PASSION OF THE CHRIST, MY OPINION OF THE MOVIE

Exactly as first written but three minor changes made because of emails questioning my scholarship. First, the theater and audience. This movie MIGHT be a culture change, and then again maybe not. The audience for this movie at the theater in Beverly Hills I usually attend (my neighborhood movie house) is almost always white bread. Almost no minorities. The audience for Passion was no more than 20% white. At least 40% was black and the other 40% were Asian and Central American. Almost everyone was no older than 35. This audience was also unusually polite. People moved for seats, said excuse me and all the other civilized stuff. Keep in mind this is white turf. I have no idea if this mirrors other movie times and other theaters. Reminds me once again that most blacks ain't gang banging and most Central Americans are Catholic and work. The audience applauded when the movie was over. I know they appreciated the movie.

2. What I bring to the party. I view this movie from the perspective of producing five movies, acting for twenty years, and doing more than a little writing. I know the biz. I also was raised a Catholic in a Jewish father/Catholic mother household. I went to parochial school for a while, I know a bit about the Bible, but most especially I know a bit about the Dead Sea Scrolls.. The Jewish heirarchy in Jerusalem did want Jesus dead and did throw him over to the Roman soldiers. While the Scrolls have backed up the Bible in many ways, clarified it in many other ways, they have corrected and added to the history in a lot of other ways. There have also been literally hundreds of previously unknown documents and Gospels found and translated.

3. Now for some history. The more you know the less you will like about this movie. But movies are STORIES and selections are always made. However, the movie as presented shows no reasons for the Jerusalem rabbis hatred of Jesus. No background for the character of Pilate as presented. Here's the history I'd like to have seen; but keep in mind that I didn't risk my financial ass to make this movie.

First is Jerusalem. This was not Jesus' home turf. Nobody knew him there. The Biblical Palm Sunday appearance was a fake. The palm fronds were spread by only his disciples who were cited by the cops for disturbing the peace (littering in modern terms). Nobody knew or cared that He was there. Jesus was from Galilee where he had a huge following that included much of the Jewish hierarchy. The entire episode could not have taken place in Galilee. Only in Jerusalem.

Second is the time and history. Jesus was a revolutionary. By the time of the crucifixion Jesus and his Disciples had formed a plan for revolution. Several Disciples led a revolt against Pilate the year before that resulted in murders and a short lived war that Pilate naturally won. Simon, Judas, and Thaddeus, were wanted men n Jerusalem. And in fact Thaddeus and Simon were caught at the same time as Jesus and MAY have been the two others crucified along with Jesus.

At first the Disciples were fighting among themselves over whether to include non-Jews in the rebellion. Jesus wanted everyone but many of the Disciples did not. Jesus finally prevailed. They were then in the middle of dispute number two: should the non Jews be circumcised before being allowed to revolt? Jesus thought not but at least half the Disciples wanted adult circumcision before allowing non-Jews in. This dispute, something huge among Jews, had not been resolved at the time Jesus went to Jerusalem.. As I said, many of the Disciples were facing criminal charges for leading the Zealot revolt the year before. Judas was high among the wanted and he was one of the main guys opposed to allowing non-circumcised converts into the revolt. His reasons for betrayal were political as well as personal. Judas thought that with Jesus out of the way he would become the leader or at least very close to the top, close enough so he could beat the rap. (See footnote) I won't go into details, but there is no way that the Zealots; Judas, Simon, and Thaddaeus could possibly have been allowed to roam around Jerusalem without being arrested (Dead Sea Scrolls in detail); Jesus was not wanted YET. In fact Simon and Thaddaeus were caught and Judas's big plans became unraveled and he killed himself; all in all with four zealots dead Pilate had a big day.

So the political background was not in the movie. As for Pilate, he was a brute. He had been recalled to Rome twice because he was crucifying people over nothing and causing trouble for Rome. Augustus told him he would be killed if he caused any more trouble. It is against this background that Pilate may have done a "show" of mercy so that Rome might know he did all he could to stop another crucifiction. He had to want Jesus dead because he was one of the guys involved in the revolt the year before.

You can't put everything into a movie, but that is the background. The local Jewish leaders (Sanhedrin) saw Jesus as the symbol of revolt, a leader of the Zealots, and a man they had to get rid of or lose everything themselves. This is why they lined up against Jesus; something that is never explained in the movie and a big reason Jews are upset. The Bible is no longer the only authority because the Dead Sea Scrolls have shown us much more.

The movie. I didn't think it was very good. Every guy had a beard and I couldn't tell one bearded guy from the other. The two main women , the two Mary's, wore black and I never knew was who. This is a cheap movie and it showed it in many places. Gibson's direction is sloppy at best. Master shots and close ups didn't match and I frequently was confused as to where I was. Also you have to be at least a little familiar with the Passion of Christ to understand the plot because he doesn't tell you. Was I moved? No. Was the violence bad? No. Ridiculous is more like it. No person on this planet could survive the beating as depicted in the movie. Anti-Semitic? I can see why Jews are upset because the Rabbis are front and center for much of the movie. The Jews screaming about it was stupid, just makes people want to see what the stink is about. History is missing.

I know huge numbers of people are moved by this movie, it is impossible not to be affected by it, and it provokes thought and discussion. In my case I was not spiritually or emotionally moved at all. I just thought it was long, confusing, and boring.

So crucify me, but put my trinkets on Ebay. I'll sign a poster and you can give my girl friend the big bucks. Meanwhile the trashing of Gibson continues; see Sullivan today and the rest of the Gay so-called Catholics. Like I said they'd all have loved the movie had Jesus supported gay marriage while being whipped or cried out for abortion while the nails were being driven in.

Footnote to Judas: Could be an entirely separate story. He was the "hit man" of the Zealots, an assassin. He was very powerful. The Dead Sea Scrolls were produced under his supervision. The Romans called him Judas Sicarius after the deadly curved dagger called a "sica" that he used. It is most likely that his suicide had more to do with the fact that after all his political intrigue in an effort to beat the rap, he failed. It is a cinch he'd have been crucified when caught because he was Public Enemy #1 to Pilate.