What Did You Think Of The Violence?

[M.SIGGA]

I think it was gorey and accurate enough and Mel did a good jon to get the point across - it was more a meaning and the purpose behind the blood and violence and not showing it as a form of entertainment.

At a retreat I heard a crucifixion talk by my chaplain and he said part of the actual humiliation and torture of crucifixion included the person being stripped completely nude and sometimes having noses, ears, genitals, tongues, lips, teeth, etc. torn off and mutilated. Also the cross beams usually had huge splinters that would tear into a person's back as they heaved up and down to breathe.

A persons dignity was completely stolen.

I disagree with some priests and pastors about letting minors see the film because I think "King of Kings" might be good enough for all the kiddies until their teens.

[Banksey]

i think for the people who thought it was too gory should stop sinning then wouldn't have had to go through all that pain and suffering for us.

[Rebirth flame]

i think for the people who thought it was too gory should stop sinning then wouldn't have had to go through all that pain and suffering for us.

AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lil Red]

I saw this work of art and actually was a little surprised. I had anticipated far worse than I seen.

me too. ^_^

[Oik]

I agree that some children may not be able to see the moive and it should be recommended to those older teens.

However, I do also recognize the possiblity that some may wish to show it to there children and I agree that if your family is christ-centered and very catholic it should be shown at the decrestion (sp) of the parents.

The real problem is that we got kids who don't understand because we got parents who don't understand.

[M.SIGGA]

I think kids (like under the age of 13 for example) can understand the sacrifice enough for their maturity level without seeing the Passion until later on. The squishing out of blood and the flinging flesh looks like it might be a little bit too intense for the kiddies.

[Seven77]

i thnk it was accurate and Mel toned it down from what really happened. the scourging at the pillar and when the soldier pulled Jesus' Sacred and Adorable arm out to fit the hole for the nail....

when i hear people say its too violent i agree---it was. that is the point of what happened.. it was too violent yet He went through all of that too violent suffering for us... what love..my GOD. makes you want to never to sin again.

my nephews---8 and 11 and cousin--9 who all know the 'story', saw the movie wth our family. my cousin was very positively affected, he even started reading "A Guide the Passion" and asking questions.

[jasJis]

It's not near as brutal as I had expected. I've read historical novels that described much more brutal tortures done to humans. I've seen torture implements in museums.

I think the movie probably toned down some of the graphicness of the reality.

I agree that it's not for younger kids or young teens (under 15 or so), though it's a parental decision. I think it's extremely sad and disturbing that so many people would consider a movie with that much graphic violence as being inconsequential for a child to see. There was a 8-10 year old in the movie theater when I saw it, and as we were leaving, while I was too choked up to even talk, the parent was telling the kid that they'll go somewhere to play a game or something now that the movie was over. Sickening callusness, whether you are religious or not, to be that dismissive after seeing another human brutalized in such realistic scenes.

[Colleen]

I expected it to be much worse. I didn't think it was nearly as bad as the Patriot, which starred Mel Gibson. So yeah, i thought the gore was a little subdued.

I am convinced it was much worse in real life.

[Jake Huether]

For all those who thought that the whipping part was overdone:

Isaiah 52:14,

"...so marred was his look beyond that of man, and his appearance beyond that of mortals..."



I'm reading the picture book that goes along with the movie. It gives Scriptures, etc. to back up what Mel had done.


I thought that was great.

Indeed, Jesus was beat beyond recognition. The Gospels don't give much detail, they are merely the backbone. But the Word of God in its intirety leaves nothing unturned.

[Muschi]

Hello everyone! Long time no post!

I saw this movie the weekend after it opened. Recently, I have had the pleasure of being employed at a Catholic bookstore in my town. There is now a picture book from this movie. They are all scenes from the actual movie. I havn't been able to look all the way through this book without getting choked up. It was a VERY powerful depiction of what Christ went through for us and this is the ONLY reason why it is kicking up such a fuss from the enemies of Christ in my opinion. - God bless! - Muschi

[RedSnapper]

Mel definitely toned it down. Emmerich says (not that its gospel but and btw, thanks for that quote from Isaiah!) that at one point they hit Him on the side of the face so hard that His eyes filled with blood. If you take a look at the image on the veil of Veronica that is preserved in the Basilica of St. Peter in Rome (stored on the net in various places) it does look as if blood is coming out of His eyes.

She also says somewhere in the Passion, that you could count all his ribs... we only saw three. Emmerich also says that in the Agony in the Garden, Jesus clothes were red because they were "soaked" with his blood. I expected this to be far worse than what it was but am relieved it wasn't. There is only so much one can do with human beings and special effects.

Somehow the word "violence" doesn't describe it for me. Violence, to me, always meant fighting. Jesus put up no fight as we well know. I would say the humanity of our Savior was turned inside out.

As others have recommended, I too recommend Emmerich's book and the long form (not the condensed version!!!) of Mary of Agreda's: The Mystical City of God. These are powerful books and add so much to my meditations.

There is an interesting parallel Emmerich talks about, where the high priest is offering the paschal lamb for the seder passover in the temple, at the same time he is sprinkling the blood of the lamb, Jesus' blood is being spurted out at the pillar, the blood of the true Paschal Lamb!

In The Mystical City of God, Mary of Agreda writes that Satan actually inspired Pilot's wife's dream in order to stave off our salvation, just in case Jesus was truly the Son of God. Mary says, in MCG that the Our Blessed Mother told her that the true knowledge of Christ's identity, was kept from Satan.

There are many more insights these books have to offer and they do hold the imprimaturs and nihil obstats that say they have nothing in them contrary to the Faith. The Virgin Mary even told Mary of Agreda that she wanted the writings to be taken as the truth!

AMDG
RS
BTW, am experimenting with the graphics for signature, etc. so please forgive any mistakes that will surely happen!

[luciana]

[quote]She also says somewhere in the Passion, that you could count all his ribs... we only saw three.[/quote]

Doesn't it say in Psalm 22, the one that prophesizes about the Lord's passion that they "could count all his bones" or something to that effect?

Also, you know how in the movie James Caveziel had his mouth like gaping open in agony, bloody and w/ too much gum showing, that was just too jarring, but it's true how people look in extreme pain, and it reminded me while I saw it of the quote everyone mentioned before on how Jesus' expression was marred beyond that of man's.

P.S. I voted that the violence was probably less than it really was.

Edited April 5, 2004 by labrego

[luciana]

Got my own answer

RSV , bold added by me

Psalm 22:

verse 15: my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and [b]my tongue cleaves to my jaws;[/b] thou dost lay me in the dust of death.
16: Yea, dogs are round about me; a company of evildoers encircle me; they have pierced my hands and feet --
17: [b]I can count all my bones[/b] -- they stare and gloat over me;

Isaiah ch. 52:

13: Behold, my servant shall prosper, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
14: As many were astonished at him --[b]his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men --[/b]
15: so shall he startle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they shall see, and that which they have not heard they shall understand.


I thought the verse in Ch.15 was interesting in that it reminded me of what some think of The Passion of the Christ movie, but some now do not "see" and "understand", like some didn't then.

[DemonSlayer]

It was definitely toned down, he could've shown a lot more of it.