The reviews are rolling in for the controversial film about the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ's life. Reviews are split, most critics either loved it or hated it with a passion. Here's a sampling:
"Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' is not an anti-Semitic film. It does not preach that all Jews -- past, present and future -- must bear sole responsibility for the death of Jesus Christ. It does not say his blood is on their hands. It is not a work of hate. It is a powerful and important film, helmed by a man with a sincere heart and a warrior's sense of justice. It is a story filled with searing images and ultimately a message of redemption and hope. It also might just be the greatest cinematic version of the greatest story ever told."
-- Richard Roeper, Chicago Sun-Times
"It's a very great film. It's the only religious film I've seen with the exception of 'The Gospel According to Matthew' by Pasolini, that really seems to deal directly with what happened instead of with all kinds of sentimental eyes, cleaned up, postcard versions of it."
-- Roger Ebert, on Ebert & Roeper
"Relentlessly savage, 'The Passion' plays like the Gospel according to the Marquis de Sade ... an R-rated inspirational movie no child can, or should, see ... Gibson's movie is more likely to inspire nightmares than devotion."
-- David Ansen, Newsweek
"If an age produces the renditions of classic stories that reflect those times, then 'The Passion of the Christ,' which is violent, contentious, emotional, extreme and highly proficient, must be the Jesus movie for this era."
-- Todd McCarthy, Daily Variety
Cast: James Caviezel, Monica Bellucci
