So much blood, so much pain, so much torture, all endured by one man - scary stuff. Definitely not for the faint hearted. I watched it in Europe.

Actually, the story was so true to the Gospels. If anything this movie actually depicts the crucifixion in its most raw sense - it is probably the most inhumane of all execution techniques. Before I went, I thought I might start crying etc. - but I actually did not. I was in complete and utter shock!

It shows quite frankly the extent of human cruelty and how carelessly one man can inflict pain on another and have fun at such suffering.

It is a bitter movie, thought provoking movie, soul-searching movie. It's a movie about relationships: mother-son, teacher-disciple, master-servant, and believer-traitor. It is a movie examining humanity, compassion, anger, faith, loyalty, love, and devotion.

How in the middle of all this emotionally-saturated depictions can there be anti-Semitism is beyond me. There is too much going on in the movie to even think about the Jews. After seeing it, I am even more convinced that it would take a totally self-absorbed egocentric individual to think that the movie is about him.

It is not a movie about the Jews, neither is it about the Romans - although the latter's active participation in the torture of Christ is quite obvious. I would also go so far as to say that it is not a Christian movie because there is no propaganda of faith. We are not given details of Christ's ministry.

For a non-Christian, it is a very good documentary about life in that period, the social behaviour of the community and the politics of the time. For Christians, it gives a very vivid account of the pain and suffering of Jesus that may have eluded them.

The Gospels cannot be re-written to please the Jews, or the Romans, for that matter. It is as it was and we just have to accept it and move on and try not to repeat the barbarism so widely practiced during the dark ages - no matter who supposedly perpetrated those savage acts.

Does it really matter now, 2,000 years later? We are still as narrow-minded as the people were during the times of Christ; we still inflict unwanted pain and suffering on our fellow man; we still discriminate based on colour, race, religion, nationality. Anything as long as it gives an excuse to kill. How sick is that?

Actually, there were more scenes of the brutality by the Roman soldiers. The Jews actually never lifted a finger in the actual torture of Christ; although it cannot be denied that the Jewish priests were instrumental for Christ's capture and the eventual call for execution.

I liked the ending of the movie - an empty tomb and Jesus walking away. It is only of significance to those who know and understand the resurrection of Christ. For the rest, its is just a poignant ending.

Again no emphasis on the divinity of Christ. Which is why I say that this is not a religious movie.