Like most of the reviewers who are leveling attacks at Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion of the Christ", I have not bothered to see the movie before writing my review.  Like Andy Rooney said, why should I have to pay "for a few laughs", right?  My opinions are just as valid as his, and he hasn't seen it either.  If not having seen it doesn't stop other critics from offering well-deserved criticism of the movie, however, then it shouldn't stop me either.  

Most other critics are attacking the movie for its subtle anti-semitic overtones, but no one seems concerned with the blatant anti-Roman attitude the movie takes throughout.  This is an outrage!  This movie openly portrays Romans as warmongering, imperialistic occupiers of Judea.  Yes, I realise that the Romans did, in fact, have an empire which was occupying Judea at the time of the events shown in the movie.  However, that's no excuse to show only one side of their important story.  Where are the scenes of happy, laughing, playful Romans peacefully cavorting in parks or something?  No, the only Romans shown in the movie (at least, this is what I believe, not having actually seen it myself) are brutal soldiers.  One of them even insults a Jew by calling him... a Jew!  It's a completely unfair, totally unbalanced and anti-Roman portrayal of the Romans.

Another thing about the movie that upsets me (or will, when I get around to seeing it) is the use of Gore.  Everyone who knows anything about the movie (especially those who refused to see it for just this reason) says that it features an excessive use of Gore.  Frankly, I feel that any use of Gore is excessive, but what I really want to know is why he was even in this movie at all?  He's not even Jewish!  Was Al Gore just in the movie to yell angrily about how Judas betrayed Jesus?  It doesn't make any sense.  It's curious that the same critics who say there was too much violence and Gore in this movie had nothing but praise for violent movies like Gladiator and Mel Gibson's movie Braveheart, which also had too much Gore in it.  Perhaps they didn't complain because he at least looks Scottish.

The third problem I will have with the movie is its recurring references to Christian religious dogma.  Everyone in the movie seems to be spouting quotes from the Bible, except the Romans, who mostly speak Roman.  It's bad enough when people shove their religion in your face by wearing crosses under their shirts and all, but to have the main character walk down a public street with a cross bigger than his whole body is just unreasonable!

Last but not least, I'm unhappy with the way they made everyone look vaguely Jewish except the Romans, who looked vaguely Italian.  They even made Jesus and his followers look Jewish, while everyone knows they were Christians.  No wonder the Jews are angry!