Hi Mel,

I just saw the movie yesterday and remain ambivalent about it. Here's
my take on the table scene:

the table = the movie, an incomplete product: ambitious, but
ultimately lacking
the rich man = Mel Gibson now
the chairs not yet made = representing the strain it takes (sitting
w/o a chair) to swallow this movie's reversion to a medieval Catholic
Jesus
the new style table = tall table, as in tall tale
the dirty apron and the washing of Jesus' hands = parallel to Pilate
washing his hands, Jesus is trying to tell us he didn't care for the
movie either
Jesus splashing Mary with water with delight = ah, sometimes a cigar
is just a cigar (I hope).

There were some virtues to this movie. It is ambitious, a little too.
How to portray divinity on celluloid? At least he selected a brief and
perhaps managable selection of the text (the passion). But that
selection, at the expense of the others, is what medieval catholics
focused on: the bloody mangled body of Jesus.

Should we ignore that section? No, of course not. But is it possible
to exaggerate it, or even turn to a pornographic fascination with its
torture, blood, and suffering? Of course. That's exactly what medieval
Catholicism did, and I'm not too keen on its return.

At issue for me is that the text does not detail the extent of Jesus'
physical punishment at the hands of Romans or Jews. While not
impossible (since the text just doesn't say), I do not get the
impression from reading the text that Jesus was beaten as badly as the
movie depicts. So, why would someone depict it that way? For the same
reason medieval Catholics liked to gaze on the bloody images of Jesus
and the saints. What makes us culpable now is that we've had Freud, a
Jew, Paglia, a Catholic, and many many others who've made crystal
clear the sadomasochistic appeal of such images. I'm not eager to
encourage that kind of sexuality for my childrens' society.

I would not care to guess whether Mel harbors anti-semitic thoughts as
his father does (and whom Mel has defended), but after seeing the
movie I am convinced that it hardly conveys the complex political
atmosphere of Palestine then, and that uncritical viewers will
blithely turn to Jews or, worse, to the Romans as scapegoats. I do
note that while he removed the English subtitles for a certain phrase
likely to elicit anti-semitic sentiment to appease his critics (after
Pilate transfers responsibility, the Jews say, rougly, "let his blood
be upon us"), the Aramaic remains--which will not be unnoticed in
those parts of the world where it may do most harm.

I was shocked to see many children in the audience. This movie should
not be seen by anyone under 18, nor by adults who do not understand
the nature of sadomasochism and are not affected by it.

The superstitious or medieval brand of modern Catholics will rejoice
in this movie, as will ignorant protestants (no small number) and S&M
affectionadoes everywhere. But I can't recommend it.

With apologies for a mini-review in response to a post about a table,
and various mea culpas for those who are offended by my views,
H.


"mel" wrote in message .com...
One part of the movie that I really enjoyed was the flashback Jesus had when
they were preparing the cross. It showed him in the backyard working on a
table. He was after all a carpenter. Mary came out of the house and saw
the table and did what mothers do best. She complimented him on the table
even though it wasn't the sort of table she was accustomed to. I gathered
from the dialog that tables back then were low to the ground yet this table
was a tall table. Jesus tells her it's a table built for a rich man. He
hasn't built the chairs yet. He takes his position at the table as if he
was sitting in a tall chair with no problem and Mary attempts to mimic him.
She pantomimes reaching for a glass and loses her balance, straightens up
and tells Jesus it will never catch on. Jesus laughs and they start to walk
into the house. Right before entering Mary tells Jesus to remove his dirty
apron before coming into the house. She holds a bowl of water for Jesus to
wash his hands which he does. Then he splashes the water on Mary with much
delight.

Mel Gibson told the entire story in this one little piece of artistic
license.

the table = a place prepared for us
the rich man = the saved in Christ
the chairs not yet made = the crucifixion not yet completed at this point of
the movie
the new style table = Christianity
the dirty apron and the washing of Jesus' hands = Jesus' baptism
Jesus splashing Mary with water with delight = Jesus' willingness to provide
for our salvation with delight

With delight..... We read where Jesus struggled in the garden with fear
and with what he was about to face he was justified in feeling so. The
total absence of God while being in the hands of Satan. We do not know what
transpired between Jesus and The Father when they were reunited but I
believe quite possibly with all the reverence I can muster........ they
giggled.