Deinonychus antirrhopus

Haven't seen it, but I do have several questions:

--What's the deal with the crow? Is it supposed to have supernatural implications? It seems an odd inclusion in the film that is supposed to be so "realistic".

--Why is Jesus played by a white guy?

--Why did Gibson not try to place the brutality in context? i.e. the Romans routinely did things like this to criminals (and to whomever they wanted). Jesus did not really receive any special treatment.

Symbolic or not, Nick, the presence of crows at sites of execution is certainly realistic.

The British have made a fetish of the crows at their most historic execution site.

My prediction is that the movie will not lead to anti-semitic acts, but rather to a massive wave of hatred for the Roman Empire.

The crow pecked out the eyes of the thief on Jesus's left, the one who mocked Him. Symbolism of a vengeful God? Nah, not really, or a flock of crows would have mauled the Roman soldiers and the Sanhedrin to timy little pieces.

Actually, if it was supposed to have any symbolism, then it wasn't a very nice symbol, since retaliation against a guy who's already tied to a cross seems fairly petty.

I think I'll go with Sullivan's interpretation -- it was added merely for one more bit of shocking gross-out.

As for why was Jesus portraide by a white guy -- I believe people of the Levant region have varying skin tones. :-P

Yes, oddly enough, most of my fairly wide assortment of Jewish acquaintances are about as white as your average Irishman, but with darker hair and eyes. How dark are they supposed to be?

I took the "mini-me" baby to mean possibly a few different things. Could be one of these or none of them:

1. The Anti-Christ = satan letting Christ know that what He was trying to accomplish would be met with an answer in the form of evil, i.e. the anti-christ. Basically saying I will fight you every step of the way.

2. (The more likely answer) Mocking the familial relationship of the Son and the Father. "Look how your Father treats you. I take care of my son." Of course it could also be a mocking of the madonna and her baby. But since I'm not catholic, I like the think it was the former.

Hope that helps. I don't think I have heard Gibson really say though what it was meant to be.

The crow was to me, a symbol of death, decay,
and the darkness of the hereafter that man was to come to.

The comment about the movie creating hatred for Romans was funny.

I came out of the movie thinking and feeling this way:

The visual overcomes the subtitles.

The overwhelming emotion after the movie isn't hatred,
but an inner peace and belief that people can be forgiven,
even loved despite our weaknesses as human beings.

Anyone not having carefully read at least one of the gospels
probably wouldn't see the movie the same as those who have.

Anyone who has ever been different, been picked on,
who dared to rock the establishment will identify
with analogies of many of the scenes and characters.

Try being RIGHT, GOOD, unyielding in the face of the powerful,
and in sight of the WRONG, the EVIL who will hate you for it,
then be held up by your friends as a leader, a hero,
and you might be bearing that cross, be crucified, too,
living and dying for daring to tell people they are good,
good as anyone else, good as they want to be,
and that they don't have to bow to man or beast,
and that you believe in them as they believe in you.

Letting people see that they can be more than they are,
can be a part of something greater, something worthwhile,
letting them believe the impossible is possible,
that good can resist evil, love overcome hate,
letting them see that life does conquer death,
and all you have to do is have the faith to believe.
What you believe is what you will be, what will be.

i do believe that in one norse myth, there was a tale of a crow that pecked out the eye of Odin. if i recall correctly, his reward was a chance to drink from the fountain or well of wisdom.

the only reference that i remember form the bible about crows is the tale of noah. before sending the dove in search of dry land, noah had sent a crow a few days earlier. the crow did not return.