The Passion of the Christ (2004)

Rating: 2 1/2 Stars (out of 4)

Bible Studying

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy The Passion of the Christ on DVD

Rather than a straightforward review of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, my editor at the Las Vegas Weekly asked me to engage in back-and-forth e-mail discussion with Stacy J. Willis, a former religion writer, about the merits and drawbacks of the film. Unfortunately, the press screening took place only hours before deadline, so we were forced to come up with thoughts and opinions long before they had a chance to settle. Truth to tell, I'm still not sure what I think of the film, but you can read Stacy's and my comments here..

DVD Details: Strangely, Gibson has released the much-anticipated DVD without any extras to speak of. The only guess I have is that the usual "making-of" featurettes and commentary tracks would only cheapen the transcendental experience that many people consider this film to be. I did not want to see the film a second time, so I can't vouch for how well it plays on home video. I still prefer Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ, which does play well on DVD.

Note: In March of 2005, Mel Gibson re-released the film in a new cut called The Passion Recut, running 122 minutes. This version was not screened for the press, so I can't comment on it, but Gibson has said that he wants to appeal to a wider audience. Apparently, having the 9th highest grossing film of all time wasn't wide enough.

Starring: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci, Claudia Gerini, Maia Morgenstern, Sergio Rubini, Toni Bertorelli, Roberto Bestazzoni, Francesco Cabras, Giovanni Capalbo
Written by: Benedict Fitzgerald, Mel Gibson
Directed by: Mel Gibson
MPAA Rating: R for sequences of graphic violence
Language: Aramaic, Latin and Hebrew with English subtitles
Running Time: 127 minutes
Date: February 25, 2004