'The Passion Of The Christ' (R) (out of four)

Over the last month, there have been many arguments, many discussions and much proselytizing over a movie that started as a mission of faith for Mel Gibson. Very few people had seen "The Passion of the Christ" in its finished form, but that didn't stop them from making assumptions about how powerful a tool it would be for evangelists or how anti-Semitic it is.

Now, people can judge for themselves and I believe that they will be surprised at how simple and direct the story is. For some, it will strengthen their view of how much suffering (passion) Jesus went through to save His people from sin. However, for others "The Passion of the Christ" will leave questions and perhaps a little confusion.

"The Passion of the Christ" is a magnificent production that takes us through the last 12 hours of Jesus' life. The limited scope of the movie permits intensification of emotions and views of the Christ story we may not have been familiar with.

THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST Movie Review Is Film Too Graphic? Jim Caviezel Interview, Movie Clips, Interview Clips, Slideshow Caviezel Interview (HTML Version)

However, the limited scope also leaves people who have not been introduced to Christ's story wondering -- Why was this man so loved? Why did the Romans and the high priests want Him out of the way? Why did He endure such a brutal death without question?

Some flashback scenes to the Last Supper just give a taste for Jesus' philosophy and belief; and a relief from the constant torture and brutality of His last hours. But the vividness of Jesus' flagellation and tortuous journey with His burdensome cross in tow, eclipses those quiet times and make them hard to remember.

The warnings about the film's violence are justified. The brutality of the Roman guards is unrelenting and almost gleeful. By the time Jesus gets to the cross, He is so torn up that He is almost unrecognizable. The ripping of flesh and the tortuous placing of His crown of thorns could cause nightmares in grown people, so take care when deciding if your child should go to the movie.

What the film needs is a companion movie or prologue to show why Jesus inspired such hatred and love. It would be a big help in putting what is to come in perspective.

Gibson is no one-hit wonder as a director. He gathers the best crew he can and gives them a clear direction of what he wants to accomplish. By trusting his crew, and working with them, he engages their imagination and makes them want to do great things. But, make no mistake, it is Gibson's vision and he gets what he wants.

One thing he got was an inspired cast. Jim Caviezel does such a good job that you don't catch him acting, which is a high compliment. He has the calm and conviction that a man about to sacrifice himself needs, yet he is not above self-doubt and trying to bargain with God. When that self-doubt creeps in, Satan (Rosalinda Celentano) tries to latch onto it and make Him give up His promise to die to save all believers.

In Gibson's vision, Satan is not a red guy with a pitchfork and horns. Satan is a dark female presence with haunting eyes lurking in the background whenever Jesus may be slipping in His resolve.

Maia Morgenstern as Mary, Jesus' mother has a face that is quite unforgettable. All her anguish and understanding plays across her features as she sees her baby boy sacrifice Himself.

Part of what makes "The Passion of the Christ" so unforgettable is the look and feel of the environment and a lighting so delicate, yet harsh that you can get lost in it -- like a painting by the masters. In fact, Gibson directed cinematographer Caleb Deschanel to use the paintings of Caravaggio when designing the sharp contrasts of dark and light in the film.

As far as the anti-Semitic claims are concerned, I just didn't see it. Both the Romans and the Jewish high priests are blamed for dragging Jesus to his death, in fulfillment of God's will. In fact, the most sympathetic and faithful characters are Jewish. But each person will have to draw their own conclusions from their own perspectives.

"The Passion of the Christ" is hard to watch, but it is also impossible to tear your eyes from the screen. It will deepen the faithful's faith and inspire questions from those who never understood why this man called Jesus willingly gave up his life on the cross.