THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST ROCKS ALL!!!
It owns the genre!!
Well, that's a matter of opinion. I was moved by The Passion but I was, and remain, far MORE moved by JCS/1973, which has twice now been a rejuvenator of my faith during some of the darkest days of my life. How can anyone not get chills up their spine as the triumphant, first notes of the title song ring out, and the bloodied, ragged Ted Neeley-as-Christ is suddenly glorified? Ted Neeley's performance as a tragic, conflicted, and believable Jesus is, in my opinion, far more powerful than Caviezel's. JCS is soaring, imaginative, heartbreaking, artistic. But to each their own. JCS was largely responsible for the "Jesus movement" of the early 70's, and perhaps, if there's such a movement now, The Passion can claim responsibility. Both have their merits, and flaws. But, I maintain that JCS was the better movie.