OT: "The Passion" revisited

[HornedFrog Purple]

Before the last thread turned into a mess, I had debated whether one or both of my nephews were not going to see it. One of them is 15, the other 12. I decided that I would take the older one to see the film this last weekend. This is a sort of synopsis of our conversation on the way home.

Now there was some talk in his school about it and he asked me what to expect. I really didn't say anything as I wanted his pure reaction unswayed by anything I would tell him. I merely said that it for the most part follows the Gospels with a little bit of artistic license which I believe is a fair assessment.

On the way home, his first words to me was "Wow, did that really happen that way? That's not the way we see it in service at Easter time?"

I tried in the best way I could to explain that the Passion plays we see in service are more symbolic. This film was meant to be more realistic as far as what we know about those times.

I asked him: "What parts stuck out in your memory the most?"

(these I guess could be considered spoilers, though everyone knows the basic story for the most part)

One was the flogging which I expected. Another was when one of the criminals along with Jesus said "Are you mad? Why do you caress your cross?" (something like that) and the final part was after all the torture Jesus had taken and despite the Romans taunting him on the hill, Jesus gathered himself up and laid himself on his cross.

I asked him: "From what you saw, who do you think was to blame for what happened in the movie to Jesus?"

He said and I quote: "Everybody."

Now we discussed some other things too, but I just wanted to share the thoughts of a typical 15 year old in case anyone had a similar situation. He was disturbed by the torture though not as much as I thought he would have been. He was very clued in about Jesus's message of forgiveness despite what was happening to him.

Anyways I thought I would share and I don't regret taking him.

[Hurst2112]

Good to hear the Horned, thanks.

[Vegas Vic]

Good job. It looks like you handled the situation very well.

[sabotai]

these I guess could be considered spoilers

If there is a movie out there where it is impossible to give spoilers, I think this is it (A movie based off a 2000 year old story. No, I don't think anything could be considered a spoiler.) :D

[Groundhog]

I saw the film this past weekend and thought it was very average. I understand that the point of the film was to show the last hours of Christ and that it wasn't a terribly pleasent time for the guy, but still watching a guy get beaten, insulted and generally treated like a piece of shit unfairly for 2 hours does not count as an enjoyable movie going experience for myself. The graphic nature of the violence and all that didn't bother me, I just found myself bored, especially when you know what's going to happen.

It'd be like if the film Braveheart only depicted (SPOILER WARNING FOR THE 2 PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN BRAVEHEART) his execution for 2 hours.

I personally think that Mel should have thrown a plot twist in at the end... I dunno, perhaps when he is hanging up on the cross he could look to the crowd and say something along the lines of "Oh come on, I was only joking... I'm not REALLY the song of God.. jeez, I didn't think you guys would take it so seriously...."

THAT would have enhanced my enjoyment of the film considerably. ;)

[Calis]

I personally think that Mel should have thrown a plot twist in at the end... I dunno, perhaps when he is hanging up on the cross he could look to the crowd and say something along the lines of "Oh come on, I was only joking... I'm not REALLY the song of God.. jeez, I didn't think you guys would take it so seriously...."

THAT would have enhanced my enjoyment of the film considerably. ;)

Or he could've busted out in song...

Always look on the bright side of life.

[SackAttack]

I saw the film this past weekend and thought it was very average. I understand that the point of the film was to show the last hours of Christ and that it wasn't a terribly pleasent time for the guy, but still watching a guy get beaten, insulted and generally treated like a piece of shit unfairly for 2 hours does not count as an enjoyable movie going experience for myself. The graphic nature of the violence and all that didn't bother me, I just found myself bored, especially when you know what's going to happen.

It'd be like if the film Braveheart only depicted (SPOILER WARNING FOR THE 2 PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN BRAVEHEART) his execution for 2 hours.

I personally think that Mel should have thrown a plot twist in at the end... I dunno, perhaps when he is hanging up on the cross he could look to the crowd and say something along the lines of "Oh come on, I was only joking... I'm not REALLY the song of God.. jeez, I didn't think you guys would take it so seriously...."

THAT would have enhanced my enjoyment of the film considerably. ;)

They already had two people get struck by lightning during filming. Why risk further wrath? ;)

[Front Office Midget]

I must comment that I'm 15 years old, and saw the movie with 3 other 14/15 year old friends, and I'm pretty sure I understood the movie as well as anybody else did.

I didn't cry or anything... but a lot of the movie made me think a lot. I took more out of various interesting likes... "Why do you caress your cross?" by the other criminal... "I am an innocent man carrying the cross of a condemned man" by the man who carried the cross... "I make all things new" by Jesus to his mother, etc. than I did the actual flogging and suffering Jesus went through. Maybe that's just because I've imagined the crucifixion before, so this movie wasn't too much of a shock.

I thought it was an overall very well-done movie for what it was supposed to portray. When people complain about the movie showing too much of his pain instead of other events of Jesus life... they're forgetting the whole point of the movie. Oh well, whatever.

[Desnudo]

I saw the film this past weekend and thought it was very average. I understand that the point of the film was to show the last hours of Christ and that it wasn't a terribly pleasent time for the guy, but still watching a guy get beaten, insulted and generally treated like a piece of shit unfairly for 2 hours does not count as an enjoyable movie going experience for myself. The graphic nature of the violence and all that didn't bother me, I just found myself bored, especially when you know what's going to happen.

It'd be like if the film Braveheart only depicted (SPOILER WARNING FOR THE 2 PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN BRAVEHEART) his execution for 2 hours.

I personally think that Mel should have thrown a plot twist in at the end... I dunno, perhaps when he is hanging up on the cross he could look to the crowd and say something along the lines of "Oh come on, I was only joking... I'm not REALLY the song of God.. jeez, I didn't think you guys would take it so seriously...."

THAT would have enhanced my enjoyment of the film considerably. ;)

Or at least yelled "Freeeeeeedom," at least once.