This film wastes no time in getting to the crux (oddly enough a word which means cross) of its subject, the last twelve hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is captured by Roman soldiers in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he has gone to pray with his disciples after what came to be known as the Last Supper. In these early scenes we are introduced to Satan, who is presented in a human form and taunts Jesus with the admonition that he alone can not save all men. Satan seems an apparition, who tends to float through the film at various times. Portrayed by Italian actress Rosalinda Celantano, Satan is an androgynous figure that clearly looks like a woman but speaks with the voice of a man. Mel Gibson, the director says, "Evil is alluring, attractive. It looks good, almost normal, and yet not quite. That is what I tried to do with the Devil in the film. That’s what evil is about: taking something good and twisting it a little bit."

The focus of the film is on the trial, sentence, torture and execution of Jesus. Although only a small number of people die in the film, you feel as if you’ve sat through the massive destruction of lives in both the "Matrix" and the "Lord of the Rings" trilogies combined. You know you are in for it when a metal tipped "cat o’ nine tails" is shown to rip wood from a table and is then used to beat Jesus. It lacerates the skin, causing excruciating pain and considerable blood loss. Caviezel delivers a wrenching performance and allows us to feel some of the agony that Jesus felt in a very personal way.

From the moment Judas (Luca Lionello) receives 30 coins for his betrayal of Christ, he is a haunted man. It can be assumed that most know the story of the crucifixion. Jesus is aware that his death will come soon. His enemies are powerful and numerous. Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Palestine lets the chants of the crowd, which includes Jews, determine the fate of Jesus. The Roman soldiers beat Jesus relentlessly as he struggles with the cross, through the crowded streets, toward his fate. The flaying of Jesus’ flesh, as he is tortured early on in the film, serves as a bitter precursor to his being nailed to the cross. According to this account, not until just before his death was there any glimmer of compassion shown for Jesus and it was far too little way too late.

Mary (Maia Morgenstern), the mother of Jesus, and Mary Magdalene (Monica Bellucci of "The Matrix") wear stern, tormented expressions as it becomes clear that he will be convicted and crucified. While sexy actresses like Charlize Theron ("Monster") and Naomi Watts ("21 Grams") make themselves look unattractive in gritty roles, they don’t touch Bellucci, who has also done down and dirty parts in "Tears of the Sun," "Malena" and "Irreversible."

Jim Caviezel ("The Count of Monte Cristo") is effective in his role as Jesus. Whether during his last agonizing twelve hours or in the flashbacks to more peaceful times, he speaks with dignity in all situations.

I don’t think that the film is anti-Semitic. While there are both Jews and Romans shown who help Jesus, there are Jews and Romans in power that could have saved him. Some have tried to make this film the "Birth of A Nation" for the 21^st century, with the focus of hate directed toward Jews rather than blacks and I don’t see any comparison in such a conclusion.

Jesus was going to die because his mission on earth was to absolve man of all his sins. Perhaps somewhere along the line, peace would reign. The world may indeed be relatively more peaceful, but we still have a way to go. Possibly the best place to begin is in practicing what you preach, and as Rev. Festus Umeojiego of Unity Church on the North Shore leads his congregation in saying, "Let peace begin with me." Jesus is indeed "The Good Shepherd."