I must confess that I find the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" rather amusing. Though few have actually seen Gibson's magnum opus, it seems that virtually everyone has an opinion. That, of course, is the essence of our democracy- uninformed but virulent opinionating...and we all know what opinions are like, don't we?? This, kids, is why I love America.
From where I sit, I'm honestly not all that worried about all the fuss. Hey, we're talking about a movie, after all. This is, as any work of art is, simply the representation of one man's vision. That "The Passion of Christ" is based on the last 12 hours of the life of Christ is clearly something that holds great significance for many people. It also is the source of great concern for Jewish groups, some of whom find elements of anti-Semitism in the movie.
"The Passion of Christ" seems to be becoming something of a cypher, with the meaning(s) being filtered through the viewpoints and prejudices of each individual. This certainly will not hurt the box office take, no?
If Gibson's movie were actually a book, it might be controversial, but it would certainly be easier to ignore. After all, who actually reads anymore? There is something about a visual representation of an idea that many people find profoundly threatening. Perhaps it stems from the fact that you can always set a book down and walk away. When was the last time you walked out of a movie theater before the end of a movie?
Susan has expressed a great deal of interest in seeing this movie. She is a committed Christian, and I think she senses that she'll find some meaning in the storyline. Given her religious beliefs, I would suspect that this will be the case. I am less concerned and not nearly as interested in seeing the movie. I am a Buddhist, and what little interest I have is based purely on intellectual curiosity. Part of me just wants to see what all the fuss is about. Each of us respects the other's religious/philosophical viewpoint, which may help account for why we're still married. I imagine I'll go and see the movie with her, though I can't imagine we'll take the same things away from it.
Like anything, an opinion from an informed source is infinitely preferable to mindless bleating and wild-eyed breast-beating. See the movie, and let me know what you think. Or don't, and worry about other things. "The Passion of Christ", after all, IS only a movie.
Before I go, allow me to remind you of when Hollywood last threatened us with the Imminent Collapse of Western Civilization: "The Last Temptation of Christ". We got through that intellectual/social/moral crisis, and we'll get through this one as well. Enough of the wailing and gnashing of teeth, then. See the movie, or not. It really DOESN'T matter.
