Students React to 'The Passion of the Christ'

Emotions varied among UB students Tuesday night following a screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" at the Regal Cinema on Transit Road, as students got a first look at the highly anticipated and controversial movie, which opens nationwide today.

Kapil Merchant, a first-year graduate student in architecture, summed up the movie in one word: "powerful."

"In other movies you don't feel that suffering," he said. "But here you feel every lash. You feel it."

"It was a very touching movie," said Nicholetta Vaz, a first year graduate student in architecture. "Even if you didn't know the Bible very much, you really felt what it wanted to put across."

For some, the movie's images were just as powerful as its message.

"Visually, it was stunning," said Nigina Khasidova, a freshman political science major. "The violence - wow. That was definitely shocking. It kind of made me cringe in my chair."

For the many UB students who have yet to see the movie, Gibson's latest epic remains something of a mystery, especially the controversy surrounding its portrayal of the Jews' role in Christ's death.

"Being Jewish, I definitely want to see it. I think there's way more hype about it than there should be," said Laura Hemlock, a sophomore theater major. "I understand it's a big deal, but I don't understand why. I don't know how bad the movie portrays (anti-Semitism), so I'd have to see it for myself."

Several students in the Newman Center, which houses Campus Catholic Ministries, understood the controversy, but highlighted the movie's other aspects.

"My personal opinion about it is that the movie is meant to be up emotion, it's supposed to shake the audience, and it's supposed to make you think. And I think that's a good thing," said Marianne McAllister, a senior psychology major.

"Sounds like it will be an interesting movie. Gruesome, but interesting," said Joe Amendolea, a senior math major. "I think the Jewish groups are just a little uptight about it."

"I bet it's going to be a lot like 'Braveheart' with the killing and the epic tale," said Tim Barry, a senior history major.

"It's too bad people are upset about it," Barry added.

Other students, however, disagree with downplaying the reasons the movie is controversial.

"It's opening up wounds that the Pope closed up years ago (when he) said, 'maybe we were wrong,'" said Mark Jacobs, a freshman undecided major.

"It's not that it makes the Jews look bad," he added. "It doesn't portray the right message. It portrays a very radical history. You can't say for sure what happened 2000 years ago. It's impossible."

For Hemlock, the controversy is the main attraction.

"I wouldn't want to see it if it wasn't for the controversy, because I can't deal with blood and gore," she said.

Reverend Pat Keleher of the Newman Center said he's reserving his judgment for when he sees the film.

"Haven't seen it yet," he said. "Ask me Thursday night. How can you judge something you haven't seen, especially when it's as controversial as this?"

Keleher did worry, however, that the movie would "over accentuate" the death of Christ and leave people with the wrong ideas.

"I think it trivializes God and redemption, and that's what I worry about," he said.