NYLux Review of The Passion of the Christ

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

One of the Best, most Powerful depictions of the Passion

[10/10 · 20 August 2009]

This film stands out for the quality of the direction. We see the story of the Passion unfold quite naturally as part of a time and place, yet the subtle grace and powerful nature of both Christ and the Virgin Mary separate them from the rest, giving a new understanding to the meaning of divinity. This is the very first film in which I realized why the Virgin was a necessary witness in the passion: She was there to support the human body and nature of Christ and help him battle the enemy on the last stand. The silent communication between them is one of the many masterful details of this extraordinary film. The use of the original languages is extremely helpful in understanding the relations and cultures of the people involved. An excellent rendition in all details. The violence used was strict to the scripture, it's just never been shown before the way it was. It also helps clarify why Christ fell twice on his way to the crucifixion, and died so quickly. The moment of death was a great inspiration: Even the brutalized Roman soldiery realize they are witnessing something completely out of the ordinary, which actually applies to the whole movie.