Laid at the feet of the Christian faith itself. In its most extreme form, the charge of morbidity has been Understanding the Catholic Meaning of The Passion of the Christ Tags: Bible Films, Life of Christ & Jesus Movies Even if you only watch the film with the theological commentary once, this new DVD edition is well worth having.

At the same time, Gibson and Matatics (a sedevacantist and Feeneyite) avoid antagonizing non-dissenting Catholic viewers with their dissident views. Non-Catholic viewers may learn more about some of the underlying ideas regarding themes connected to Peter, the Virgin Mary, the Eucharist and so forth. On the whole, though, the commentary adds a great deal to the film. Criticisms of the film are mentioned but not adequately framed before being dismissed. There’s also some defensive posturing around some of the more controversial aspects of the film, such as the contrast between the inscrutable, one-dimensionally villainous Caiaphas and the far more nuanced and developed Pilate. Even viewers who have seen the film many times will gain new insights, and have a new appreciation for the film’s artistic richness and thematic profundity.

The most valuable extra is probably the theological commentary, which offers consistently interesting and sometimes fascinating insights into the symbolism and details of the film, as well as helpful scriptural and historical context on the film’s subject matter. Other features include hours of behind-the-scenes featurettes on the making (and marketing) of the film, including documentary segments on the special effects and overviews of the historical and religious background of the film.

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