Rating: 
Summary: Great companion piece to the film
Review: An excellent book inspired by the Mel Gibson film. Breathtaking photographs and behind the scenes insight into the production combined with Gibson's foreward explaining his inspiration for making it, result in a powerful book.It's not my habit to comment on other people's "reviews," but the "reader from Seattle"'s remarks need addressing, especially since it's obvious from "reader from Seattle"'s statements that "reader from Seattle" did not, and likely will not, read the book (and therefore should not be cluttering up these boards with a "review"): "Reader from Seattle" says "Perhaps worst of all, Gibson's emphasis on the idea that Jesus 'died for the sins of humanity' is misguided and only fuels the aggression of the Religious Right." The idea that Jesus "died for the sins of all humanity" is the WHOLE POINT of the story. It comes directly from the Bible - directly from the mouth of Jesus himself. Even if one does not accept that the Bible was written by God through Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, these apostles were the ONLY witnesses to His life and words. His words make it clear he died for the sins of mankind. YOU are misguided. Furthermore, if, as "reader from Seattle" says, "Jesus allowed himself to be arrested, knowing he would probably be killed, to provide a good example of the loving and forgiving pacifist and martyr," why doesn't "reader from Seattle" follow that example? Why does "reader from Seattle" worry about the "aggression of the Religious Right," or anyone else whose message "reader from Seattle" fears and disagrees with? Why not follow Jesus' supposed example by being loving and forgiving of the Religious Right? If the TRUE Christian doctrine is to "judge not...love his enemies and turn the other cheek," why don't YOU do that in regards to them? As for your claim that you doubt "we'll ever find out when that doctrine about Jesus 'dying for our sins' was created," it was created by God, you dufus. It's right there in the Bible. You will certainly find out when you are face to face with Jesus at the final judgment. In closing, I'd like to suggest that "reader from Seattle" either accept what Jesus said about himself, or ignore him entirely. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the only reliable witnesses to the life and words of Jesus. If what they report isn't true, ignore it completely, but don't rewrite it. Of course, that's not really possible since there is no ignoring God even if you refuse to acknowledge Him. Of course, you and others hostile to the TRUE doctrine of Christianity want everyone to ignore Jesus which is why Mel Gibson's film has been so aggressively attacked. Charges that it's anti-semetic are a mere red herring. What offends people is that a major Oscar winning director and universally recognized film star has dared to make a film about Jesus as savior. Our society is corrupt and the corruptors don't want anything to remind people of that corruption or of the cure for it. But it's difficult to ignore a filmmaker of Gibson's immense popularity. God bless him.
Rating:
Summary: The Truth Hurts
Review: This book and this film are scandalously, beautiful, powerful statements of sacrifice. Jews don't have to become Christians to go to Heaven. They just need to accept Jesus as their Savior. In a sense, the rest of us (Gentiles like the Romans) become Jews - we accept Jesus, the Messiah, as our Savior. We are grafted into The Vine. The main reason this film strikes a nerve with the Chosen People has nothing to do with the holocaust and everything to do with rejection of their own Messiah. Read the Old Testament - Jesus is in every book. How can you read Isaiah 53 and not know that this is Jesus? I love the children of Israel and I'm lovingly telling you someday you'll say "blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." As for the violence depicted in the film and pictured in this book, I'm persuaded that every portrayal of Christ's suffering up until now has been a watered-down injustice. This is much closer to what He actually endured for us. (Read "The Case for Christ" by Lee Strobel) Isaiah 53:14 says "His visage was marred more than any man." I believe it was ordained of God that the Jews could not put Christ to death themselves and that they had to ask the Romans to do it. It is symbolic of the whole world (Jews and Gentiles) being responsible. Yet the truth is, as Jesus tells Pilate, "for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world" (John 18:37) Jesus was the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world. Notice He was born (humanity) and He came into the world (deity). No one took His life: He is God; He laid it down for us. John 1:11-13 "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
Rating:
Summary: When did Jesus live?
Review: Hi Mel!
