Point-of-View

"The Passion of The Christ" is a very Catholic movie, produced by a very Catholic Mel Gibson, and based upon a very Catholic book — The Dolorous Passion. The Dolorous Passion is a collection of the meditations of an 18th Century, mystic nun by the name of Anne Catherine Emmerich as she received direct revelation from the Virgin Mary.

In realm of movie criticism one often hears the phrase — "You really need to read the book!" This aptly applies to Mel Gibson’s new film, "The Passion of the Christ." Many Catholic Web sites are selling The Dolorous Passion as "The book that inspired Mel Gibson." With this in mind, let’s examine the good, the bad and the ugly of this film.

The Good

My hat is off to Mel Gibson for realistically portraying the suffering Christ went through to bring us to God. I wept as I saw Christ beaten to a lump of bloody bruised flesh before my eyes. James Caviezel gave not only an excellent portrayal of the physical sufferings of Christ, but the emotional aspects as well. It is an overwhelming experience for anyone who has an awareness of his own sinfulness. This movie has great potential as an evangelistic tool.

The Bad

The main problem with this film is that it is an extra-biblical account of Christ’s passion. Scene after scene in the movie has roots in The Dolorous Passion. In the film Mary is mystically connected to the suffering of Christ, a very Catholic theme. When Mary learned of her son’s capture she stated, "It has begun, so be it!" —aptly stated by one who is considered to be co-redemptrix and divine by the Catholic Church.

The source of The Dolorous Passion should also be of concern to the evangelical Christian. Emmerich received revelation from one who had been dead for 1600 years. Speaking to the dead is explicitly prohibited in Scripture as an occult practice, and is demonic in nature. Thus, The Dolorous Passion is extra-biblical revelation with a questionable origin. The Bible expressly forbids us to add to God’s word. Though it does represent some aspects of Christ’s passion correctly, we must remember that even a broken clock is correct twice a day.

The Ugly

Gore and violence dominate this film. I would not reccomend it to those with a weak stomach or the faint of heart. Many who attended the movie had to close their eyes during the more gruesome parts in order to avoid getting sick.

Though it has been acclaimed by some to have the potential to be the next "Jesus Film," in itself, it does not present the Gospel in a manner to challenge the viewer to place their faith in Christ. However it has great potential to make people aware of what Christ suffered to bring them to God. And the opportunity that results, if used correctly, has a great capacity for evangelism. The film will be especially appealing to Catholics, and offers the Catholic Church a great opportunity to recover those who have drifted from the faith of the Catholic Church.