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		List Price: $29.99		Label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Salesrank: 2159 Released: February 17, 2009
		Our Price: $14.48
		Used Price: $11.44
		MPAA Rating: R (Restricted) Media: Blu-ray

Editorial Review:
Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/17/2009 Run time: 127 minutes Rating: R

Description of The Passion of the Christ (Definitive Edition) [Blu-ray]:

After all the controversy and rigorous debate has subsided, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ will remain a force to be reckoned with. In the final analysis, "Gibson's Folly" is an act of personal bravery and commitment on the part of its director, who self-financed this $25-30 million production to preserve his artistic goal of creating the Passion of Christ ("Passion" in this context meaning "suffering") as a quite literal, in-your-face interpretation of the final 12 hours in the life of Jesus, scripted almost directly from the gospels (and spoken in Aramaic and Latin with a relative minimum of subtitles) and presented as a relentless, 126-minute ordeal of torture and crucifixion. For Christians and non-Christians alike, this film does not "entertain," and it's not a film that one can "like" or "dislike" in any conventional sense. (It is also emphatically not a film for children or the weak of heart.) Rather, The Passion is a cinematic experience that serves an almost singular purpose: to show the scourging and death of Jesus Christ in such horrifically graphic detail (with Gibson's own hand pounding the nails in the cross) that even non-believers may feel a twinge of sorrow and culpability in witnessing the final moments of the Son of God, played by Jim Caviezel in a performance that's not so much acting as a willful act of submission, so intense that some will weep not only for Christ, but for Caviezel's unparalleled test of endurance.

Leave it to the intelligentsia to debate the film's alleged anti-Semitic slant; if one judges what is on the screen (so gloriously served by John Debney's score and Caleb Deschanel's cinematography), there is fuel for debate but no obvious malice aforethought; the Jews under Caiaphas are just as guilty as the barbaric Romans who carry out the execution, especially after Gibson excised (from the subtitles, if not the soundtrack) the film's most controversial line of dialogue. If one accepts that Gibson's intentions are sincere, The Passion can be accepted for what it is: a grueling, straightforward (some might say unimaginative) and extremely violent depiction of the Passion, guaranteed to render devout Christians speechless while it intensifies their faith. Non-believers are likely to take a more dispassionate view, and some may resort to ridicule. But one thing remains undebatable: with The Passion of the Christ, Gibson put his money where his mouth is. You can praise or damn him all you want, but you've got to admire his chutzpah. --Jeff Shannon

The Passion of the Christ (Definitive Edition) [Blu-ray] Reviews:
Great Action Flick, Better Than Transformers!!!
2009-10-30 - OMG! (oh my Gibson) this movie is fantastic. I am very skeptical of any action movie that doesn't have at least one robot on robot fight in it, but The Passion of the CHRIST (Centurion Humanoid Robot Intelligence System version - T) was amazing. Mel Gibson's attention to detail was apparent in every scene. He even gave J-CHRIST his own archaic robo-language (thank Gibson for subtitles right!). However, I am still a little perplexed why Gibson decided to set this film in Gladiator times, Crowe already nailed that role and this movie didn't have a single chariot race in it, so what's the point? I suppose I am just nitpicking, the rest of the film was thrilling and packed full of more action than a bang bus on spring break.

The Passion of the CHRIST's plot was very post modern and provocative. In most films, the down on his luck robot cop has to turn in his robo-badge and go home to his unloving abusive robo-wife, but eventually he overcomes the odds and starts smashing robot faces while Drowning Pool's "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" plays in the background. (Note to Mr.Gibson: You need a better soundtrack for the sequel) In this film, however, J-CHRIST takes the pain and continues to higher ground where he can better broadcast his distress signal. Right as you are expecting the big battle royal finale where J-CHRIST calls in his 12 Mega-Disciplebots to assemble into the Holy Voltrininty, the film takes a dramatic twist and leaves you floored like the gas pedal on a bang bus on spring break once you find out she is actually only fifteen.

