Buy The Passion of the Christ on DVD

The Passion of the Christ

DVD Widescreen Definitive Edition More Info The Definitive Edition Close Caption: Yes Region Code: 1 UPC: 024543222835 Catalog #: DL2026534 Languages: English DTS 5.1 (Primary), Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1, Latin Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish subtitles	Usually ships in 5-10 days	$17.99 (10% off) List Price: ~~$19.99~~
DVD Pan & Scan More Info Close Caption: Yes Region Code: 1 UPC: 024543129912 Catalog #: DP2026532 Languages: English DTS 5.1 (Primary), Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1, Latin Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish subtitles	Usually ships in 5-10 days	$13.49 (10% off) List Price: ~~$14.99~~
Blu-ray 2-disc set More Info 2-disc set Region Code: 1 UPC: 024543565819 Catalog #: DB2026535 Languages: English DTS 5.1 (Primary), Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1, Latin Dolby Digital 5.1, Spanish subtitles	Usually ships in 5-10 days	$26.99 (10% off) List Price: ~~$29.99~~

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Review

The polar opposite of the traditional Biblical epic, Gibson's deeply personal pet project expands a line from the gospels ("Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him" - John 19:1) into twelve minutes of speculative horror as the centerpiece of this controversial, undeniably powerful Passion play. It's possibly the first mainstream splatter film, an I Spit on Your Grave without revenge or catharsis. The balance of the film plays like Jesus' greatest hits, as Gibson and cowriter Benedict Fitzgerald pick and choose segments from the four gospels -- from Judas' kiss to Christ's ascension as well as his early days as a carefree carpenter. It's not subtle, to say the least, but neither is the source material. As for the many complaints of anti-Semitism, it's no more or less anti-Semitic than the gospels themselves, which is to say very. The various gospels place the blame for Jesus' crucifixion squarely on the Jews, and Gibson repeats this bias in varying ways. On one hand, he distills many of the crowds' sentiments into one character (the high priest Caiaphas), rendering one authority responsible rather than an entire people; on the other, Caiaphas screams the notoriously racist line from Matthew ("His blood be on us, and on our children" Matthew 27:25) -- which Gibson neglects to subtitle for American audiences. The Romans, meanwhile, are merely apolitical sadists. Yet as a work of art, however hateful, it's impossible to ignore the breathtaking way that Gibson puts it all together, especially the stunning cinematography by Caleb Deschanel. And worshipful Christians will likely not have any of these reservations, making this one of the most moving reverential tales since Pasolini's (of all people) Gospel According to St. Matthew. As for Caviezel, he does what he can, spending most of the film suffering and covered with blood -- but oh, what Marilyn Burns could have done with this role. (Latin and Aramaic with English subtitles)

-- David Gorgos

Product Format Information

DVD Widescreen: $17.99 (The Definitive Edition)

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Close Caption: Yes
Region Code: 1
UPC: 024543222835
Catalog #: DL2026534

Studio : Newmarket Films

Languages: English DTS 5.1 (Primary) , Hebrew Dolby Digital 5.1 , Latin Dolby Digital 5.1 , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: Anamorphic Widescreen
Extras: Cast/Crew Biographies, Trailers, Deleted Scenes
Features:
Featurette: The Legacy
Multiple photo galleries: Production Art; Historical Texts; Art Images
Documentaries: By His Wounds We Are Healed: Making The Passion of the Christ
Audio commentary: Music - John Debney
Audio commentary: Filmmaker - Mel Gibson, Caleb Deschanel, and John Wright
Audio commentary: Production - Stephen McEveety, Ted Rae and Keith Vanderlaan
Audio commentary: Theologian - Mel Gibson, Father William J. Fulco, Gerry Matatics, and Father John Bartunek

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DVD Pan & Scan: $13.49

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Close Caption: Yes
Region Code: 1
UPC: 024543129912
Catalog #: DP2026532

Studio : Newmarket Films

Languages: English DTS 5.1 (Primary) , Latin Dolby Digital 5.1 , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 1.33, Full-Frame

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Blu-ray : $26.99 (2-disc set)

Availability: Usually ships in
5-10 days
Region Code: 1
UPC: 024543565819
Catalog #: DB2026535

Studio : Newmarket Films

Languages: Latin DTS-HD 5.1 (Primary) , English Subtitles , English SDH Subtitles , Spanish Subtitles
Aspect Ratio: 2.4, Full-Frame
Features:
Audio commentary: Filmmakers' Commentary by Director/Producer/Co-Screenwriter Mel Gibson, Cinematographer Caleb Deschanel and Editor John Wright
Audio commentary: Production Commentary by Producer Stephen McEveety, VFX Supervisor/Second Unit Director Ted Rae and Special Make-up and VFX Designer Keith Vanderlaan
Audio commentary: Theological Commentary by Mel Gibson, Father William J. Fulco, Gerry Matatics and Father John Bartunek
Audio commentary: Music Commentary by Composer John Debney (Selected Scenes), Footnotes