The Passion Processed

Stumbled across this review while making my blogosphere rounds (thanks Mike).

Here's a teaser but be sure to read the entire thing:

It’s been almost 48hrs now since I have seen it, and I think I am finally ready to share my thoughts. I had to wait until now to give my impressions because my first one was not good. I did not like it. I couldn’t take it. It was hard to watch. I sat there through the brutality thinking, “enough already...we get the point.” Once I got to this stage I found it distracting. I wanted to leave. It seemed to me that they were emphasizing Jesus as a victim when I knew him to be the victor.

While sitting through 2 hrs of pure torture, I kept asking myself, “was it this gruesome and gory or is this Hollywood’s embellishments?” Are they over doing this? C’mon, there is no way he would be able to stand up right now, let alone support the weight of that cross. They had him hold it for a while before Simon came along. I wanted to scream, “He would be dead by now.” “Why am I sitting through this?”

Those were my initial thoughts. Since it was bugging me, I did the most logical thing I could think of...I checked my Bible. I am still mulling this over, but here are a few things that struck me...

Leslie goes on to reference how Gibson's movie made her go back and check the Scriptures and lo and behold, she found that what she initially thought was over the top, was remarkably Scriptural. (Don't miss what she has to say and read the whole thing).

This makes me wonder...

So much of the negative criticism of this movie, at least from my less than lofty perch, is coming from the left.

I can't help but think, as I've since found out GetReligion's Terry Mattingly and Doug LeBlanc have here and here, that the divide that separates the country politically, is the same divide that separates the country as to how they see this movie. In fact, I think it represents the theological divide within Christianity as well.

Left and right, liberal and conservative, progressive and traditional, that which some attempt to minimize or deny, seems to be more and more apparent these days. And the Gibson movie seems to be a prominent indicator of that divide. I find that fascinating.

I plan on seeing the movie this weekend, perhaps tonight. I find myself in this unusual middle-ground of wanting to see the movie while not wanting to see the movie.

But see it I will.

I'll write about it (as countless hundreds and thousands of others are) after I see it... and process it myself.

UPDATE: My favorite blog-puppy has posted thoughts on how he is processing the movie. Check it out here.

MORE: Seems that Andrew Sullivan is sharing my perspective albeit from the other side of the spectrum. Check his post out here. Of course, I ask the same question from the right... are they any leftists out there who are positively critiquing the film?

Comments

[Mike]

Interesting take on the issue, Rick. A friend and I were just commenting on how we saw reactions to the movie splitting down modern / post modern lines (which are , admittedly, just as risky stereotypes as "left" and "right").

I'd put myself in the post modern column, and you'd put me in the left column (!)... but I haven't seen the movie yet to support or refute our theory. I'll keep you posted, and I'll be interested to hear your thoughts as well.

[iphy]

i think that one of the reasons it is like this (aside from my own issues with the movie) is because usually "right" conservatives have the most problems with SEX in movies, while "left" liberals have the most problems with violence. because the passion of the christ is so violent, it's emphasizing an already existing line.

[RickinVa]

Iphy,

I'm going to make a confession here (my second one to you, on the same day!)...

This "right" conservative doesn't have a lot of problems with sex in movies...

Now don't tell anyone...

:)

Mike,

Thanks for checking in... From what I've seen of your 'stuff' thus far, and as best I can remember without going back to check, I think I'd put you in the "left" column on the Iraq war... but havent' really read too much more of your "stuff" to know where you might stand elsewhere...

Tell me you're voting for Kerry however, and I'll know.

:)