Question about Mel Gibson's "The Passion" (Jesus, ritual)

angellous_evangellous · #1 03-31-2005, 08:20 PM

Ok, so this isn't a current event, but I didn't know where to put it...

I have a question, and I hope that someone out there knows... Last year I was very impressed with Mel Gibson's interpretative movie "The Passion." In it, he depicts evil in a manner which I have never seen or imagined before.

He used the most innocent icon in our society: children. The children who tormented Judas were portrayed demonically, remember? I have been studying the NT for quite a while now, and this is the most accurate portrayal of evil that I have ever seen. Evil seems harmless and innocent, and then BAM, you are where you don't want to be.

Has anyone watched a documentary about the film in which Gibson describes his inspiration for using children in this way? I would like to know his sources - the image was chilling and is with me to this day, and I have only seen the movie once (I don't intend to see it again).

Thanks,
Angellous

No*s · #2 03-31-2005, 08:26 PM

No, I haven't, but that's something I liked also. It reminded me of the Ring in the LotR (I know Tolkien worked to avoid allegory, but he also worked hard to make it a world that still would make sense with Christianity). The Ring promises freedom and power, but in the end takes it and leaves the owner a wraith. It twists and distorts everything it touches.

The same thing was true with those demons in the Passion. They start out looking innocent but end up twisted, or in the case of the parody of the Theotokos and Christ are distorted from the very beginning. I think it captures nicely how much evil twists things.

I didn't like the overwhelming number of demons in the movie, but I think they were done nicely.

angellous_evangellous · #3 03-31-2005, 08:36 PM

Yes, but I think that it was intended to be symbolic for the most part. The crucifiction of the Christ is the most important event in spiritual history, and will be surpassed only by the fulfillment of the Kingdom. I would think that evil would be more active at both of these times than at any other point in history.

No*s · #4 03-31-2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

Yes, but I think that it was intended to be symbolic for the most part. The crucifiction of the Christ is the most important event in spiritual history, and will be surpassed only by the fulfillment of the Kingdom. I would think that evil would be more active at both of these times than at any other point in history.

My issue wasn't the presence of demons so much, as the near-total playing down of the resurrection and it being the one place where the other side could be mentioned (the angels proclaiming the resurrection of Christ).

However I do agree he intended quite a bit to be symbolic.

Snowbear · #5 03-31-2005, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by angellous_evangellous

The crucifiction of the Christ is the most important event in spiritual history...

I think the Resurrection was at least as important as the crucifiction. After all, by His being dead for 3 days and returning to life, promises were kept and future promises assured.

angellous_evangellous · #6 04-01-2005, 08:31 AM

Yes, I agree that the resurrection did not get much attention at all, and it left the door open to a non-bodily event because we didn't see Jesus eat or be touched.

jewscout · #7 04-01-2005, 09:48 AM

again the only redeeming factor i found was the way Mel portrayed Satan...i thought it was very cool and creative...

Mr Spinkles · #8 04-01-2005, 10:36 AM

I for one thought it was an excellent movie, and that most of the criticism of it stemmed not from the quality of the movie but from ideological differences with the movie's message.