I saw the movie when it was released way back in 04 and it was for me then too tortuous but very powerful. I decided to show it this year with the family on Good Friday ( that plan was scuttled so I/ we could attend to my Happy Birthday) however we did watch it on Black Saturday though. My kids had never seen it but at 15 and 12 I thought they could "handle" it and it would make for a powerful reminder of Christs love and passion he endured for us. I for one am glad to have seen it again. As for me the most poignant scene was that of Simon of Cyrene carrying the cross and helping Him on the road to Golgotha. At one point he chose to not be repulsed by the bleeding and gruesome Christ, but instead chose to minister to him in love. - So powerful a lesson in that scene.
My kids watched it all and I could sense they agonized over the torture and were glad when there were segments of respite. They gleaned a lot from the showing and just are now beginning to ask some pretty good questions..ie "So why was 'satan' crying in pain at the end? Was there some sort of cosmic bet made ?..(from my 12 yo son).
The movie is really tough to watch, but I think I will make it a point to view it each Holy week at some point..maybe with a fast fwd control in hand..maybe not.
One of our local pastor friends here uses The Passion of the Christ rather than The Jesus Film for Evangelical showings. He testifies that this work is being used by God to bring many to Christ.
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