Did you know that you're out of date with your Passion?! Pics are great (I do like the movie very much, it's artistically fantastic), the whole book is wonderfully printed. You'd just love to hold it in your hands. BUT. What makes you think Jesus lived then and there? There's a terribly convincing tradition of historical thought that was first formulated by Isaac Newton (!) and has gained momentum since then that claims the history of humanity to be much, much shorter than we usually presume. We even don't bother to question ourselves whether what we learn in school is TRUE at all... I think that much of what we take for granted should be revised (and your beautiful movie, too, Mel!). Apart from Newton and some others like De Arcilla and Hardouin, you should read Fomenko's works about chronology falsification like "History: Fiction or Science" (I gave it five stars, too). It is very interesting how you'll see the "Passion" AFTER having read Fomenko. I guess in a very, VERY different way... Anyway, a beautiful book.
Rating:
Summary: A beautiful book
Review: This is an excellent companion to the movie if you have seen it, or if you are too scared to see the movie because you feel that it will be too violent then this is an excellent substitute that shows the key points in the movie but is not too revolting. It is a beautiful still picture version of the film. The photographs are of excellent quality and make you breathless as you look at the photos. There is scripture beside some of the photos to guide you through the story of the Passion so that you may relive it again and again in a few minutes instead of watching the two hour movie over and over again. I highly recommend this book if you loved the movie and want a reminder of it. There is a brief introduction by Mel Gibson (I was disappointed that it was only a page long, but hey) and there are a few (I mean few) production photos. A beautiful book for those who enjoyed the movie (well, enjoy isn't exactly the word, but those who thought that the experience was positively moving).
Rating:
Summary: An Essential Companion to The Movie - _The Passion_.
Review: This book consists of still photographs from the movie _The Passion of Jesus the Christ_ directed by Mel Gibson, and offers an essential companion and souvenir piece from the movie. Mel Gibson's film consists of the last twelve hours of the life of Christ from his encounter in the Garden of Gethsemane to his death upon the Cross and burial in the tomb. Mel Gibson writes the foreward to this work of art, in which he notes that he was inspired by certain earlier artists including Caravaggio, Mantegna, Masaccio, and Piero della Francesca, whose paintings depicting scenes from the agony of Our Lord served as inspiration for the movie. The artwork presented in this book is indeed captivating, and stunning. Many of the photographs are extremely gruesome, depicting Christ both flogged, bloody, and hanged upon the Cross. Various scenes from the Stations of the Cross, the Catholic tradition, and references from Scripture are incorporated into this piece so as to show the true nature of Christ's Passion, and the mystery of his sacrifice for us all. This book is truly unique and an important companion piece to Mel Gibson's movie. Indeed, the true wickedness of the high priests, led by Caiaphas can be seen throughout in their mockery of Our humble Lord, Jesus Christ. Many have accused Mr. Gibson of going too far, in the making of this movie; however, I believe that by returning to a truer form of Christian tradition, Mr. Gibson offers a unique opportunity for the Christian believer trapped in an all too secular modern world. With the coming Easter season, we can only begin to hope for renewed life. Hopefully, this book will lead many on a contemplative ascent into the mysteries of suffering through that of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Great Companion Volume
Review: This book has been on my living room coffee table for about two months now. The next time I read the Gospels, I think I'll have also have this book open as well. What strikes me as funny are all the one-star reviews pointing out how Jesus should be portrayed--by people who DON'T BELIEVE in him! Like we should leave that up to YOU guys. Your bitterness and arrogance show through the few lines you put here on amazon.com. The film and this companion book has and will touch and even change people's lives.
The story itself has for thousands of years.
Thank you, Mr. Gibson.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!!!
