Comments on: Crucifixion Porn

By: Earnest

Earnest — Sat, 21 Feb 2004 20:18:15 +0000

I think there is an important lesson to be derived from this movie, and that is that the Christian population is a horrendously underserved demographic. Maybe if there were more movies targeting them as an audience, movies like “The Passion” wouldn’t be such a big deal.

By: greg

greg — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 17:29:02 +0000

I’ve said for some time that the best movie with Jesus in a lead role is The Last Temptation of Christ.

Damn straight. At least “Last Temptation…” had an interesting premise, “The Passion…” looks like it’s just a literal retelling of the gospels. Then again, Mel Gibson is no Scorsese.

Thanks for the warning about how the film is. I’m not about to pay to see it until I get a good sampling of opinions, if then.

To be clear, I haven’t actually seen the film. Any criticism of the movie that I’m posting is based entirely on secondhand accounts.

By: Tim

Tim — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 16:47:39 +0000

Thanks for the warning about how the film is. I’m not about to pay to see it until I get a good sampling of opinions, if then. People get so hung up on the following point that they are blinded:

The focus on physical suffering is very short-sighted. True, many were crucified, so that is nothing unusual. Even add the emotional suffering, and others have equalled it. But the spiritual suffering we can only begin to fathom. Unspiritual people can’t begin to understand Jesus’ eternal unity with the Father being of necessity, broken. The unavoidability mentioned in the comments is debatable. Jesus said he laid his life down of his own will, and took it back again of his own power.

If you prefer to see a movie about the GOOD things in addition to Good Friday, see The Gospel of John.

By: Becky

Becky — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 15:01:35 +0000

Too many Christians spend more time getting high on Christ (and his suffering) than following the teachings of Jesus. That would, of course, would require effort and compassion. I still have the 1986 JAMA article on the physical death of Jesus. It covers scourging, crucifixion practices, even has a picture of the nails and their application to the wrists and feet. It’s really fascinating and Easter is just around the corner! I’ll email it to you.

By: JoeF

JoeF — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 06:32:29 +0000

I’ve said for some time that the best movie with Jesus in a lead role is The Last Temptation of Christ. The Passion is just a joke…look, he suffered! Lots of people suffered then, lots of people suffer now. That wasn’t what was important about Jesus (altho it plays a part…it’s just not at the top of the list).

By: The Eligible Ross Lincoln

The Eligible Ross Lincoln — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 04:47:30 +0000

I’m sure they’ll embrace it like they did that other darling of the indie film scene, Attack of the Clones.

By: Earnest

Earnest — Fri, 20 Feb 2004 02:11:09 +0000

I know it’s the contrarian in me, but it cracks me up that this, essentially, is an indie film. Quintessentially. Will the indie community embrace it?

By: josh

josh — Thu, 19 Feb 2004 21:40:02 +0000

the onion av club has a good look at jesus on film through the decades, including the odds any particular incarnation of jesus was a phish fan. as far as this movie goes, it's gonna make mel rich. rich as in he's already rich and this movie is gonna make even him feel rich. rich as in supermutherfucking rich. and getting rich off the telling of the crucifiction is the same thing as opening up shop in the temple, and those moneychangers could probably give ol mel an earful on how well that went over.