Despite the imbroglio surrounding Mel Gibson’s ThePassion of the Christ, the movie is a skillfully craftedpicture deserving of all the praise it has garnered. Religion hasbeen a controversial subject for more than 2,000 years and thismovie is no different.

Yes, the film is vulnerable to criticism, most noticeably thecredibility of Jesus’ brutal beating on the stump and theportrayal of Pontius Pilate, but in the end, the film is oneman’s interpretation of Jesus’ last 12 hours. Gibsondid not take this assignment lightly as the movie graduallyincreases in intensity until its captivating conclusion.

The first half of the movie starts out at a slow pace. At timesit is hard to watch, not because of the blood, but because of thelack of action. However, the film transitions into an epic moreslyly than any viewer realizes.

Up until Jesus’ beating by the Romans, I felt no emotionalconnection with any of the characters from a cinematicstandpoint.

Only when Jesus bears the cross does the movie take on a newdimension from an artistic and emotional standpoint.

Most of James Caviezel’s portrayal of Jesus is not inspoken dialogue. It is Caviezel’s anguish and physicalexpressions that shine.

The real treasure of the movie is its flashback scenes. Scenesof the last supper, Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, MaryMagdalene’s first encounter with Jesus and Palm Sunday allcontribute to the movie’s artistic and emotional bedding.

The most emotional flashback involves a scene between Jesus andMary, depicted by Maia Morgenstern.

Morgenstern’s role is the standout role of the film. Thesuffering and pain on her face are the most believable emotions Ihave ever seen depicted.

The intensity of the movie comes to a head with the crucifixion.Once the first nail is driven into Jesus’ hand, the beatingat the stump and the cross bearing matter little.

Although the stump scene is brutal it serves as a transition toJesus bearing the cross, aided by the placing of the crown ofthorns upon Jesus’ head.

This movie is one of the most intense movies I have everexperienced, but it is well crafted and every single scene serves apurpose.

The movie is violent, but the last 12 hours of Christ’slife were no cakewalk. Where were all the critics overreacting tothis movie’s violence during the screenings of KillBill: Volume 1?

Others have accused the movie of being anti-Semitic, but theRomans are depicted as much more savage .

I did not leave the theater loathing Jews and their actual rolein the movie has been greatly exaggerated by the critics.

From a critical standpoint, The Passion of the Christ isMel Gibson’s masterpiece.

Gibson made a movie that could have strayed terribly off course,but he kept the movie on track.

Lastly, I would recommend seeing the movie at night or when youhave nothing to do.

The scope and intensity of this movie make it hard to carry onwith your normal activities after viewing it.