what not to expect from mel gibson's new film
Don't expect a documentary. This is a film, based on writings from many years ago, and filtered through a director's singular vision. It perturbs me to hear people complain that "That's not the way it happened." Is there someone alive today that was there to verify everything? Does someone have it on video? Is it recorded on someone's daily blog? Um, no.
It's the same argument about books, of any sort, being made into films. Something's gonna be left out, changed, expanded, etc. A book is tailored to fit on the big screen. And it's the vision of the filmmakers, which would be different from any other filmmaker. Imagine if George Lucas made LORD OF THE RINGS instead of Peter Jackson. Oh wait, he did, he made Willow....
The point is, the film is beautifully shot, scored, acted, and directed. Gibson himself has said the movie is both an attempt to faithfully render the Gospels and a personal vision. He has not said THIS IS EXACTLY HOW IT WAS.
Do I think the film is anti-Semetic? No. And I can't tolerate the people who see this and say "I can see where people might think the film is anti-Semetic." No, they can't. If you're looking for it, you'll find it. If you see it for what it is, A MOVIE, then you will be enlightened, moved, possibly shocked, and overall satisfied by a fine film from a fine director.