The Passion

I watched the first 1/2 hour of the Gibson's The Passion of the Christ again and I think it's a great film. I should watch the rest too sometime. It's a graphic illustration of what went on back then, and draws well the agony that's sometimes missing in the passion story. Some say it's too hollywoodish - like there would be something negative to that. I generally like Hollywood stuff - better than stuff awarded in Cannes (like the oppressive Finnish ones with no background music, just a couple of door slams, a burp, fart and a cuss). Good Hollywood films are easy to read and enjoyable.

In the Passion I really like misty blue scenes from Gethsemane in the very beginning of the film. I think they are one of the coolest screen shots ever. With panning camera, slow motion, and people moving in three layers, all in black&blue except near the torches. I think it looks great.

Another thing that stood out this time was the snake that first flashed from the devils nose and then approached Jesus, but ended up being crushed - illustrating the temptation that Jesus overcame.

It's in a way after C. S. Lewis' reasoning on the heart of sin. He writes somewhere that in the core all sin is about turning away from serving God to serve oneself. That's what happened with the apple in Garden, that's what happened in heaven at Satan's downfall, and that's what was about to happen at Gethsemane to Jesus according to Gospel stories when he prayed that 'the cup could be taken away from him'. Gibson's snake - coming from inside the devil - is making the point that it's essentially same thing that has corrupted the devil and the man, but failed to corrupt Christ who in fact broke it's bondage for our sake as well.

Although theologically speaking the crushing of the snake - the sin - happened at the point of death of Jesus, Gibson story illustrates it's emotional side from Jesus perspective. As to himself, the temptation to drop out from the plan was overcome there. From then on he was like the lamb at the slaugtherer, calm and silent.