I just went and saw The Passion with my husband Jim and our friend Brant yesterday. I don’t want to review it, since I don’t want to stir up a boatload of controversy I can’t possibly defend, but I wanted to mention something I witnessed.
I have been to a lot of movies with audience participation. When we saw Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, everyone howled with laughter. Same with Bad Santa. Those were fun audiences. I love when you get a great crowd like that.
Yesterday was different. During The Passion, several people wept outright, and loudly. Also, the older gentleman next to me kept wiping his eyes. The girl next to Brant cried so hard it was disturbing. It was the most uncomfortable two hours I have experienced since my Uncle’s funeral a decade ago.
My question is not about the movie, it is if anyone else has seen similar reactions at that movie or any other? Discussion?
I didn’t experience any of the crying when I went, but a bunch of people got up and left during scene where JC does his vivid recreation of the Allman Brothers’ “Whipping Post.” All tasteless jokes aside, a friend of mine I went with was very upset by the movie — not because of the story, but she was highly disturbed that someone would willfully create something that brutal.
Someone would willfully create something brutal? I think that it’s an honest portrayal of the events that probably happened. Do you think that the Romans whipped their criminals with wet noodles. Things like that happened.