The Rebel Faction

It just came out today, and I saw it. I can only describe it with a 'wow'.

This movie is powerful, and about 98 percent historically accurate, recounting every major part of the last 12 hours of Jesus's life. It is extremly gory and violent, but the violence conveys an emotional appeal to Anyone who sees it.

All non-christans should see it to let them see the true unconditional love and patience of Jesus.

All Christans should see it to re-affirm their faith in God.

I can say more perhaps, when I have more time to think about it. I just got back from the movie theater and and still feeling its effect.

You must be @#%$ kidding me.

Talk about another dose of redundant, one-dimensional spirituality that addresses no pressing theological or moral questions but instead sycophantically presents the martyrdom of Christ as if this alone justifies Christianity.

Get a clue. It doesn't. I hope I don't ruin it for anyone but he dies at the end, eh? Relentless, unenjoyable violence is not going to convert anyone who hasn't already bought into Gibson's brand of psychotic fundamentalism. But then what's better for a faith that revolves around a consumerist culture than a movie released into a consumerist industry that charges $13 for admission.

Hey, just a question, why didn't Gibson throw the hordes of cash he spent making such a whiny, unrepentantly painful piece of tripe into something whacky and crazy like charity? Helping the poor? Maybe some of those living below the poverty line in his own nation as he sits in his estate?

Even from a purely non-objective Christian theological point of view, the movie is tripe because it avoids the basic issue of the resurrection, around which the whole illogical religion is based. What was it, six thousand crucified by the roadside with Spartacus? Crucifixion was not an exclusive club. Unless you're already a convert, and a particularly unquestioning one at that, it all amounts to nothing but buckets of blood.

Gash, go see the movie. Go see the movie without your preconceived notions, and Christian bashing opinions.

Go even just to watch it to watch it as an peice of film.

I'm not saying you'll change your mind, but maybe you would come out and bash something you haven't seen. Your entitled to an opinion, as am I. The movie is violent yes..... the movie is graphic yes..... the movie is historically accurate..... to a good degree yes.

Also, you say that the movie doesn't tackle any issues of morality involved today. In my opinion it tackles the most important: how we treat others.

Watch the movie, and watch Jesus reactions. In the face of insurmountable torture and pain he ask God to forgive his tormentors- and never strikes out at them. If such actions were practiced in the world, then we wouldn't have half the problems we face today, with morality.

I know you'll probably come back with a snappy, high minded comment ripping apart this post, because you disagree with my views. Thats fine, that is your right. Either way, I would still encourage you to watch the movie. Its worth the 2 hours, no matter what you think. If nothing changes then nothing changes- but the movie, as graphic and violent as it is has an underlying message that people out to see.

Gash, go see the movie. Go see the movie without your preconceived notions, and Christian bashing opinions.

Sorry, I forgot that the only uninformed opinions allowed are uninformed Christian opinions!

Go even just to watch it to watch it as an peice of film.

Which reminds me, I know a lot of really great amateur film makers who don't get the benefit of a multi-million dollar budget and a massive media controvoursy.

I'm not saying you'll change your mind, but maybe you would come out and bash something you haven't seen. Your entitled to an opinion, as am I. The movie is violent yes..... the movie is graphic yes..... the movie is historically accurate..... to a good degree yes.

What the hell are you talking about, man? I know the story, probably as well as you know the story if not better. I've seen clips. I'd say I can pretty much piece together what's going to happen.

Also, you say that the movie doesn't tackle any issues of morality involved today. In my opinion it tackles the most important: how we treat others.

Yeah, because it's a great matter of debate among contemporary philosophers as to whether beating, whipping, and killing people is okay. That's a really pressing moral question and I'm glad I have Mel Gibson here to answer it for me.
Though I would note that most Christians who will go see the movie are hardcore advocates of the death penalty, and the story certainly could be construed as an anti-capital punishment tract. But that's communist.

Watch the movie, and watch Jesus reactions. In the face of insurmountable torture and pain he ask God to forgive his tormentors- and never strikes out at them. If such actions were practiced in the world, then we wouldn't have half the problems we face today, with morality.

Oh wow really? Damn. That's neat. It's such an original portrayal of Christ. It's a good thing there's a movie for people so see because I don't suppose they would have heard it before, given that it's not a very well-known story and isn't written in any books. And certainly not in the best-selling book of all time. No wait @#%$. Well, at least you can rest contentedly with the knowledge that the movie's use of over-the-top gore won't alienate all but the most stalwart fanatics.
By the way, it's worth noting that you may have a point there; after all, America seems so intent on getting retaliation against the Muslim world at large these days, that a pacifist message could be useful. Maybe this movie will be the one to pull America from the fire of violent, unilateral retaliatory imperialism. But no, since most diehard Christians support such Republican-backed measures as the war in Iraq, I think it's safe to say such extrapolations will be lost on them.

I know you'll probably come back with a snappy, high minded comment ripping apart this post, because you disagree with my views. Thats fine, that is your right.

Thanks, it's nice to have your permission to express my views over the internet.

Either way, I would still encourage you to watch the movie. Its worth the 2 hours, no matter what you think. If nothing changes then nothing changes- but the movie, as graphic and violent as it is has an underlying message that people out to see.

Yes, I need the help of an agonizingly bloodsoaked depication of a story I heard repeated more than once a week, fifty two weeks a year, for about seventeen years to come to the conclusion that violence is wrong. Thanks Jesus! Unless the underlying message you're talking about is that if you don't love Jesus you're worthless, in which case thanks, but I have the giant scary cogs of the Christian propaganda machine to remind me of that.

Popcorn and indulgences being sold at the door.