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"The Passion Of The Christ" is the most emotionally stirring and tear jerking movie
I have ever experienced.   I was very deeply effected by it.  While sitting in the theatre, 
I took a quick glance around me and all I saw were people on the edges of their seats,
eyes glued to the screen.  I was amazed by the atmosphere around me - no talking, no
movements, just the occasional sob.  It was a silence of both reverence and shock.  The
violence and brutality of the beating/flaggulation was incredible.. and I almost had to walk
out of the theatre, but I made myself sit there for the entirety of the film. 

I do not recommend this movie to a young audience.... it has an 'R' rating for a reason. 
If you see it, and you think that your child can handle it... then it's up to you, but I can
honestly say this is the kind of movie that nightmares can originate from for young kids.

I was impressed by the accuracy of the movie.  Some things were added to, but it wasn't
taken away from.  For the majority of the movie I was following along with the story as
the Bible reads.  I kind of wish as it went, that the scriptures were on the screen, but I 
can see how that would be even more of a turn-off to those not interested in religion.  Then
again, if they don't like religion, the title pretty much gave it away before even walking
into the theatre.  :)

Frankly, I don't understand what the controversy is about the Jewish people and this film - 
feeling that Gibsons' interpretation blames the Jews for Jesus' crucifixion.  If anything, I'd
think it would anger the Romans, but I haven't heard of any arguements on their part.  I 
was angry at the soldiers who beat and mocked Jesus, of course, and those who didn't try
to stop the beating, but I don't hate the Jewish people because of this film.  Not at all. 

I honestly loved the fact that the dialogue was in Aramaic.  At first, I thought it would be
weird with the subtitles, but after about the first 5 minutes I didn't even think about it.... I
got so involved in the movie.  It definitely adds authenticity.

There were a few parts in the film that didn't fit into the movie.... such as the flash-backs
when he was younger.  They didn't remotely flow with the rest of the movie, but I know
why they were added.  The whole movie is an extreme picture of someone who seemed
almost supernatural.... but they wanted to make the point that he was a normal man...
living a normal life as well.  They also caused a brief break from the intensity.  I
think that allowed the audience to breathe a littlle.  There was even one part where the
audience actually laughed....and I think that made pretty much everyone feel better.

In closing, I loved the movie... I will most likely buy it when it comes out on DVD and I
am already loving the sound-track.  I wish they would have expanded a little bit more on
the resurrection part, but the movie wasn't focused on the resurrection... the point of it
was His 'passion'... and I think that passion was very successfully portrayed.

As for a sequel... I'm hoping there will be one.  It would be wonderful to see what they
come up with for that.  Also....I would love to see Mr. Gibson make other Biblical movies
as well - This one truly brought the story to life for me, as well as my family.  The actors were
great too.... and I don't think they could have found a better actor to play "Jesus" than 
Jim Caviezel.  He is pretty much a perfect picture of what I imagine Jesus to look like.

I give it Five Stars = *****

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There are so many issues being disputed about the leadership of this Nation these days,
and with the elections coming up in just a couple of months, the news is flooded with
commentaries and disputes.  But quite frankly, I'm very pleased with our President.  I'm 
getting really tired of hearing all the arguments everywhere I turn - on the internet, on
the television, in the papers.... all the people slandering my President for the stand he is
taking.  So many people are simply missing the point!  Where have all the morals gone,
and why on earth have so many people lost interest in them... as if they could care less?

This is what I want to say about some of the issues:

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ABORTION
I agree with the President 100% on Abortion.  I think any and all forms of abortion
should be banned and prohibited anywhere in the United States of America.  What kind
of a leader, who supposedly cares for the people, would be fine with the destruction
of the most innocent lives?  It is the destruction of a living being, and every one of us
should know that.  The concept is not that hard to grasp.  It doesn't become a human
being when it is born, it becomes a human being at conception.  No... that's not even
acurate.  It's more than a blob of tissue even before it's conceived.  JER 1:5.... "Before
I formed thee in the belly I knew thee, and before thou camest forth out of the
womb I sanctified thee; & I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations."  That
means that God considers us valued before we even take form....before the 'world' even
considers us people.  He sanctified a... what?  A Prophet to the Nations...a what?  Do
you think God would sanctify a worthless piece of tissue?  I think not!  I know not! 
That was a life growing in the womb... that life had value too... and God knew it. 
And I happen to think that God knows a little better than we do what the value of
life is.... How precious that little life is.  Why, that life that was killed today by a brutal
abortion could have been the next Abraham Lincoln, or another Martin Luther King. 
And those people didn't even give that life a chance!  How much more inhumane
can you be?  It is so crazy to think that God would accept "it's not really a human yet"
as an excuse for mass murder.  People and the law are more protective of animals' lives
than the lives and rights of a tiny, innocent life that has no power to change it's own
destiny.  I am sickened by these facts.

However, there has been one piece of good news.  The law now charges killers with
double-murder for taking the life of a pregnant women.  That means that they are 
considering it a valueable life.  I still have a question though... What's the difference
between murdering a pregnant woman and the affects of abortion?  In both scenarios 
you end up with the same thing ... a dead baby.  It is not that hard to understand!

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