Changes

Jesus is seen in a barn-like room, sitting against a wooden post. The two Roman soldiers who flogged him drive a crown of thorns into his scalp and spit on him. He is given a red soldier's cloak and mockingly treated with royal homage. "Hail, King of the Worms," laughs one of the guards. Jesus is then brought back to Pontius Pilate. He is disgusted by how badly beaten Jesus is. He asks the rioting crowds if they are satisfied, but Caiaphas demands more. He still demands that Jesus be crucified. In a last ditch effort to make the whole crisis go away, Pilate forces Caiaphas to choose between the release of a "notorious murderer" named Barabbas and clemency for Jesus. Caiaphas is so filled with hatred for Jesus that he cries "Release Barabbas!" Pilate disgustedly washes his hands of the whole affair and declares, "I am innocent of this man's blood." He orders Abenader to do as Caiaphas demands.

Jesus is seen in a barn-like room, sitting against a wooden post. The two Roman soldiers who flogged him drive a crown of thorns into his scalp and spit on him. He is given a red soldier's cloak and mockingly treated with royal homage. "Hail, King of the Worms," laughs one of the guards. Jesus is then brought back to Pontius Pilate. He is disgusted by how badly beaten Jesus is. He asks the rioting crowds if they are satisfied, but Caiaphas demands more. He still demands that Jesus be crucified. In a last ditch effort to make the whole crisis go away, Pilate forces Caiaphas to choose between the release of a "notorious murderer" named Barabbas and clemency for Jesus. Caiaphas is so filled with hatred for Jesus that he cries "Release Barabbas!" Pilate disgustedly washes his hands of the whole affair and declares, "I am innocent of this man's blood." He orders Abenader to do as Caiaphas demands.

We then see Jesus walking between two other thieves being crucified. The two beside him are tied to just a part of their cross--Jesus has to carry his own huge cross. Jesus embraces His cross, prompting mockery from one of the thieves. As he walks with it, he is endlessly beaten and yelled at by the crowds and the Roman soldiers alike. The Blessed Virgin, Mary Magdelene, and St. John follow him.

We then see Jesus walking between two other thieves being crucified. The two beside him are tied to just a part of their cross—Jesus has to carry his own huge cross. Jesus embraces His cross, prompting mockery from one of the thieves. As he walks with it, he is endlessly beaten and yelled at by the crowds and the Roman soldiers alike. The Blessed Virgin, Mary Magdelene, and St. John follow him.

Down a small alleyway, Jesus trips and falls with the cross. The cross crushes him, Mary runs up to her son, flashing back to a time when he fell as a small child. As she reaches him she tries to comfort him, saying, "I'm here." Jesus looks at her, and wills himself up to carry his cross, and, quoting the Book of Isaiah declares "Behold, Mother, I make all things new." He stands up and continues on his way.  

Down a small alleyway, Jesus trips and falls with the cross. The cross crushes him, Mary runs up to her son, flashing back to a time when he fell as a small child. As she reaches him she tries to comfort him, saying, "I'm here." Jesus looks at her, and wills himself up to carry his cross, and, quoting the Book of Isaiah declares "Behold, Mother, I make all things new." He stands up and continues on his way.  

==Reaction==

==Reaction==

Gibson was not even able to find a major distributor for his film.  For a year before the movie was even released, and well before it was first previewed or seen, attacks on the movie began starting with a ''New York Times'' story attacking Gibson's father in March 2003.  This turned out to be coupled with personal attacks on Mel Gibson with such titles as "Krazy Mel" and more attacks on his father and on Gibson's choice of church to worship. Calls to Gibson to denounce his father for his views, most famously in the Diane Sawyer television interview, were ignored by him.  The ''New York Times'' continued with an ongoing campaign against Mel Gibson and his family.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4D61F3CF93AA35750C0A9659C8B63</ref><ref> http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/20/215906.shtml</ref><ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6D8133EF931A3575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2</ref>

Gibson was not even able to find a major distributor for his film.  For a year before the movie was even released, and well before it was first previewed or seen, attacks on the movie began starting with a ''New York Times'' story attacking Gibson's father in March 2003.  This turned out to be coupled with personal attacks on Mel Gibson with such titles as "Krazy Mel" and more attacks on his father and on Gibson's choice of church to worship. Calls to Gibson to denounce his father for his views, most famously in the Diane Sawyer television interview, were ignored by him.  The ''New York Times'' continued with an ongoing campaign against Mel Gibson and his family.<ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E00E4D61F3CF93AA35750C0A9659C8B63</ref><ref>http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2003/9/20/215906.shtml</ref><ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A06E6D8133EF931A3575BC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=2</ref>

Nevertheless, the movie went on to be a blockbuster grossing over $370 million in the U.S. and over $600 million worldwide<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref>, an especially unheard of showing for the time of the year it was released.  Cries of [[anti-Semitism]] were largely silenced as people saw the movie.  With so many critics denouncing the movie without having seen it, Mel did an end around and went directly to church pastors, who were almost unanimously supportive and told their congregations.<ref>http://www.sharethepassionofthechrist.com/links/Endorsements.pdf</ref>. The movie had more pre-ticket sales than any film in history.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/trivia</ref> Monetarily, it was the most successful Christian film ever.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref>   

Nevertheless, the movie went on to be a blockbuster grossing over $370 million in the U.S. and over $600 million worldwide,<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref> an especially unheard of showing for the time of the year it was released.  Cries of [[anti-Semitism]] were largely silenced as people saw the movie.  With so many critics denouncing the movie without having seen it, Mel did an end around and went directly to church pastors, who were almost unanimously supportive and told their congregations.<ref>http://www.sharethepassionofthechrist.com/links/Endorsements.pdf</ref>  The movie had more pre-ticket sales than any film in history.<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0335345/trivia</ref> Monetarily, it was the most successful Christian film ever.<ref>http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=passionofthechrist.htm</ref>   

For Mel Gibson it was a personal affair.  Thick-skinned by the nature of the business, he still did not expect the virulent attacks.  For the star, [[Jim Caviezel]], it meant being blackballed.  While blockbusters usually make people's careers, for Caviezel it has been hard to find anything more than minor roles.

For Mel Gibson it was a personal affair.  Thick-skinned by the nature of the business, he still did not expect the virulent attacks.  For the star, [[Jim Caviezel]], it meant being blackballed.  While blockbusters usually make people's careers, for Caviezel it has been hard to find anything more than minor roles.

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{{DEFAULTSORT: Passion of the Christ, The}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Passion of the Christ, The}}

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