Well that is just a statement about religion requiering a deity, which I don't think any definition of religion would adhere to. You are right that most Buddhists sects do not belive in him as a God, even the ones that keep him as the most supreme bodhivistas.

But no God does not equal no religion.

Don't forget the most important: the excessive brutality of the floggings (which, IMO, make the film lose any connection to reality because no one would live through such beatings) and the overdone brutishness and sadism of the Roman soldiers administrating the beatings (making them cartoonish, drooling subhumans, IMO). After, Mary wiping up the excess blood with cloths given to her by Pilate's wife (yes, I know you mentioned her) is right out of Emmerich. There are other things too such as how many times Jesus fell.

The point is there are many extrabiblical things lifted from Emmerich and some touches added by Mel (such as pecking out the eyes of the thief). I hear all the time how closely the film is based on the gospels, yet much of it isn't and hardly anyone seems to notice.

What - you mean like ???

I always knew something was screwy with him/her/it!

If there ever was a movie ordained by Satan, that would be it. I still hurt from watching that movie.

there's something very reassuring that there are some of you out there that have the same attitude as I do that feel TPOTC is a flawed overrated film.

our minister at church had a couple of weeks on the movie subject after going to a screening and having a meeting with other ministers and "experts" about the material in the movie. their oppinion was that actually jesus wouldn't have even been able to be recognized because of the beating he took and that the movie's violence was only abot 2/3 as bad as he endured. this discussion seems the same as people who hate horror flicks discussing RE or people who hate musicals commenting on chicago, etc. making fun of something that you have no interest in or DESIRE TO ACTUALLY LIKE is something i would expect from a bunch of high schoolers.

I finally saw it this week, and was also underwhelmed. No disrespect to the story it was trying to tell, but the movie was more padding than substance. It took at least 30 minutes of the film just for him to walk up the hill to the crucifixion area. That felt a bit excessive to me.

I hope Gibson gets with Kevin Smith to persue Smith's idea of The Passion of the Christ: The Animated Series.

"No, I will not a Passion of the Clerks animated series. Now a Passion of the Christ animated series, that'd be fucking genius. Every week, just have someone else beat the shit out of Jesus. 'Lord, why does this keep on happening to me?'"

I am one of those who have no desire to see this film, no matter how much it makes, how critically acclaimed it is or how many awards it may win.

I'm not a religious person, but I enjoy a few religious movies, especially The Ten Commandments. Which is a entertaining movie, without really being too religious. But with Passion of the Christ, it's just too religious and way too preachy for me.

I remember when POTC was coming out at the theaters and on the news reports you had all these people fainting and crying and such and I knew it was not my type of movie.

If I want to be preached to, I'll go to church.

Just my opinion.

This is a great example of why you shouldn't comment on movies you haven't seen. I don't remember a single bit of that film that could be considered "preaching".

What he said.

Holy shit! People were passing/crying from Pirates Of The Carribean?!? Sorry, but the overuse of acronyms for films have rapidly become anacronyms for me.

I "enjoyed" Passion...if it can be labeled as "enjoyment." I thought it was well done, shot etc., but like others, felt that those not knowing the general story of Christ would be lost and would probably feel like they were watching a snuff film.

Oh yeah...I too did not feel that I was being preached to. Also, while I don't believe in Jesus Christ as the "son of god", I do believe it's very possible that the man himself existed, and might have very well been through much of what his life is "documented" as having been. Or perhaps, it's a compilation of various acts done by various people all put into one "ultimate" character?

Or maybe I should go read "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" again.

I've never seen it, but its too religious and preachy?

It is, of course, very religious. But it's simply a very "impassioned" reenactment of the last 12 hours (with a few flashbacks) of the life of Jesus Christ. It is, visually, very powerful just as a film, but there's not really a story in the traditional sense and, ultimately, I believe its main purpose in being made is to help the faithful to more fully appreciate the sacrifice made for them.

I guess you could say it was "preachy" in the sense it's definitely trying to make you feel a certain way, but I think what most people think of when they hear "preachy" is having religious teachings being shoved down their throat, and that certainly isn't the point of this movie.