This is an interesting discussion. A few months ago, I read quite a bit about this upcoming movie and was impressed by the trailer for it. I'm not sure I see the point of the movie's dialogue not being in English, but I suppose that might not matter so much.

As far as what you initially said, Charles, I think that it only demonstrates the reality of secular society. This is the double-standard of tolerance, whereas many claim to be tolerant of this and that (and are likewise entirely relativistic) yet can't be tolerant of the things on their list that bug them. A major mark on their list is Christianity, no doubt, and anything related to it. For goodness sake, if The Passion is based solely on the 4 Gospel accounts, these people should have been complaining a long time ago, since the New Testament has been in wide circulation for hundreds of years and this movie has only just been made.

Anyway, I might come from a different perspective regarding Mel Gibson. I'll be honest, I've always been a huge Mel Gibson fan and own several movies that he's been in. I have observed his demeanor and speech in interviews and elsewhere and commend him for the sincere value he places on marriage and the family, as well as other godly values he says that he cherishes. As for the violent content or bad language in some of his movies, I can't say that it pleases me to see, but it also hasn't stopped me from watching either. Obviously there is a lot of bad stuff in most of his movies, but I'd like to say a little about the good, just to be fair.

I don't know what Gibson's beliefs are, exactly, but I found it interesting that in at least three of his more recent movies, his character is a religious man and even prays to God or speaks about God during the movie! In Braveheart (which isn't a recent movie), while the movie shows men that resemble Galilean Zealots more than Scottish Catholics (or Anglicans if that makes historical sense), they show a Catholic (I think) wedding and funeral, and at one point his character mentions that if the Lord is willing, he'd like to come home, raise crops, and have a family. In Signs, his character is actually a Catholic "father" who has been struggling with his faith, and I appreciate the message about faith that I get out of the movie. I only hope and pray that an even greater message is spread by the wide-release of this movie.

Of greater importance than Christ's death and burial were the fulfilled prophesies of His resurrection and power over life. Our hope is nothing if Christ did not raise from the dead (and I hope this movie TELLS THAT PART OF THE STORY). His everlasting Kingdom is one that God wants all to become a part of, and if He uses a movie to reach out to some lost souls, then I'm not sure I would be against it.