I think the only way I will see this movie is on a dodgy DVD from the local bootleg market in Shanghai. Why? I have the feeling it will be banned in China as all religion here is state controlled.

That said I will watch it as I have read an awful lot of comments about it and I want to see whether MG has made (for once) a good movie.

As for the historical accuracy, the gospels were written well after the event and would be based very much on word of mouth and hearsay. So how can there be accuracy? It will be 'accurate' only from the directors point of view (based on his beliefs) plus a bit of pandering to the audience and whatever seems to be in his mind.

As for extreme religious groups of different ilks highjacking the movie to help state their views then this is pretty bad. But there again all fundementalist religious groups are prone to intolerance of any that might differ from them.

Gibson has already said that he has no anti semetic feelings, but some people will believe and infer other meanings in what they see in the movie and get over passionate to the point of obsession.

The historical period in which the movie was set was a violent one. The Romans were quite happy to bloodily put down revolts and use crucifixtion as a method of instilling terror. So why not expect violence to be shown.