In “The Passion of the Christ,” Academy Award-winning director and producer Mel Gibson graphically portrays the last twelve hours of Jesus Christ’s life as depicted in the New Testament. The film stars James Vaviezel (“The Count of Monte Cristo” and “Angel Eyes”) as Jesus Christ, Monica Bellucci (“ The Matrix Reloaded" and “Tears of the Sun”) as Mary Magdalene, and Romanian actress Maia Morgenstern as the Virgin Mary.

A grassroots campaign organized by www.StudentsHavePassion.com is encouraging initiatives on college campuses to trigger intelligent dialogues among America’s intellectual youth on the historical and religious events leading up to the crucifixion of Christ.

Gibson has spent nearly $30 million of his own money to make the movie. The film is based upon the Gospel narratives and contains dialogue only in Latin and Aramaic, the vernacular of ancient Palestine; however, English subtitles have been added. The film is graphically violent, but, according to Gibson, it is a purposeful violence.

“Make no mistake,” says Gibson, “this is violent…but there is no gratuitous violence.”

Gibson’s film is scheduled for release on Feb. 25, which is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the Christian holy season of Lent. Already, theaters across the country are sold out for the film’s opening night.

Movies depicting the life, death and resurrection of Christ have stirred controversy in the past, most notably, Martin Scorcese’s “The Last Temptation of Christ.”

“The Passion of the Christ” gained the attention of the Anti-Defamation League in June 2003, eight months prior to its expected release. Then, in mid-November 2003, the New York Post obtained a stolen copy of a rough-cut of the film, and provided a private screening to a five-person panel, including a rabbi, a priest, a professor of religious and media studies, and a film critic. Both the Anti-Defamation League and the New York Post panel have criticized the film’s portrayal of the Jewish crowd that demands Christ’s death.

But Gibson and his team disagree with that assessment of the movie.

“We’ve done the research,” Gibson says. “I’m telling the story as the Bible tells it. I think the story, as it really happened, speaks for itself. The Gospel is a complete script, and that’s what we’re filming.”

Morgenstern, who is Jewish and plays the Virgin Mary, says, “Despite the blood and the violence, it’s a beautiful film. I believe it brings an important message, a peace message.”

“The film is intended to inspire, not offend. This is a film about faith, hope, love and forgiveness,” adds Gibson.