I had got somewhat to the point of dreading the evening, not knowing how it would be trying to get Mom setup in the theatre, not knowing if they would let me take her in first, and worried Mom might have bowel problems interfering with the outing.
The night went just great. I wonder if it was deliberate, but the young man (mid 30's) controlling the entrance to the movie looked just like the Jesus character in the movie, and of the same nature. He was very understanding, offered several alternatives, even an elevator to the upper area, and for us to seat her first. Not everyone was pleased we got to the front of the line, but the alternative would have been struggling and blocking people racing for the best seats.
Some of those waiting in line were sort of impatient and short tempered, not quite what I would have expected for such a movie. When we got to the front of the line I spoke with the woman there who was already having some sort of "experience" I think. She said this was her 3rd time to see the movie. Now, this was the 5th day of the movie since opening. I asked her why she wanted to see it 3 times. Oddly, she said the first time she didn't get the seats she wanted so felt she had been "cheated", and the second time she also got "cheated", so this time she had shown up 2 hours early, even before the line was starting, checked it with the usher so she could be in the very front and get the "perfect" seat. Now THAT is obsession!
They had marked all the tickets to make sure nobody with the wrong ticket sneaked past them and Mom and we got ushered in first. I had wanted to get her up some stairs to the middle landing in the stadium seating which has more room in front people. I didn't want people trying to stumble over Mom's feet and maybe hurting her. After managing 3 steps up from the lower landing she said she wouldn't be able so we sat in a row that had a protection bar on it that she used to move to the middle of the row and we put the wheelchair folded up at the front of room. Sitting in the middle no one had to stumble past us, so that part of the night was great.
Mom said not to disturb others reading the subtitles since she knows the story quite well and even without being able to read all of them she knew what was being said or should have been said anyway. For anyone who knows the gospel records (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) the film being in a foreign language is almost unnoticed other than the authenticity it lends. You may find yourself not even reading the subtitles at some of the most well known parts. It doesn't detract as much as it seems to add to the movie.
I can say that 2 hours later I was surprised to see it had been that long, the movie was so entrancing. It's definitely not for the squeamish, I noticed one girl behind us down that row sobbing during one scene. They said everything in the movie was scriptural, but in some areas there was a lot of interpolation. I don't think that detracted from it however. There were several phrases I expected to hear that were never uttered, and I mean other than the one about "his blood be upon us and upon our children".
It's a great movie and don't let my following comments be the basis if dissauding one from seeing it. I felt they made Pilate look a little less guilty than they should have. They also placed the high priest in some scenes in areas I doubt he himself would have been, if for no other reason than avoidance of ritual uncleanness. I won't go into detail at this time. For the pass they gave Pilate, they made up for it in the Roman scourging of Christ and his treatment by the Roman soldiers.
Was it Anti-Semitic? Against the Jewish race no. Against the Jewish leaders of that day the movie was definitely harsh. Even knowing the outcome of it, you find yourself fantasizing about Pilate putting Caiphas on the cross instead. I would say it isn't anti-Semitic, but more against the Jewish leadership of that time. It's made fairly obvious in the movie there is a line drawn between them and the Jewish people at large.
After the movie Mom insisted on visiting a restaurant there at the mall, so she got a prime rib meal. She's not supposed to have much meat, but I got a salad and kept sneaking some of the meat so she only got about half while thinking she ate the whole thing, LOL. She held up fine through the movie and although weak was able to ride in the front seat of the van both ways, rather than needing the wheel chair lifted in and out. Hopefully this will encourage her to work harder in recovery.
PS - If you go see this movie, think about NOT eating during it. I found that distracting and once the movie started many didn't seem to feel like finishing what they had started. You also don't want to miss any of it having to head to the restroom. It is a very intense movie, and the sensitive should take a few tissues.