History YMMV / ThePassionOfTheChrist

*** FridgeBrilliance: He's God. Catholicism is also borderline obsessed with Christ's blood. That there is a lot of it makes it more significant.

*** You can't complain that they're not going by {{The B|ible}}ook on this one. Combined with Matthew 27:25, this was bound to occur.

* MisBlamed: The Anti-Semitic claims in particular and certain historical variances. Whatever Gibson's personal views this film is largely no better/no worse then [[TheBible the work]] its based on. It enjoyed broad support from Church leaders across denominations precisely because it was felt to be a [[JustForPun faithful]] adaptation, and most support includes the note that they did ''not'' feel it promoted anti-Semitism, nor did they think it should have.

* RuinedFOREVER: This combined with a drunk driving anti-Semitic rant caused more than a few fans to give up on Mel Gibson.
* UnfortunateImplications: There were a lot of complaints over how the film depicted Jewish people, making them all look like evil caricatures. And there were other people who complained about how the film glorified the death of Jesus and made that the important part of TheBible, instead of focusing on Jesus' message and/or resurrection.
** Kind of unavoidable when TheBible has the crowds of Jerusalem city calling for Jesus to die. The overwhelming majority of Biblical scholars (well the Chistian ones) would tell you its not the Jewish peoples finest hour, which is something of the point. Followed by that it is [[EpicFail completely]] missing the point to take this as justification for just about anything.

** This may be pointing out the obvious, but [[FridgeLogic wasn't Jesus himself Jewish]]? Also, there's a brief scene where one of the roman soldiers drags a Jewish man to help carry the cross. He seems particularly mean with him and there's something about his tone when he calls him "Jew" that indicates he's not very fond of them. Considering the things these soldiers do throughout the movie, it's safe to say, if the movie is supposed to be antisemitic, it isn't doing a very good job.

*** It's not there for gorn. The blood and water from Christ's side is particularly symbolic in Catholic mysticism, with the blood representing the blood price for the redemption of man and the water the purifying force that negates man's sins. A lot of imagery in this film will only make sense with a solid understanding of Gibson's brand of Catholic mysticism. [[http://thecatholicspirit.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/DivineMercy.jpg This one is a common Catholic image.]]

** He is beaten up by Jewish guards, slapped around by the Sanhedrin priests, beaten up by the people in the Temple, scourged so bad by Roman soldiers that his ribs are bared, has a crown of thorns put on his head (and pushed into his eyes), whipped through the streets while carrying a cross, beaten up and pelted with stones by Jewish mobs, and - after they dislocate his arm to fit the cross - he is finally nailed to the cross. It CrossesTheLineTwice when the Roman officer orders his men to put the dying Jesus out of his misery by [[WhatAnIdiot breaking his legs with a sledgehammer.]][[hottip:*: Though, of course, the Bible says that when the soldiers saw that Jesus was already dead, they didn't break his legs.]]
*** Hey! That was intentional in crucifixions: break legs, and they can't push up to breathe, so they die of asphyxiation relatively quickly instead of ''days later''.
*** Yep. Breaking the legs was considered a "kindness" to not leave them suffering for days until they died of exposure or starvation.

* CrossesTheLineTwice: While watching this movie, it's too disturbing and depressing to notice this trope. It's darkly comical in hindsight though, just the sheer amount of violence MelGibson puts Jesus through.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: See the description in the Main tab.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: Satan and her evil old man baby, never again referenced. Just Jesus looking out, seeing Satan, and Satan has something in her arms...''ahh get it away its horrible and I have no words to describe the horror.'' For obvious reasons, Satan's baby has already been referenced under HighOctaneNightmareFuel.

* HighOctaneNightmareFuel: The entire film is this, but Satan and the demon children are especially disturbing.
** [[WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids Hearing children in the movie theater while watching the film.]]
** Honorable mention goes to the monster beneath the bridge and the face-morphing children who harass Judas, too.

** Things are taken even further as the Centurion overseeing the execution tosses a spear to one of the guards for him to pierce Jesus's side just to make sure that he is really dead, and water and blood sprays all over the guard's face as the spear pierces Jesus's ribcage. No one can say this film doesn't meet {{Gorn}} requirements.

** Take a count of how often Jesus collapses and gets back up again. If you make a drinking game out of it, you won't survive until the end of the movie...

