The Passion of the Christ

[Walter]

Watch the Trailer! (http://www.apple.com/trailers/newmarket/thepassionofthechrist-tlr.html)

If this movie is completely void of making fact of things that require faith than I do think that this will become one of my favorite movies.

However, if there are some miracles that do occur in this movie than I probably won't like it much.

It looks like it could be done in a purely historical sense... No miracles occur in the trailer. And it's interesting that the only words in the trailer are what I'm assuming is Latin and then Aramaic and not in English - is the whole movie subbed? That would be very interesting!

Side note - I think I'll be liking the soundtrack in any case.

(I just read that the movie is only about the last 12 hours of this life - very interesting. I also read that Baptist churches are buying out theatres so that they could watch it en masse - that's probably not a good thing.)

[Sevenseas]

And it's interesting that the only words in the trailer are what I'm assuming is Latin and then Aramaic and not in English

I have read someone claim that Latin/Aramaic were not the correct languages (i.e. that they didn't speak those in that time). Dunno if it's true.

[Walter]

Well, what the heck else would they be speaking. :p

[Sevenseas]

I guess Hebrew.

http://webbpage.topcities.com/Yavo/1_2_Bliz_JesusSpokeHebrew.html

(But like I said, I don't know about it much.)

[kristadb]

I have read someone claim that Latin/Aramaic were not the correct languages (i.e. that they didn't speak those in that time). Dunno if it's true.

No, that isn't true. The romans spoke latin, which was spreading throughout the roman empire's new territories. People spoken local languages, but also spoke other languages throughout the empire, depending on what their education level, travels, and slaves (btw, slaves then are not in the same concept as modern day slaves; it is important not to confused their slavery w/ our concepts of it).

Hebrew was also another common language, which I believe is in the movie as well.

Realize that people spoke many different languages, so it would be impossible to have 30-40 languages in the movie. They had to narrow it down.

[Sevenseas]

That I knew that for example the Roman officials probably spoke Latin, but I guess the person claiming that the languages weren't chosen well meant what the main characters spoke or something (I haven't seen the movie and don't know what they speak).

[kathym]

Mikie I hope you are wrong about the the Baptist Churches buying up the tickets because there is a bunch of us planning to all go see it together opening night. You've given me an idea though, I had probably better check with the theatres now to see when their tickets go on sale.

[kpickell]

Wait, so the whole movie is in subtitles?

[Walter]

I have no idea. But the two times they speak in the trailer are in other languages.

It would be pretty sweet if it was entirely in subtitles! I love movies with subtitles. I feel smarter after watching them. :D

[borealis]

I've always been told that Jebus spoke Aramaic, but Palestine was a cultural mix so probably people at that time spoke some Greek and Latin and Hebrew, depending on where they came from, and maybe other languages too.

The movie sounds interesting.

[pacific moon]

I really want to see this movie, however my only reservation is that Mel Gibson produced it and I heard that he is very VERY catholic...which could possibly taint the facts? i don't actually know. I am curoius though.

[Sevenseas]

however my only reservation is that Mel Gibson produced it and I heard that he is very VERY catholic...which could possibly taint the facts? i don't actually know. I am curoius though.

I read that Gibson is in some Catholic group which is very anti-Jewish, that his father has made some anti-semitic remarks, and that some Jewish groups may find the movie troublesome. (Again, just stating what I've read.)

[pacific moon]

I read that Gibson is in some Catholic group which is very anti-Jewish, that his father has made some anti-semitic remarks, and that some Jewish groups may find the movie troublesome. (Again, just stating what I've read.)

I read this as well. Will be interseting to see the actual reviews.

[MsRuthieB]

Wow. I simply can't wait to see this. I'll probably end up in tears for half of it though.

[Bankruptor]

I understand it's quite a graphic depiction of the crucifixion. Our pastor is recommending it, though. :)

[Strix]

I want to see it too; and, with all the controversy surrounding it (Jewish groups objecting, claiming it "blames Jews" for killing Christ) I'm sure it will be interesting to see how Gibson interprets the Bible.

Bankruptor: Most crucifixion scenes make me weep -- even the tv movie versions, lol -- so I'm thinking I won't wear any mascara to see it :) I can't imagine how incredibly horrible to die in such a way...Eeg, I'm getting squeamish already.

