The Passion of the Christ

The fact that there is precious little English spoken here can come across as a little off-putting at the start. Until, that is, you remember that this is a story that has been told several times - not least in the bible, and so actually the language of the dialogue doesn't really matter so much. Once I was over that, I was rather impressed by the standard of production presented here by Mel Gibson. Jim Caviezel has a wonderful vulnerability and potency in his portrayal of the last day spent by Jesus before his crucifixion. The cinematography is very good, as is the glorious attention to detail with the costumes and settings rich and authentic to behold. The last half hour demonstrates a degree of brutality that is very difficult to watch b...

The Suffering of The Christ

Helmed by Mel Gibson, The Passion of the Christ (2004) details the excruciating last 12 hours of the life of Jesus (Yeshua) Christ as detailed in the Bible, as well as various devotional writings. Jim Caviezel stars in the eponymous role and its hard to imagine a more fitting person in the part. Also notable are Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, Hristo Naumov Shopov as Pontius Pilate and Jarreth Merz as Simon of Cyrene.

Obviously, this isnt a fun movie. You have to be braced for it, as its shocking in a reverent way. This explains why one critic denounced it as "a two-hour-and-six-minute snuff movie." Nevertheless, it artistically brings to life that particular turning point in history and gives the ...