Review: I went to see the Passion of the Christ and it is the most Powerful movie I have ever seen. I absoultley loved the movie and had to have the book as well. The BOOK is filled with beatufil pictures from the movie. Before I went to the movie I read many of the negative reviews and thought I was in for some kind of documentary on crucifixion, or a gory movie filled with violence; but instead it was a riveting story, and the violence fit the movie theme perfectly (I think most reviews just don't get it, cause they don't believe in sin) this movie is about GOD's LOVE for us sinners; the violence Christ suffered serves the purpose of forgiving all our sins. Also I heard all the arguments about the movie being anti Semitic, but how could it be, Jesus, the Apostles (especially John who is featured throughout the movie), Marry Jesus' mother and Mary were all Jewish. The movies shows that only some priests wanted Jesus crucified and that they stirred up a mob to pressure pilot to put Christ to death, as the scriptures say. It in no way casts blame on all Jewish people and in fact if everyone would just read ISAIHA chapter 53 in the Jewish scriptures that would see that the Christ came to die for us. Also I heard an argument that it shows Jews as ugly and hooked nosed and this is pure BS, the ugliest person in the movie was the actor who played the apostle Peter. Really the Roman's look the worst in this movie; All the priest looked normal to me. Gibson stuck to the scriptures for the most part while taking some artistic lenience. The Passion is both scripturally and Historically Accurate. The movie (all 2:06) went by fast. While I would not call this movie entertaining (it was in a way), because of the subject matter, it was emotionally gripping, and visually engrossing and I was completely transfixed by the movie. My mind did not wonder off (like usual at a movie), Not once. It garbed my attention from the first moment in the garden and kept it till the resurrection. The passion of The Christ is brilliant, Fantastic, and I think the best and most important movie ever made. the movie has a powerful soundtrack and the cinematography is fantastic. Seeing it I want to serve Christ all the more, and I want to see this movie again. The Book is a nice companion to the movie as a witness to Christ. Kudos to Mel Gibson who put his whole career on the line to make this witness to Christ, the word is out NO ONE in Hollywood will ever work with him again. This BOOK the Passion of The Christ has wonderful Pictures and scripture references as well. It would be nice to have everyone learning those scriptures. Jesus fufilled 300 prophecy's when he came as the suffering servant see (ISA 53) and soon he will come back and fulfill 500 more end time prophecies (see psalm 2 and Daniel ch 9-11in the Jewish scriptures and Matthew 24 and the whole book of revelation in the Christian scripture's). Stay tuned.
Rating: 
Summary: A waste of an opportunity to produce something good.
Review: I can't imagine why anyone would want a book filled with gruesome images- what purpose does it serve? I thought the film was very poor overall, totally missing the point, (assuming you believe that Christ was who he said he was, (that should be IS) and actually lived and died on a cross) I didn't think it was antisemetic per sec. Almost certainly it's not historically accurate but like some other reviewer has commented, a horror story, in Gibson's inimitable style. I can't imagine that Jesus was flogged to such a degree- he was nothing special to the Romans, just another regular execution. I thought the whole point of the story is the ending, which was glossed over very quickly- maybe not spectacular and violent enough for Mr Gibson.It was well filmed in a dark atmospheric way, but I didn't see the point of it being in Arabic. The film didn't move me atall. It should have done.
Rating:
Summary: An album of the most loved one being killed?
Review: Christ's death is a universally accepted event but does that mean we should preserve momentos and souvenirs of the re-enactment of his death and cherish them. PEOPLE, AWAKE AND REALISE THAT YOU ARE PRESERVING PICTURES OF A MAN BEING TORTURED AND KILLED! The pictures from "The Passion" are so violently graphic that the book deserves to carry a strong 'Matured Audience' warning if not a ban. The "Passion of the Christ" is about torture, pain, suffering and death depicted on screen like never before by Mel and his team who have had nothing better to show about Christ other than his painful ordeal unto death. Meticulous planning by the makers of the film has created the most brutal crucification of Christ ever. These pictures are going to be watched by your children and it is going to shock them. Your children are not going to learn about Christ or his compassion looking at these morbid pictures of gore. On the other hand it will only make them cold towards human pain and suffering. Is that what Christ wanted us and our children to learn from his life and death?
Rating:
Summary: JESUS IS LORD
Review: "The Passion of the Christ" affirmed for me the essential Truth of my life, which is that Jesus Christ is Lord. With free will I do make the choice and proclaim in any and all ways for all to know that I believe in Him, I reject Satan and all his works, Jesus died for my sins, and that I am a terrible sinner whose salvation can only come about through the forgiveness of Christ. STEVEN TRAVERS
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