I saw the "Passion" a couple weeks after it first came out, and I had high expectations. I was hoping, more or less, that because of all the publicity, it would serve as a vehicle to spread the Good News to non-believers, and that may, indeed, be the case. However, to be quite honest, (as we Christians are supposed to be), I really didn't consider it a "great" movie. I felt that there should have been more emphasis on His divinity, and less on His human traits of fear and sadness. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've always felt that He would have been more poised than the average person. He was NOT the average person, and I felt that was not adequately conveyed. When I saw the fear in His face and the tears in His eyes, I felt He was being portrayed in a "less than" Godly fashion. I might be wrong. Oh, well. I've been wrong before.
Regarding accusations of anti-semitism, as stated in previous reviews, "Jesus was Jewish" is just too simple a defense. However, it was the Pharisees, and the Pharisees within the High Council, who considered Him a threat and set Him up for execution. That's just the way it is. To portray it in any other way would be contrary to the teachings of the Bible. (And that's a definite "No, No!"). I hold no ill feelings toward Jewish people today because of something some Jewish people did 2,000 years ago.
I thought most of the actors and actresses did well, but one actor, Hristo Shopov, who portrayed Pontius Pilate, really set himself apart from the rest. The guy was totally and incredibly convincing. I hope Hollywood takes notice, and we see more of his talent in the future.