The glass and metal-tipped cattails tore into the victim’s back and ripped out chunks of flesh while he silently suffered in agony. Many flinched and groaned at the graphic details depicted in Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, released Feb. 25, 2004.

During The Passion, viewers are given a realistic view of what Jesus Christ probably endured on the cross. In the film, director/ producer/ co-writer Mel Gibson attempts to give viewers a deeper understanding of Christ’s suffering.

“I’m not a preacher and I’m not a pastor,” Gibson told reporter Kamon Simpson of the Gazette, Colorado Springs [Feb. 5, ?04]. “But I really felt my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelize.”

Because of Gibson’s ardent enthusiasm about Jesus, he wanted to create an accurate account of Christ’s death to express his own faith.

“I want to show the humanity of Christ as well as the divine aspect,” Gibson said [www.hollywoodjesus.com/passion.htm]. “It’s a rendering that for me is very realistic and as close as possible to what I perceive the truth to be.”

While some may have questioned Gibson’s need to produce such a film, others greatly anticipated the premier. Campus Bible teacher, Greg Page, plans on attending the movie.

“I think it’s good for us to see the price Christ paid for us,” Page said. “The graphics of the crucifixion in this movie are greater than in others. Different versions don’t show the actual crucifixion very much, but this one will be very thorough and realistic.”

The film almost follows the gospels of the Bible. Even the dialect is thought to be time-period correct with actors speaking Aramaic and Latin. Most lines come straight from the Bible, but many are embellishments of what could have happened.

The movie opens in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus is praying for deliverance from crucifixion. Soon, Jesus is chained and taken away by Roman guards. Within the first 20 minutes, the violence commences.

The Pharisees, threatened by Jesus, desire their revenge in his death. Jesus is led to the Pharisees to be questioned and afterwards is sent to the Roman procurator, Pontius Pilate. After much debate, and more brutal beatings, Jesus is finally sentenced to be crucified.

The beatings Christ experienced from the Romans are much more bloody and intense than people are used to. Some might think the amount of blood used in the movie is excessive; others feel it necessary to depict the level of pain Christ went through.

“I thought it [the amount of blood] was appropriate for the film,” Aaron Gulack, ’06, said. “I don’t think it was too much because it really happened and Mel Gibson was just explaining the story.”

The Passion puts a fresh spin on the crucifixion including the role of Satan and demonic beings.

“I thought it was appropriate to have him [Satan] in the crowds while Jesus was being beaten,” Kathleen von Oehsen, ’04, said. “Also during the beginning of the movie when Jesus was praying in the garden, I felt like it was accurate for him to be there. Gibson did a great job with biblical accuracy in this scene.”

The only relief The Passion provides from the grotesque beatings is flashbacks from various characters. While Roman guards flog him, Jesus reflects on his famous Sermon on the Mount. During this address to the crowd, Jesus speaks on loving enemies and praying for those who persecute. Though his body is being broken, he continues to endure the pain and love those who are murdering him.

Mary also remembers two different times from Jesus’ childhood to his young adult years.

“The most moving part was when Mary ran to Jesus when he fell,” Hillary Kell, ’05, said. “She had a flashback to when he was a boy and she says, ?I’m here,’ and he says, ?See mother? I make all things new.’ It shows Mary as his mother and how much she cared for him.”

The physical and emotional anguish of Christ’s beating and crucifixion tend to give viewers a deeper understanding of the crucifixion.

“I bawled, cried, sobbed and then bawled, cried and sobbed some more,” Kell said. “It was a majorly powerful movie! It helped me realize all the things he went through. I mean, I’ve heard since I was a kid that Jesus died on the cross but this put the real pain in front of me.”

The film seems to touch viewers spiritually and physically. As the film ends, many do not leave their seats, requiring time to sit and process what they have seen.

“I was quiet for a long time just thinking about the movie,” Gulack said. “I better understood what Jesus had to go through and experience in order for our sins to be forgiven.”

Intense may be the best word to describe a movie like The Passion. Since it is not intended to be entertainment, one does not walk out of the theatre laughing or saying, “I want to see that again!”

This is a movie that has and will continue to affect lives and make people ask questions about Christianity. Viewers will realize that when Jesus said that we have to carry our cross, it is an ugly thing. People will begin to understand the cost of following Christ.

The Passion of the Christ is rated R for graphic violence.

For more information on The Passion of the Christ, visit www.PASSIONOFCHRIST.com and click on the Enter site icon.

To read the full article by Kamon Simpson, go online to www.gazette.com/displsy.php?id=408774.