Post reviews Passion...

The New York Post invited five people to review Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of Christ:
Here they are some of their comments.

Rabbi Levine
One-word review: "Appalling"
Portrayal of Jews: "Painful"
Recommendation: "I hope no one goes to see it."
Message to Gibson: "If he was trying to help people understand Christ's Passion, his movie doesn't succeed - there's too much violence and no real examination of the meaning of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection."

Lou Luminick (Post Film critic)
One word review: "Incomplete"
Portrayal of Jews: "Deeply troubling that they're being portrayed as bloodthirsty zealots. Could fuel anti-Semitic feelings."
Recommendation: "I can't say whether I recommend the movie until it's finished."
Message to Gibson: "Add more explanation and historical context."

Joan Wilson (Post Reader)
One-word review: "Riveting"
Portrayal of Jews: "Fair - I think every group [depicted] had good people and evil people."
Recommendation: "It's a must-see movie."
Message to Gibson: "You need to tighten it up by cutting 10 to 15 minutes of violence. We got the message."

Elizabeth Castelli
(Professor of religion)
One-word review: "Violent"
Portrayal of Jews: "Unfair" - they're based on "medieval stereotypes . . . that have a history of inspiring violence against Jews."
Recommendation: "No - nor would I recommend censoring it."
Message to Gibson: "He had an opportunity to reflect on the long history of the theology of suffering, and he missed that opportunity by producing just a picture of brutality."

Mark Hallinan (Catholic Priest)
One-word review: "Unhelpful"
Portrayal of Jews: "Very bad ... I don't think the intent was anti-Semitic, but Jews are unfairly portrayed."
Recommendation: "Don't go to see it."
Message to Gibson: "I'm disappointed that he didn't use the resources he had to do a balanced portrayal of the life and death of Jesus."