*** It's not there for gorn. The blood and water from Christ's side is particularly symbolic in Catholic mysticism, with the blood representing the blood price for the redemption of man and the water the purifying force that negates man's sins. A lot of imagery in this film will only make sense with a solid understanding of Gibson's brand of Catholic mysticism.

** This may be just nitpicking but did it really look glorifying? It looked like it was trying to do the opposite and deconstruct the traditional portrayal of Jesus' death.

* MisBlamed: The Anti-Semitic claims in particular and certain historical variances. Whatever Gibson's personal views this film is largely no better/no worse then [[TheBible the work]] its based on. It enjoyed broad support from Church leaders across denominations precisely because it was felt to be a [[JustForPun faithful]] adaptation.

** This may be pointing out the obvious, but [[FridgeLogic wasn't Jesus himself Jewish]]? Also, there's a brief scene where one of the roman soldiers drags a Jewish man to help carry the cross. He seems particularly mean with hims and there's something about his tone when he calls him "Jew" that indicates he's not very fond of them. Considering the things these soldiers do throughout the movie, it's safe to say, if the movie is supposed to be antisemitic, it isn't doing a very good job.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: See the description in the Main tab.

*** This was how he was portrayed in AndrewLloydWebber's "JesusChristSuperstar" musical. Guess Gibson liked that one.

*** This was how he was portrayed in AndrewLloydWebber's "Theater/JesusChristSuperstar" musical. Guess Gibson liked that one.

*** You can't complain that they're not going by [[TheBible The Book]] on this one. Combined with Matthew 27:25, this was bound to occur.

** This may be pointing out the obvious, but [[FridgeLogic wasn't Jesus himself jewish]]? Also, there's a brief scene where one of the roman soldiers drags a jewish man to help carry the cross. He seems particularly mean with hims and there's something about his tone when he calls him "jew" that indicates he's not very fond of them. Considering the things these soldiers do throughout the movie, it's safe to say, if the movie is supposed to be antisemitic, it isn't doing a very good job.

*** This was how he was portrayed in AndrewLloydWebber's "Theatre/JesusChristSuperstar" musical. Guess Gibson liked that one.

* {{Misblamed}}: The Anti-Semitic claims in particular and certain historical variances. Whatever Gibson's personal views this film is largely no better/no worse then [[TheBible the work]] its based on. It enjoyed broad support from Church leaders across denominations precisely because it was felt to be a [[JustForPun faithful]] adaptation.

*** This was how he was portrayed in AndrewLloydWebber's "JesusChristSuperstar" musical. Guess Gibson liked that one.

* [[ArtisticLicenseReligiousStudies You Fail Religious Studies Forever]]: Gibson made several mistakes when it comes to Jewish laws and traditions. Most notable when it showed the Seder he is eating leaven bread instead of matza. Also he makes them eat while sitting upright despite a Seder is supposed to be eaten while reclining, one of the 4 questions makes this perfectly clear.
** There is considerable [[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14341a.htm dispute among Catholic theologians]] as to whether the Last Supper actually started out as a Seder meal or not. It may well be that Gibson had not intended to depict a Seder at all.
*** No Jew ever gave the order to ''crucify'' Jesus--there are only four death penalties permitted according to Jewish law--beheading, strangling, burning and stoning--and crucifixion is not one of them.
*** FridgeBrilliance: But hanging the corpse on a tree until sunset is part of the death penalty. Since the Jews had no authority to execute anyone while under Roman occupation, having the Romans crucify someone they regard as a blasphemer was the next best thing to being able to carry out the penalty themselves.

* [[ArtisticLicenseReligiousStudies YouFailReligiousStudiesForever]]: Gibson made several mistakes when it comes to Jewish laws and traditions. Most notable when it showed the Seder he is eating leaven bread instead of matza. Also he makes them eat while sitting upright despite a Seder is supposed to be eaten while reclining, one of the 4 questions makes this perfectly clear.

