One can’t help but admire how Mel Gibson made this ridiculed project into the most talked about movie of the year, and a box office hit to boot. The religious right loved it, but more grounded critics found flaws.

At its worst, the Savior’s last 12 hours in life is actually a two-hour long torture flick where we are forced to endure bloody violence of the most realistic kind. Over the top, but Jim Caviezel is a convincing Christ, the filmmakers show serious ambition (everyone speaks Aramaic and Latin) and the technical details are impressive.

As expected, there were accusations of anti-Semitism, but few found actual evidence of it in the film.

2004-U.S. 126 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Mel Gibson. Screenplay: Mel Gibson, Benedict Fitzgerald. Cinematography: Caleb Deschanel. Music: John Debney. Cast: Jim Caviezel (Jesus), Monica Bellucci (Mary Magdalene), Claudia Gerini (Claudia Procles), Maia Morgenstern, Sergio Rubini, Mattia Sbragia. 

Trivia: Gibson, who also co-produced, first intended to release the film without subtitles. Followed by The Resurrection of the Christ: Part One (2027).