I love how foolish the Romans were, J-CHRIST was clearing leaking coolant and yet they forced him to carry around a huge heat sink and air cool by walking. If they wanted to short-circuit his mainframe or possibly override his front-side bus they should have generated a large EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse) or simply removed his Intel Cerebral Cortex (tm). The part I was most confused about was the ending. I understand that he did a Terminator time travel, the no clothes on and dramatic music bit, but why did he have holes in his Adamantium endoskeleton? Everyone knows that the classic sign of a time traveling robot is a blast crater with electricity arching off it, not holes in your hands. I guess it is just another element of Gibson's genius that I am incapable of fully grasping.

This film deserves five stars. The Passion of the CHRIST is a thrill ride within a thrill ride within a Hard Rock Café that will leave you gripping your seats in excitement, not for balance and leverage, like inside a bang bus on spring break.


A moving film, but very innacurate and needdesly gory
2009-10-24 - Yes, I know there are over 2,000 reviews here but I think mine can be more specific with too many words. First of all this is Christ's Passion as Mel Gibson sees it, is his particular gospel. Is a very personal, very pious version but it is not attach to the canonical gospels, there are too many deviations from scripture to call it "base on them" . Gibson used many sources outside of the Bible. Second is not historically acurate in many things. The most basic one is that the common language back then and in that area was greek, the english of the times, so you can bet when Jesus and Pilate spoke it wasn't in latin, it was probably greek, even when is very possible people back then knew the basis of many other languages and local dialects. And not going to talk about the whole crucifixion thing, anyone with a small background in ancient history knows is based on medieval images and misconceptions, is not at all a first century execution.

Perhaps the most talk about aspect of the film is the violence. Ok, Jesus received one hell of a beating, you can be sure about that, but nobody would have arrives alive at the cross after the one in the movie, even if you consider Him(as I do)to be perfect God, perfect man. I understand this is like a painting in motion, a way of display the idea of God's eternal love for us and his sacrifice for those that are not worthy of been forgiven.
Is Art, is an interpretation, but I believe Gibson and his crew went to far. The whole scourging secuence could have been half that long and the impact kept the same.

That said is a good movie, it shakes you to the core. My favorite scene, well is not on the Bible but it makes perfect sense, is when satan is tempting Jesus in the garden and a snake appears coming from Satan's robes crawling towards Him. Then Jesus stands and squashs the snake's head looking at the enemy with a firm "I am God, don't come with your cheap tricks to Me" stare. That's my God!!!, and He gets pushed by no one.

If you want to see the movie, go ahead, but remember this is an artistic interpretation of the Lord's final hours, and a very violent one. Elderly people and children under 12 should stay away from this one.

Jesus wasted His Precious Blood on ingrates!
2009-10-22 - Timeless, memorable epic on the final moments of the historical Jesus of Nazareth who was called the Christ ("the anointed one"). Opening scene starts off with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane at the Mount of Olives, and ends with him walking out of his tomb. No spoilers here about everything else in between.

If you're a visual person, watch this movie and appreciate its artistic message, as gruesome as it is portrayed. Flashback technique is used very well. For me, watching this DVD once is enough. I can't stand the sight of all the blood and gore, but know that to be true to reality as the Director would have it to be. Jesus wasn't whipped with just a few strokes as revisionists would like to imagine it to be. If you yet don't understand how Jesus suffered and died, this is THE film to watch. If you want to live in a fantasy world where Jesus' death was a painless one (no one talks about it these days!), whitewashed through quick verablizations at Sunday school at some vague notion of "death", then this film will shock and terrify you into numbness. This is not recommended for feeble minded kids.

If you know little or nothing about Jesus except hearsay, start by reading the Bible first, specifically all the 4 Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. Next, read "The Dolorous Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ" by visionary Anne Catherine Emmmerich. Director Mel Gibson used this book as a reference to his movie. Once you're done reading the entire, watch this Mel Gibson movie. Things could be clearer to you then. Stop succumbing to sloth and go read the above first.

Jesus' miracles, life, suffering and death would only make sense if viewed in a strictly religious and/or deep Christian spiritual sense. Without understanding these first, I don't know how else you can see Him. How you will react or perceive this movie depends on how much you know about Jesus, or how much you believe or know Jesus, to begin with. This Passion movie doesn't dilute the truth of Jesus and tells it like it is. If not for his false accusers, Jesus may not have died the way that he did. These false accusers happen to be his fellow Jews and other power-hungry politicians of his day. Strangely, most people would prefer to believe in lies elsewhere and cannot appreciate the social, religious, or spiritual tones to Jesus' Person, and his life and death. No one likes to talk about death and the cross these days, but Mel Gibson shows it like it is. Kudos to Director Mel Gibson and this graphic film about the final moments of Jesus' life on earth!

