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The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Director: Mel Gibson

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Movie review

From Time Out Film Guide

With more than a suggestion of a horror film about it, Gibson's searing, bloody re-creation of Christ's tormented last hours - from arrest in Gethsemane, to trial, crucifixion and resurrection - is hard to recommend to any but the curious or the converted. Its insistence on the ugly physical nature of the ordeal is almost expressionist - the endless beatings, stonings, flailings and the like would have killed any man long before we see the welt-skeined, naked body hammered to the cross in slo-mo and extreme close-up. Arguably, the script by Gibson and Benedict Fitzgerald epitomises one Western tradition of gruesome iconic depictions of the Passion; but their extrapolations from the four Gospels suggest an anti-semitic interpretation that has no biblical justification, and their use of ludicrously intoned, subtitled Aramaic and Latin is a pretentious bid for authenticity. In technical terms, the film is occasionally impressive. Caleb Deschanel's careful compositions provide an ostensibly credible biblical setting, even if John Debney's epic-lite score is unable to match Gibson's extremist vision. But the film's characterisations deliver no insights. A negative and spiritually underwhelming experience.

Author: WH 0000-00-00 00:00:00

Time Out Film Guide

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User reviews of this film

  • Zazu said...
    Posted on Feb 17 2008 19:30 I loved this Film it was very well done and James Gavzeil was splendid as Christ. I cried when the beatings started how could I not. This is what Christ went through to save us from our sins. More people should start believeing in Christ and God. The thought of God and Mary haveing to witness their son going through what he did well words cannot describe it. Just because Christ and God cannot be seen does not mean they do not exist. Mel Gibson did excellently.
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Cast & crew

Director: Mel Gibson

Producer: Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey, Stephen McEveety

Cast: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Claudia Gerini, Maïa Morgenstern, Sergio Rubini, Toni Bertorelli, Roberto Bestazzoni, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo, Rosalinda Celentano, Emilio De Marchi, Francesco De Vito, Hristo Jivkov, Luca Lionello, Jarreth Merz, Hristo Naumov Shopov, Chokri Ben Zagdan, Luca De Dominicis, Pedro Sarubbi full cast

Genre(s): Horror

Duration: 127 mins

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