I am anxiously awaiting this weekend, just to see how the furor over Mel Gibson’s latest film plays out. The media outlets in Alabama are reporting near total sellouts for the entire weekend. Also, the Wednesday edition of the New York Times has a rather negative review of the piece. The highlight being the final paragraph,

On its own, apart from whatever beliefs a viewer might bring to it, “The Passion of the Christ” never provides a clear sense of what all of this bloodshed was for, an inconclusiveness that is Mr. Gibson’s most serious artistic failure. The Gospels, at least in some interpretations, suggest that the story ends in forgiveness. But such an ending seems beyond Mr. Gibson’s imaginative capacities.

I will base whether or night I see the film largely on critical response and word of mouth, just as I would every other film. I find it almost bizarre how those who wouldn’t have been caught dead watching an R-rated movie last week, will flock to theaters this week. Evidently, to these people gory violence is okay, as long as its based on the Bible. I’ll make a note of it.

ADDITIONAL REVIEWS:
** John Hartl at MSNBC didn’t like it either.
**David Edelstein says, “Gibson’s Jesus reminded me of the Terminator—he could be the Christianator—heading out into the world to spread the bloody news.”
**Hear me well, so called “Christian” parents, this sentence by Ty Burr reflects the sentiment of all of the reviews above, “[A]ny parent — no matter how devout and well-intentioned — who takes a child to this movie is guilty of abuse. Period.”
**Mick LaSalle of the San Francisco Chroniclesays, “The Passion of the Christ” is a two-hour-long murder scene.” He acknowledges that this could be good or bad, depending on your point of view.

Sphere: Related Content