Passion" to this list of artistic tributes to the Nazarene.
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0_bRjgQgV34" frameborder="0" width="480" height="390"></iframe>
In my opinion, the best movies are the ones that produce strong feelings of profundity in the viewer. Throughout the truly piercing frames of this representation of the final hours of Jesus' life, you will feel as if you are watching arguably the most important event in all of human history unfolding before your eyes. The sense that each moment in this movie is heavy with relevance for all of us is so profound, it still gives me moments where I think to myself, "Ok. There might be something here."
This movie is well known for its gratuitous violence. It was, is, and will be hard for the squeamish to watch. However, if you can stomach it, and appreciate the beauty of the cinematography, the rapturous original score, the commitment of the actors, the subtleties of the editing, the strength of the ambient sound, and the sense of gravity in each frame, then "The Passion" is well worth the agony.
For me, the strongest parts of the movie come before the cruelty of the Romans is unleashed. As a lover of history, I have great affection for films that take place in times long past, as long as they have an authentic feel and I am able to suspend disbelief. "Gladiator", is a good example of a movie that fails miserably at this. I can think of none better that succeed at it, than "The Passion". Gibson's decision to have the story told in Latin, Aramaic and Hebrew, is itself a characteristic that puts "The Passion" at the head of its class.
This is a movie I could ramble on about indefinitely, so I won't do that to you. It seems to me, that religious tales are most likely little more than myths. But so what? Myths are fantastic. We are not required to believe that Yoda existed in order to feel euphoria and find solace in "The Empire Strikes Back". I look at movies, I suspect, in the same way people look at holy books. As a great source of inspiration, wisdom, and comfort. "The Passion", is a challenging movie, and in the age of "Jersey Shore", I have the utmost respect for artists who force us to think about life's most important questions. Gibson is certainly a sinner (as apparently we are all). But as a filmmaker, he is a saint, which we are all not. If I did pray, then I would for "Mad Mel" to find some redemption, and continue on his journey as the movie industries great tortured genius. He is truly the Van Gogh of cinema.
- Magistrate Dunham
"You can be totally moved, to tears, by fiction. But nobody is going to say you've got to believe that this is true."…….Richard Dawkins
When asked what albums he would bring with him to an abandoned desert island, best selling author and devout atheist Richard Dawkins listed a famous piece by Johan Sebastian Bach as one of his choices. Bach, of course, is well known for his devotional orchestras. The woman interviewing Dawkins was baffled that such an outspoken non-believer would enjoy such pious music. "It's beautiful music, and its beauty is indeed enhanced by understanding what it means. It's like fiction". This is exactly how I feel about what is perhaps the most controversial film ever, Mel Gibson's, "The Passion Of the Christ".
I've always been able to separate the art from the artist. "Rage Against The Machine", is my favorite rock band. They are also a group of militant communists, which becomes clear if you read between the lines of their lyrics. Mel Gibson's transgressions have been well documented, but he is my favorite director. "The Passion" must be credited as a film that marked his ascension as one of the worlds most courageous and gifted filmmakers. No one but Gibson would be brave (or crazy) enough to tackle such an incendiary topic such as the Crucifixion. I applaud him for his willingness to take such artistic risks, as should we all.
As an outspoken critic of religion myself, it may come as a surprise that I am so fond of this movie. I am in fact, a great admirer of the aesthetic achievements of the faithful. The music of Bach, the paintings of Caravaggio (which influenced this film heavily), the architecture of St. Peters, all cannot be ignored by a person who has an affinity for art, music, fiction, and culture overall. I add "The Passion" to this list of artistic tributes to the Nazarene.
<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0_bRjgQgV34" frameborder="0" width="480" height="390"></iframe>
In my opinion, the best movies are the ones that produce strong feelings of profundity in the viewer. Throughout the truly piercing frames of this representation of the final hours of Jesus' life, you will feel as if you are watching arguably the most important event in all of human history unfolding before your eyes. The sense that each moment in this movie is heavy with relevance for all of us is so profound, it still gives me moments where I think to myself, "Ok. There might be something here."
This movie is well known for its gratuitous violence. It was, is, and will be hard for the squeamish to watch. However, if you can stomach it, and appreciate the beauty of the cinematography, the rapturous original score, the commitment of the actors, the subtleties of the editing, the strength of the ambient sound, and the sense of gravity in each frame, then "The Passion" is well worth the agony.
For me, the strongest parts of the movie come before the cruelty of the Romans is unleashed. As a lover of history, I have great affection for films that take place in times long past, as long as they have an authentic feel and I am able to suspend disbelief. "Gladiator", is a good example of a movie that fails miserably at this. I can think of none better that succeed at it, than "The Passion". Gibson's decision to have the story told in Latin, Aramaic and Hebrew, is itself a characteristic that puts "The Passion" at the head of its class.
This is a movie I could ramble on about indefinitely, so I won't do that to you. It seems to me, that religious tales are most likely little more than myths. But so what? Myths are fantastic. We are not required to believe that Yoda existed in order to feel euphoria and find solace in "The Empire Strikes Back". I look at movies, I suspect, in the same way people look at holy books. As a great source of inspiration, wisdom, and comfort. "The Passion", is a challenging movie, and in the age of "Jersey Shore", I have the utmost respect for artists who force us to think about life's most important questions. Gibson is certainly a sinner (as apparently we are all). But as a filmmaker, he is a saint, which we are all not. If I did pray, then I would for "Mad Mel" to find some redemption, and continue on his journey as the movie industries great tortured genius. He is truly the Van Gogh of cinema.
- Magistrate Dunham
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