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Movieguide's critic is also displeased: "The interesting Christian and moral elements in 21 Grams are undermined by ambiguous humanist elements and plenty of strong foul language, sex, nudity, violence, and drug use."

Josh Hurst (The Rebel Base) did not have high expectations going into Peter Weir's Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. He was in for a surprise. "Like a mighty hurricane, this film will quite simply knock you out. Well-acted, masterfully crafted, and relentlessly effective in its storytelling, [this film] shows us an artist and an entertainer at the top of his game. Throughout the movie, Weir raises important questions about leadership, responsibility, and morality. [He] is never preachy or propagandistic; he simply asks the questions and leaves the audience to ponder and discuss the answers."

Similarly, Denny Wayman (Cinema in Focus) calls it "compelling. Military conflicts often bring out the best and the worst in human beings. The power of this film to present both is worthy of the journey."

P.S. ( Passion Stuff)

Joining the vast armies of critics, religious spokespeople, and moviegoers who have reviewed Mel Gibson's epic film The Passion of the Christ, Jeremy Babka (RazorMouth) tosses his opinion into the ring. He writes, "Virtually everyone 13 and older should see this film, especially because it will be R-rated. Parents of teenagers should take their kids along. Then they should have a good conversation with their kids both immediately after seeing it, and in the days to follow. After all, 'there's power in the blood.'"

Meanwhile, Barbara Nicolosi sums up this week's report that The Passion of the Christ has been screened for the Vatican … and for a horde of movie geeks at a film festival in Texas, the first public screening. She writes about the responses at Church of the Masses.

Next week: At last … a host of raves hail The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. Plus, Tim Burton's Big Fish.

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December (Web-only) 2003, Vol. 47