DVD REVIEW: The Passion of the Christ (From Barry And District News)

DVD REVIEW: The Passion of the Christ

THE PASSION of the Christ' has ruffled feathers in religious communities because it challenges accepted beliefs.

Directed and produced by Mel Gibson, Passion depicts the last 12 hours of Jesus' life.

Every word is in Aramaic, Latin or Hebrew, supported by English subtitles. Every prop from whips and swords to clothing and wigs, looks terrifyingly authentic, and what emerges is the most realistic depiction of Christ's suffering ever put on screen.

The film is about the journey to the crucifixion and is an unflinching look at the way Christ was killed, shown in graphic detail.

The film is slightly over two hours long, starting with Christ's arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane and ending with His resurrection.

Everything between is His brutal suffering and it is relentless. There are brief flashbacks to earlier times in Christ's life as sights and sounds trigger memories, which provide relief from the violence, but none long enough for the audience to forget what they are watching.