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Remember February 2004? For me, I was in the 7th grade. The New England Patriots just won their second Super Bowl over the Carolina Panthers. Roger Federer would win his first Australian title. Zuckerberg would launch Facebook from his Harvard dorm. Those highlights seem to be legit. Yet, we seem to be missing something big out of Hollywood… the release of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ.”
Gibson and Caviezel teamed up to bring the final hours of Christ to the big screen. The movie was one of the most challenging in their careers. They both risked everything. Caviezel would recall that he prepared for the role in two ways. He first read Thomas a Kempis’s Imitation of Christ. Additionally, he shared about how he underwent an intense fasting. Both of which were his spiritual ways to prepare for such a big role.
I remember first seeing the movie when it was released around opening weekend. It was a packed movie theater. Yet, I had a good seat to watch this critically acclaimed film.
The movie grossed to earning less than $700 million in the box office. For Caviezel, it was the chance of a lifetime. Despite taking the role, Gibson persuaded him to change his mind. When addressing thousands of college students in Chicago in 2018, he said, “‘You’ll never work in this town again.” So I told him, ‘We all have to embrace our crosses’ … We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives to speak the truth.”
He even endured some challenges during the production of the film. In an interview with Crosswalk, he shared how he prepared for the role and what took place.
“Prayer, prayer and more prayer,” he added, for emphasis. “It was freezing cold, so cold. And did you hear that I was struck by lightning? It was crazy. One of the crew saw smoke coming out of my ears.”
Additionally, Jim hung on the cross in below-freezing temperatures and strong wind, which almost caused hypothermia – leading to pneumonia and a lung infection. During the scourging scene, Jim was accidentally whipped twice by the two actors portraying Roman soldiers, one of the hits leaving a 14-inch gash in his back.
He even fasted to prepare and read Imitation of Christ to prepare for the role.
The movie made the gospels looks realistic. The movie even earned three Oscar nominations which included cinematography, make up, and original score.
The film mixed faith, hope, love, and mercy all in one to help people return to Christ. It captured Christ’s Paschal Mystery that every believer professed and proclaimed since Christ instituted the Catholic Church.
A takeaway from the film is that Christ loved us all, and film was able to illustrate the love he had for all of us.
Since its cinematic release in 2004, the film is commonly shown on Christian channels around Holy Week. Even many Theology teachers would show it in the days leading up to Easter Break. I even watch it every chance I get during one of the holiest times of the liturgical year.
The movie does include gore, particularly the scene that depicts Christ’s scourging. It may not be suitable for young children and those squeamish of blood. The good news is there is a version that deleted the scourging scene.
Even bigger news is a sequel is coming soon. SPOILER ALERT: HE RISES FROM THE DEAD.
I do recommend sharing this movie with family and friends. It is a must see especially as we prepare for the biggest moment of salvation history.
Catholic Millennial. I hail from Philadelphia, PA. 4th-degree member of the Knights of Columbus. I enjoy writing, traveling, ballroom dancing, meeting new people, having deep conversations over a cold beer or wine (sometimes champagne), and petting adorable dogs that come right past me.
I hope to convey more messages from our culture with a twist of faith.
Some of my writings will range from pro-life (yes, men can have a say in the abortion issue, Karen), pop culture, history, and just some spontaneous reflections without warning
