It's not called "the greatest story ever told" for nothing. I saw The Passion of the Christ for the first time on Good Friday. The crowded matinee, the scene of a fair share of weeping, foretold this weekend's #1 showing for Mel Gibson's depiction of Christ's crucifixion. This is the film's last hurrah--but only for this run. Like Christ, The Passion will no doubt resurrect itself during future Lenten seasons.

My initial reaction is that I feel as though I've been lied to. Was there violence? Yes. Was it a two-hour gore-fest without a storyline? No.

First, Maia Morgenstern's Mary is incredibly powerful. The state of shock and horror indelibly etched on her face was more difficult to take then the terrible violence. Gibson's juxtaposition of Mary's motherly reaction to a childhood fall by Jesus with her reaction to Jesus falling beneath the weight of the cross is the most emotionally gripping scene in the history of film.

Besides Christ himself, Pontius Pilate is the film's most interesting character. He is perhaps the world's first postmodernist ("Quid est veritas?"). Worse than this, he is a politician. He sees no cause to execute Jesus, yet he gives it his stamp of approval. He is the only one with the power to crucify Christ, but he finds ways to absolve himself. Unlike the mob, Pilate knows he does wrong and does it anyway.

The twelve hours before Christ's death contain violence, betrayal, love, redemption, and other ingredients for a blockbuster movie. It is not at all surprising to me that The Passion of the Christ will become the largest grossing film ever.

Why did the critics and the studios so misjudge this movie? We were told the film would inspire hate crimes, vandalism at synagogues, and perhaps a twenty-first century pogrom. It didn't. Instead, we witnessed a resurgence in religious interest and criminals turning themselves in because of the film.

The studios and critics don't get this movie because they don't get Jesus Christ. Because we sin, he suffered. The Romans and Jews who scourged, beat, tortured, and crucified Jesus Christ were merely the physical agents inflicting the punishment that all of mankind issued to Christ. When you realize that your sin caused Christ's burden, and not some drunken centurion or self-righteous high priest, this inspires goodness. If you don't get this, you won't get the film.

Gibson has probably launched a few artistic trends. The Nordic Jesus that we're used to may be gone for good. The Devil of our imagination no longer sports a goatee, red skin, horns, and tail. Satan's new physical manifestation resembles a male dancer for Britney Spears or a member of the Heaven's Gate cult--and this androgynous Lucifer is a lot scarier than the old Devil. Most importantly, The Passion changes the film industry forever. For too long, Hollywood has made movies catering to the tastes of people in Hollywood. Most theater-goers, however, live elsewhere. Gibson made a movie that Tinseltown hated, but the rest of the world embraced. Which approach do you think sells more tickets? Either Hollywood adapts to the new reality of the market, or Gibson makes a Hollywood outside of Hollywood. Either way, audiences win.

Both Gibson and Christ saved the best for last. Following Jesus' death on the cross, the film goes dark momentarily--the world goes dark momentarily. As Jesus rises, his tomb opens and the light returns. The Light has remained ever since.