I saw the Passion tonight. It is a very good movie.

I don't know how to describe the feelings the movie creates in me, nor do I know how to accurately comment on it. I think that its best quality is that it creates a means of experiencing the sacrifice of Christ. This kind of knowledge has been revered through the history of the Church as an edifying way of non-analytical knowledge of God. A lot of people seem to have come out of it joyful, I felt subdued.

One interesting goal of Gibson's was to create opposing emotions in his audience. Often he would try and portray an evil character, such as Satan, as beautiful, so that you are drawn to it, and then reveal its wickedness. I think that he does this with the Roman soldiers as well. I think that's why the scourging scene was hard for me, the Roman soldiers seemed like real people. They were doing a job that to them was an athletic event of types. They had enough good to not repulse you entirely but at the same time, you were angry at them for the amazingly wicked work they were doing on the body of Christ. It was interesting.

Anyway, I'm pretty drained, so I won't try and write anything intelligent. Good night all.