[kristadb]

Some jewish officials are saying that it's a great movie and they love it. /shrug

I believe the problem is that they show the scene whereby the jews in the crowd are calling out for Jesus to be killed. Well, that is in the story of Jesus and I think it would be revisionist history to leave that out; just like when north american slave movies leave out how the europeans got the slaves to begin with (one of the reasons I loved the movie Amastead (sp) so much).

edited: which does not imply that all of the crowd was jewish, b/c it was probably not. The reason that the jews are mentioned is because Jesus was a Jew, jews were an undesirable caste in the Roman empire, etc. It was important to mention that - everyone already knew the romans weren't overly fond of him.

[kristadb]

btw, Satan is female in this -- which has angered the feminists

[Dirty Martini]

btw, Satan is female in this -- which has angered the feminists

that is interesting, tho, as satan is typically referred to as male in the bible... and that angels in the bible are typically masculine. I wonder what inspired Gibson to make satan a woman... :think:

(oops am I showing my feminist side? :p)

[kpickell]

Can't really same I'm excited to see this movie. It just seems like there are already so many movies about the life and times of Christ. I've seen every one already, and will probably see this one too eventually. But can they really offer anything new?

[SystmDwnGrl]

Some jewish officials are saying that it's a great movie and they love it. /shrug

I believe the problem is that they show the scene whereby the jews in the crowd are calling out for Jesus to be killed. Well, that is in the story of Jesus and I think it would be revisionist history to leave that out; just like when north american slave movies leave out how the europeans got the slaves to begin with (one of the reasons I loved the movie Amastead (sp) so much).

edited: which does not imply that all of the crowd was jewish, b/c it was probably not. The reason that the jews are mentioned is because Jesus was a Jew, jews were an undesirable caste in the Roman empire, etc. It was important to mention that - everyone already knew the romans weren't overly fond of him.


When said "the Jews(and Romans, as well as he was not particularily well liked by either) were not fond of him", be careful. THere were many sects of Judaism at the time, all believing that they were the true "Jews". The Jews in the bible are believed to be referring to the Temple priests and the elite. I have been taught this and read it in several different texts on the subject. My prof ,in my Life and Teachings of the Historical Jesus class, says he believes a lot of the flack in this movie is coming from the portrayal of Pilate. There are historical accounts of him being less than "nice", even a vicious and vengeful person, yet he is portrayed as a very sympathetic character, even moreso than he was in the scriptures. My prof also said that Gibson's strict adherance to the scriptures is a problem as they are not historical records and it is tough to say exactly what happened as even the gospels do not agree in the events that occurred in the last 12 hours of Jesus' life. He also says that this view taken from the scriptures would lend one to "blame" the "Jews", but to remember that these were written by Jesus' followers, who were not looked highly upon by the elite amongst the Jews and that the gospels were written to paint Jesus in the best possible light and in doing that paint his "enemies" in a not so pleasant light. Also, a problem is the nighttime trial...it is very unlikely that this took place at night according to historical standards of the time and even taking the gospels into account. It looks like it is done that way just merely for dramatic effect.

Also, I was raised as just Catholic, not the "very" Catholic as above described and equated with Gibson. But, even in our masses there was what I would consider, anti-Jewish messages. Also, we were taught that Jesus spoke several languages mostly Aramaic and Hebrew, but, that Latin and many many other languages would have also been spoken at that time.

[Tame]

OT: Latin most definitely would have been spoken to some degree at that time. The Roman influence was well established in that region. It would not have been the dominant language by any stretch, but many of the better educated would have had some knowledge of it and Greek.

[kathym]

WOW...satan a female? Though I haven't been reading the Bible long enough to know everything, I've never been led to believe that satan was a female,,,,hmmm.....this is a must see for me.

[kristadb]

Satan is played by Rossalinda Celentano http://www.leesmovieinfo.net/WBOprofile.php?p=1548

She is the hooded female in the trailer that isn't crying.

[kristadb]

that is interesting, tho, as satan is typically referred to as male in the bible... and that angels in the bible are typically masculine. I wonder what inspired Gibson to make satan a woman... :think:

(oops am I showing my feminist side? :p)

I believe the angels are neither male nor female, but take on masculine form when speaking to humans in the bible. Considering the position of women at the time, a female angel named Archangel Michelle may not have had the same effect :D

SDG - I know the story of Jesus best from the Roman point of view. Their version has many different jewish groups represented in the crowd. The Roman intelliectuals, for their part, dismisses Jesus for most of his life, as he was from Nazerath and, really, nothing good ever comes out of there. (The closest modern comparsion to what they are saying would be "Nothing good could come out of the ghetto").

KP - well, some Jesus movies have alternate endings, so maybe he gets a sex change at the end of this one :boobies: