Most children watching the film will be from religious families and will already know the story, he said. And with each new layer, there is another layer of meaning provided so the violence is understood.'

'The violence is set in a very specific context,' Johnston said.

'It's absolutely, you know, it's hard to watch.'īut Johnston contends that even young children will see that the movie begins with Jesus praying and contemplating, and will understand that he is in a struggle between good and evil. In an exclusive interview with ABCNEWS' Diane Sawyer, director Gibson said he had no issue with the film's 'R' rating, which means children under 17 will not be admitted without an adult. Some of the more graphic parts of the film include a scene in which Roman guards strike Jesus with cat-o'-nine-tails, ripping the flesh from his back, and another in which a Roman soldier pierces Jesus' side with a lance to see if he is dead, prompting blood to shower down on the guard. Some parents are pledging to take even very young children.īut critics of those plans say the R-rated film's unrelenting violence is too disturbing for children to see. 25 opening, churches have booked hundreds of theaters, with plans to bus in church youth groups to see the film. Some church leaders believe the depiction of Christ's final 12 hours and crucifixion will help give children a fuller understanding of Jesus and the Gospel. 19, 2004 - Mel Gibson's controversial new movie The Passion of the Christ has created a debate between those who see the depiction of Jesus' final hours as a religious lesson and those who view it as graphic violence that will only scare children.

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