Its Content
This film is not in fact based faithfully on the record given in the Gospels. It draws on material from outside the Bible particularly the work of an 18th Century mystic Roman Catholic (RC) nun, Anne Emmerich. The script of the film adds things of which the Bible does not speak.

Its Purpose
What lies behind this film and why was it made? The Director is Mel Gibson, better known as an actor and in making the film, he was not primarily concerned with making a huge profit.  As he himself stated – "it reflects my beliefs". Mel Gibson is a devout Roman Catholic, who is dedicated to the old 16th century form of Mass in Latin.  That’s one reason why in this film the actors speak not only in English but also in Latin and Aramaic.  The date chosen for release in America was significantly, ‘Ash Wednesday’  The film is intended to promote these views held by the director and is quite deliberate in its attempt to link Christ’s death with the Roman Catholic Mass.  In one interview Mel Gibson stated that the goal of the movie is "to set side by side the sacrifice of the cross with the sacrifice of the altar, which is the same thing."

Its Emphasis
This film concentrates on the physical suffering of Christ on the Cross.  It does so in such a graphic way that a film critic of one the of leading Irish newspapers warned against watching it.  But RC devotion encourages people to focus on the ongoing grief and sorrow of the physical suffering of Christ.  Accordingly the crucifix is given a prominent place in RC buildings and art.  But though the physical suffering of our Lord was real, the Bible itself is very restrained as it speaks of them.  Indeed God Himself cloaked the suffering of Christ in darkness.  Matthew records the fact that – "From sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land".  I agree with the comment that – "We must reject any attempt to lift the veil and intrude into the most holy event ever to happen."

There is another fundamental error in the emphasis in the film on the physical suffering of the Cross.  That is that the deepest suffering, the most intense suffering of our Saviour was that He was taking on Himself the wrath of God against sin.  He was suffering the just wrath of God in our place.  His suffering was physical but it was primarily spiritual.

Its Violation of the Second Commandment
The Second Commandment forbids making images for use in worship.  The film breaks this commandment by using an actor to portray the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Clearly there cannot ever be a true visual representation of the Lord Jesus Christ either in paintings, icons, or by actors.  We are not told about His physical appearance and therefore any representation must of necessity be false.  Beyond that, any visual representation of the Person of our Saviour is impossible, because though He is truly Man He is not merely Man. He is also truly God.  Nothing which men produce can ever faithfully represent the One Who is both God and Man in one Person.

"Certainly no sinful human being can ever portray the truth of the holy Son of God."  To presume to do so is to be guilty of a grave violation this Second Commandment.  There is the additional danger that those who see this film will have its false representation of Christ etched in their memories, perhaps for the rest of their lives.

This film uses the method commonly used in the Middle Ages in which dramatic presentations of the Gospel portrayed in the passion plays, such as that still presented at Oberammergau, replaced the preaching of Gospel.