I recently viewed "The Passion of the Christ," director and produced by Mel Gibson. I found it to be incredibly, moving, but spiritual film, despite the fact that it is graphically violent and detailed on the physical torture applied to Jesus. Judging this film "anti-Semitism" and "pornographically violent" is completely irrelevant for, what I believe, this film is dealing with more than the artistic, social, and religious contexts. .
The Passion of the Christ is a film about the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth's. The film open's in the Garden of Olives where Jesus went to pray after the last supper. Passion is a perfect word for the subject matter Mel Gibson examines in this film. It is indeed a movie about the suffering and pain Jesus undertakes, as there is almost no rest for us to breath. Artistically, "Passion" is unbalanced for it shows so much agony and brutality while almost no portion of peace and love, which Christianity promotes, can be found. Yet the physical pain is so vividly and effectively illustrated that it moves me beyond any speech about peace and love. Anyone who criticizes James Caviezel for being dull under the silicone make-up is missing the point. Using merely body gestures and eyes expressions, Caviezel did an excellent performance in expressing Jesus' mental state. .
Now you've heard this film is "anti-Semitism," I don't think it intends to promote this on any level. Some Jews, especially the Jewish priests, are portrayed as some greedy and evil mobs that won't hesitate to put Jesus to death for their own benefits. However, Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine, who shows a moment of compassion and understanding, betrays his heart by punishing Jesus from scourging to crucifixion in order to keep his area politically stable. He is a coward who cannot be faithful to the truth his soul says to him. The Roman soldiers are illustrated as some bloodthirsty beasts that torture the prisoners as their professions and hobbies.