Review of The Passion of the Christ on Filmviews.net
Year2004 ReviewerChris Docker
Whether you believe in the Jesus Christ of the New Testament or not, Passion of the Christ leaves much to be desired. It is based not so much on the Gospels but on the visionary writings of one Anne Catherine Emmerich, a 19th century stigmatic and mystic, with added flourishes by director Mel Gibson. Non-catholic Christians have described it as almost an advert for Roman Catholicism. I watched it with a Catholic, who pointed out numerous discrepancies from Roman Catholic teaching. Historical inaccuracies appear rife. The over-riding impression is one of unmitigated violence, torture and gore, as we follow the central character's flogging and crucifixion. If it was purported to be fiction, we might simply say it was gratuitously violent (as well as pretentiously subtitled); as a work of art, an interpretation of faith (rather than a statement of the faith itself) it is simply lacking - in style and acting (both of which are often overly theatrical) and impact (though it may have much more impact for the religiously devout rather than the scholarly devout). In terms of social responsibility, this sort of violence seems not only likely to incite revenge hatred but unjustifiable moral highground for religious fanaticism. On the plus side, it is so vomit-inducingly accomplished that it might, just might, arouse serious debate about the influence and bases of the Roman Catholic Church.
Rating: 5/10;