Movie Review: Passion of the Christ
Mel Gibson's 2004 epic The Passion of the Christ is returning to theaters for a nationwide run. Should you take your family to see the 4K-remastered and Dolby Atmos-upgraded version of this faith classic? Plugged In has a review that will answer any questions you may have about this R-rated re-release.
If you've enjoyed listening to Plugged In Reviews, please give us your feedback.
Adam Holz: In 2004, Mel Gibson released his spiritually provocative and graphically violent depiction of Jesus' crucifixion, The Passion of the Christ. It became the highest-grossing R-rated movie of all time, only surpassed recently by The Odyssey and Deadpool and Wolverine. And now, 22 years after its initial release, the original film has been remastered and is heading to theaters courtesy of Fathom Events for a one-week run.
Mel Gibson's two-part follow-up to The Passion, The Resurrection of the Christ, lands in theaters in 2027 and 2028. Perhaps the most powerful and violent depiction of Christ's final earthly hours ever put to film, The Passion of the Christ begins with Jesus' tormented prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and ends with a glimpse of His resurrection.
It marches unflinchingly through the suffering and death Christ endured on our behalf, using flashbacks to relieve tension and to offer insight into His humanity. Actor Jim Caviezel powerfully portrays the final hours before Jesus' death, and the weight of completing His calling feels as heavy as the cross He carries.
Some moments of the film take artistic liberty by depicting the spiritual battle in play, especially in scenes that dramatically imagine how Satan presided over Jesus' crucifixion. The Passion remains a landmark in terms of its excruciating depiction of the cost to Christ to bear our sins: physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
If we were rating the spiritual value of the film alone, it's an unquestionable five out of five. But the violence, while delivering arguably the most realistic depiction of the crucifixion ever filmed, remains overwhelmingly difficult for sensitive or younger audiences and absolutely worthy of its R rating.
So we're giving The Passion of the Christ a two-and-a-half out of five for family friendliness. Read the full review at pluggedin.com/radio. I'm Adam Holz with the Plugged In Movie Review by Focus on the Family.
Featured Offer
How Do Christian Parents Keep Up with Their Children’s Screen Consumption?
The expert media staff at Plugged In have compiled a must-read resource to help you understand the media your children consume. Years of researching and analyzing the latest media trends are compiled in Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family.
Offering practical advice and strategies to help your children navigate the ever-changing landscape of pop culture, Becoming a Screen Savvy Family includes social media, music, streaming services, video games, movies, and more to help you dialogue with your children about the content that they are exposed to. The effects of technology and media consumption on children are far-reaching, impacting their mental health, sleep patterns, attention spans, and social skills.
In Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family, you’ll learn
- the effects on your children’s biology, behaviors, and beliefs;
- traits of engaged parents, creating a game plan, and how to step in when needed;
- how to screen those screens; and
- practical strategies for limiting screen time and thinking critically about media.
Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family will quickly become an essential tool to guide your family’s relationship with media and your child’s screen consumption.
Featured Offer
How Do Christian Parents Keep Up with Their Children’s Screen Consumption?
The expert media staff at Plugged In have compiled a must-read resource to help you understand the media your children consume. Years of researching and analyzing the latest media trends are compiled in Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family.
Offering practical advice and strategies to help your children navigate the ever-changing landscape of pop culture, Becoming a Screen Savvy Family includes social media, music, streaming services, video games, movies, and more to help you dialogue with your children about the content that they are exposed to. The effects of technology and media consumption on children are far-reaching, impacting their mental health, sleep patterns, attention spans, and social skills.
In Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family, you’ll learn
- the effects on your children’s biology, behaviors, and beliefs;
- traits of engaged parents, creating a game plan, and how to step in when needed;
- how to screen those screens; and
- practical strategies for limiting screen time and thinking critically about media.
Becoming a Screen-Savvy Family will quickly become an essential tool to guide your family’s relationship with media and your child’s screen consumption.
About Plugged In Entertainment Reviews
Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."
Each month, PluggedIn.com is visited more than 1 million times by people looking for detailed information about what's really in popular movies, videos, television episodes, songs and games. Entertainment industry ratings only tell you so much. We go deeper, diving into specific content and the meaning behind it. Our award-winning website also offers news and blogs.About Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee
Adam Holz After serving as an associate editor at NavPress' Discipleship Journal and consulting editor for Current Thoughts and Trends, Adam now oversees the editing and publishing of Plugged In's reviews along with hosting The Plugged In Show and the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature.
Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books. He has over 20 years youth ministry experience and speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, He can be heard each week on the Plugged In Entertainment Review radio feature and The Plugged In Show. You can follow Jonathan on his blog, getting a regular dose of youth culture and parenting help. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.
Contact Plugged In Entertainment Reviews with Adam Holz, Paul Asay and Johnathan McKee
help@FocusontheFamily.com
http://www.pluggedin.com/
Colorado Springs, CO
80920-1051.