If you're Christian, whatever your denomination, perhaps this film could make you appreciate what it means when the Church and Bible say that "Jesus died for our sins". Of course, this has to read in the context of the cosmology/theology of salvation history.

If I had walked with Jesus before he entered Jerusalem and knew of the spiritual significance of his mission, I might tell him not to sacrifice his precious life for this putrid human race! Remember that until today, 5/6 of the world still refuses to understand Jesus. In my opinion, He has wasted His Precious Blood on ingrates!

This DVD contains:

- subtitles in English/Spanish
- commentary




Recommended reading:

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Authentically & Wonderfully Made
2009-10-09 - Just say the name of this movie & everyone knows what you are talking about. Mel Gibson has done a "Wonderful" Job. This is by far a "movie" that can be easily put into the caategory of "greats" such as "The Ten Commandments".

I have never watched a movie that is "as it should be written" straight from the script (the Bible). Mel Gibson was sure to get as close to the actual facts as needed, so that the entire "truth" could be told.

If you are looking to see Glamorous actors with "airbrushed" skin, "simplistic movie lines" and "Romantic Encounters" this will not wet your appetite; however, if you are looking for a movie that will capture your attention from the begining to the very end, you will not be dissapointed.

Actors & Actresses = A+
Use of Language - Aramic, Latin & Hebrew = A+
Waldrobe Costumes = A+
Film Quality & Camera Work = A+

Definitely worth the "purchase" for your "Movie Collection".


What does the atonement mean?
2009-10-07 - I decided to give this film 3 stars, exactly in the middle of the rating system, because there were scenes of great beauty and insight and then there were scenes of torture that were excessive and made me question the motives of the film makers.

After reading many of the reviews of this film, I am reflecting on the conception of the atonement in Christianity and whether this film supported or undermined that basic theme that undergirds Christian belief.

The atonement is a process whereby a perfect sacrifice is made to God the Father for the sins of mankind. Since there is no perfection except in God, then God himself must be sacrificed, and this is done through the death of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who is one with the Father and the Holy Ghost. Thus mankind's sins would remain upon us unless this perfect atonement is made, offering the possibility of life everlasting in heaven with God.

So the question arises, is all this torture necessary for the atonement to occur? Must Christ have experienced this incredible gory and terrible torture to take the sins of the whole world upon him? As the sacrificial lamb, must he endure considerable pain and loss of blood, to take the sins of the world on his shoulders? I think not. It is the death of the innocent lamb that is the sacrifice and atonement for the sins of the whole world, not the endurance of the considerable bloody torture that leads to the atonement. It is the giving of his life, a pure, perfect, sacrifice that is the atonement for all of mankind's sins.

So this leads to the question of why so much blood and gore? Was Gibson trying to say that mankind is so terrible that we do not deserve the sacrifice and atonement? Well there is no question there for surely we know mankind not to be deserving of complete and perfect grace upon our own merits, either as a species or individually. Was there some commentary about the religious and political establishment being made by the torture scenes? Well, it was organized religion and organized political oppression that together brought about the torture and death, to be sure, but is Gibson trying to say that organized religion in partnership with an oppressive central government is capable of great cruelty to the innocent, even unto God in a human state of existence? I never got the impression that the meaning of the film and sequence of scenes was really strategically thought through and thus in some ways this is only a terribly vicious, painful, gory snuff film with little reflection on the meaning of the sacrifice and atonement which are central concepts in Christianity and far more important than the nasty beating scenes where the flesh is literally pulled off the back and ribs of Christ.

Does a sensationalistic portrayal of the passion of Christ do a service or disservice to Christianity? It really does neither for the movement of the Christ goes far beyond our ability to conceptualize the vast mystery of why atonement is necessary and why God himself, in the human form of Jesus, must make that sacrifice. For muddled thought and purpose, this film only gets 3 stars.