Malena (2000)

Ever since I first saw The Legend of 1900, I've slowly but surely developed an interest in the films of Giussepe Tornatore. So far, to my knowledge, The Legend of 1900 has been his only English-spoken film. I've since watched two of his Italian films (Cinema Paradiso and Malena) and fallen in love with those films as well. There's something to be said for the way the man weaves a story that just draws you in and transcends the language barrier.

Much like with Tornatore's other films, when watching Malena, I was drawn in and blown away, often times forgetting I was even watching a foreign film (I got so used to the subtitles).

I think, maybe, Tornatore's secret is that he develops his characters so well that you can't help but feel for them. You get drawn in by them, they're all so human, so multi-dimensional... Admittedly I can be overly empathetic at times, but still-- it's hard not to be with such fantastically rich characters.

It was such a beautiful coming-of-age story... ending on such a beautiful note:

I pedaled as fast as I could, as if I were escaping from longing, from innocence, from her. Time has passed I have loved many women. And they've held me close... and asked if I will remember them... I've said, "Yes I will remember you." But the only one I've never forgotten is the one who never asked--

The Passion of the Christ (2004)

I never really understood the negative buzz about this film. The film is just about the last 12 hours in the life of a Jewish carpenter who was put to death because of the radical idea that the world would be a better place if people took the time to be nice to one another.

People say the film is overly violent and brutal... But honestly, crucifiction is quite a bit more brutal than the average root canal. Gibson didn't fictionalize what a crucifiction is like. He thoroughly researched it to make that aspect of the story that much more real.

Because there WAS actually a Jewish carpenter who was put to death by the Romans for the heresy of claiming he was the Son of God. The debate that exists today isn't over his existence. It's over whether or not he actually WAS what he said he was and whether or not he was actually resurrected 3 days after his crucifiction.

Frankly, the fact that a guy who didn't know me, you, or anyone else alive today was willing to be put to death in such a violent and painful manner because he believed he was absolving the world of sin is pretty admirable to me.

The vibe I've gotten from interviews with Mel Gibson about the movie is that he just wanted to show the human side of Jesus and the human side of the story. Previous film versions have significantly toned down the violent nature of crucifictions and in the Bible itself it's just a word. The Bible's description doesn't begin to convey the pain nor the actual (pardon my wording) passion of the act. I think that's what this film is supposed to be capturing.