* ArtisticLicenseReligiousStudies: Gibson made several mistakes when it comes to Jewish laws and traditions. Most notable when it showed the Seder he is eating leaven bread instead of matza. Also he makes them eat while sitting upright despite a Seder is supposed to be eaten while reclining, one of the 4 questions makes this perfectly clear.
** There is considerable [[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14341a.htm dispute among Catholic theologians]] as to whether the Last Supper actually started out as a Seder meal or not. It may well be that Gibson had not intended to depict a Seder at all.
*** No Jew ever gave the order to ''crucify'' Jesus--there are only four death penalties permitted according to Jewish law--beheading, strangling, burning and stoning--and crucifixion is not one of them.
*** FridgeBrilliance: But hanging the corpse on a tree until sunset is part of the death penalty. Since the Jews had no authority to execute anyone while under Roman occupation, having the Romans crucify someone they regard as a blasphemer was the next best thing to being able to carry out the penalty themselves.

* WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids: See the description in the Main tab.

* NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity: Half why the film was a hit in the first place (the other half was churches going to see the film in bulk).

** Jesus was also Jewish. As was the man forced to carry his cross. And all his disciples, etc.
** Also, King Herod is, for some reason, depicted as a CampGay DepravedHomosexual.

** Jesus was also Jewish. As was the man forced to carry his cross.

** He is beaten up by Jewish guards, slapped around by the Sanhedrin priests, beaten up by the people in the Temple, scourged so bad by Roman soldiers that his ribs are bared, has a crown of thorns put on his head (and pushed into his eyes), whipped through the streets while carrying a cross, beaten up and pelted with stones by Jewish mobs, and - after they dislocate his arm to fit the cross - he is finally nailed to the cross. It CrossesTheLineTwice when the Roman officer orders his men to put the dying Jesus out of his misery by [[WhatAnIdiot breaking his legs with a sledgehammer.]]
*** Hey! That was intentional in crucifixions: break legs, and he can't push up to breathe, so dies of asphyxiation relatively quickly instead of ''days later''.

* [[HistoricalHeroUpgrade Historical Hero]]/[[HistoricalVillainUpgrade Villain Upgrade]]
** Pontius Pilate, for some bizarre reason, is shown as almost a good guy, who goes far out of his way to try to save Jesus's life. The real Pilate was kind of a bastard, and would have had absolutely no problem having a man like Jesus executed. The only reason he relented at first in real life was to deliberately piss off the Jewish leaders, first making them drag Jesus to Herod, who was very cozy with the Roman government in place, and would just send him back to Pilate because he didn't care. Then he scourges Jesus, knowing they'd be mad that he didn't have him executed. ''[[OverlyLongGag Then]]'' he offers to free either Jesus or Barbabas, again, just to piss off the Jewish priests, and ''finally'' concedes.
** The Sanhedrin Priests were not exactly portrayed in the most sympathetic light in the Bible itself, but they get the villain-o-meter turned UpToEleven in this film, and are shown ''[[YouFailHistoryForever bullying around a Roman governor and getting away with it]]''.
*** OlderThanTheyThink: Some Biblical scholars think that the Gospels of Luke and John in particular try to (partially) absolve the Romans of responsibility for the Crucifixion so that Christians would not be considered enemies of the Roman Empire.
* IronWoobie: The UrExample.

*** This was how he was portrayed in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Jesus Christ Superstar" musical. Guess Gibson liked that one.
* YouFailReligiousStudiesForever: Gibson made several mistakes when it comes to Jewish laws and traditions. Most notable when it showed the Seder he is eating leaven bread instead of matza. Also he makes them eat while sitting upright despite a Seder is supposed to be eaten while reclining, one of the 4 questions makes this perfectly clear.
** There is considerable [[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/14341a.htm dispute among Catholic theologians]] as to whether the Last Supper actually started out as a Seder meal or not. It may well be that Gibson had not intended to depict a Seder at all.
*** No Jew ever gave the order to ''crucify'' Jesus--there are only four death penalties permitted according to Jewish law--beheading, strangling, burning and stoning--and crucifixion is not one of them.
**** FridgeBrilliance: But hanging the corpse on a tree until sunset is part of the death penalty. Since the Jews had no authority to execute anyone while under Roman occupation, having the Romans crucify someone they regard as a blasphemer was the next best thing to being able to carry out the penalty themselves.
* RuinedForever: This combined with a drunk driving anti-Semitic rant caused more than a few fans to give up on Mel Gibson.
* NoSuchThingAsBadPublicity: Half why the film was a hit in the first place (the other half was churches going to see the film in bulk).
** Gibson was accused of doing this on purpose.