Jesus Christ (Jim Caviezel) in trial before the Roman Empire (Newmarket Films).

Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Christ” depicts the brutal sufferings that Jesus Christ (Jim Caviezel) endured during the last hours of his life. The plot begins with Christ praying to the Father at the garden of Gethsemane accompanied by three of his disciples.

The Romans, led by Judas Iscariot (Luca Lionello), arrest Christ and hold a secret court meeting led by the high priest Caiphas (Mattia Sbragia) accusing him of violating the Sabbath and making “false” statements such as claiming to be the messiah. Christ is severely mistreated in this meeting, made fun of, spit on and send to Governor Pontius Pilate (Hristo Shopov) to be convicted. 

God showed the ultimate form of love by sending his only son to die for the sins of humanity. This was God's way of reuniting mankind unto himself. Men since Adam and Eve are guilty of sinning with evil in the hearts and like in a court of law, when a law is broken a judge has to award a sentencing that is appropriate for the party at hand.

The same applies for God's sacred laws. When God’s commandments are broken over and over again, a punishment has to be bestowed upon that individual as God is holy and righteous. The messiah came into this world, to ransom our life’s from an eternal punishment that signifies a complete separation from the father.

There is no greater love than a man laying down his own life for a creation that he has loved so dearly since the beginning of time. When Christ shouted the words “It is finished,” God's plan of salvation for all of mankind was accomplished. 

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"The Passion of the Christ" has a unique filmmaking style. The movie is shot very similarly to a frame narrative except that the story is set in the present time with occasional flashbacks to the past. Gibson does a great job of putting the viewer at the edge of their seat from the opening of the film by showcasing the unfair arrest of Jesus Christ. Gibson also juxtaposes various shots during the crucifixion scenes, where the film flashes back to an important doctrine Jesus taught throughout Galilee or the last superb, to remind the viewers why the crucifixion had to take place and its significance.

One of the most violent scenes comes in at the 53 minute mark as Jesus gets chastised very severely with 90 percent of his body covered in his own blood. This scene is shot without music out in a patio that is silent, with the cameras positioned at various angles to capture every whiplash that landed on his body. The whiplashes are the only strikes that make any sound during the chastisement, which is the key element that makes this scene gruesome.   

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In the last 44 minutes of the film, Gibson sets up the visuals and special effect in such a way to make the audiences feel uncomfortable and sympathetic at the horrific punishment that Christ suffered during the last hours of his life. As Christ carries the cross to Calvary, Gibson does a great job of extending this particular scene to about 11 gruesome minutes, giving audiences that feeling  of walking alongside Jesus as he carries the cross and the kind of pain he suffered while receiving those brutal whiplashes by the romans. Gibson, by extending this scene, emphasizes how brutal it was for Christ to even make his way to Calvary. The blood splatter shown when Christ’s hands are getting nailed to the cross, was very similar to the effects used by Peter Jackson (in movies such as brain dead). It resembled a water fountain bursting for a split second. This effect allows the viewer to feel inch for inch, second per second, the torture he endured for all of mankind. 

Christ (Jim Caviezel) carrying the cross to Calvary (Newmarket Films).

Jim Caviezel did the second greatest job portraying Jesus Christ as I tent to give the number one seat to Max Von Syndow from the "Greatest Story Ever Told." Caviezel’s look as Christ, made me feel as though I was looking at the real historical Jesus. The way Caviezel portrays the agony and pain that Christ endured during the last hours of his life, was about as realistic as it could ever get (and later on in this review I will get into why that is). His facial expression as his being hit, spit on, betrayed and crucified is heart breaking and breath taking. 

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Jim Caviezel actually came out in an interview about two years ago and explained the health issues he experienced due to the physical brutality of some of the scenes while playing this character. Caviezel got hit with one of the lashes used in the movie, opening a 14 inch scar during the scene were Christ is getting hit by the romans. His shoulder was dislocated while hanging on that cross and getting hit from behind. To make matters worse, Caviezel was struck by lightning. Caviezel was told by doctors he could have died while filming due to the brutality of the scenes he was in. But Caviezel being the true devoted follower of Christ, said that he is felt the presence of God helping him to finish this role. My favorite part of the entire shooting of the “Passion of the Christ” is knowing that the actor who played this role is a devoted believer, making his performance that much more realistic. Caviezel had heart surgery after the shooting of the film do to the health issues he suffered while filming but is doing okay now. Gibson did a great job of staying true to the way the four synoptic gospels which describe the story of Jesus Christ and his teachings.

Watch the trailer below.

Retro Movie Reviews is a weekly column by Kent Martinez, published every Friday. Read other Retro Movie Reviews here.

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