The scene of the Crucifixion alternates between showing the Cross of Jesus as part of a wooden framework of various crosses all latticed together, and showing it as a single Cross standing alone against the sky.
Also, archeologists agree that the nails had to have been driven through the wrists, not the palms of the hands.
If you watch the movie on an LCD TV or your computer, you can see the framework in most shots on the edges. Tube TVs cut several inches off every side of the photographed frame of every film or show you watch on them. Notice how, when the Zealots talk about taking revenge for the death of John The Baptist, there's a group shot were, if you watch it on a tube tv, the guy talking on the right side of the screen is kind of out the frame. Apparently Zeffirelli and his DP didn't use a TV safe grid on their camera viewfinders.
shareThe previous poster answered your first complaint well.Now about the nails. The Romans seemed to have had several methods of how to peg individuals to the cross. They grotesquely experimented with varying nail placements to maximize pain and prolong agony. The nails they used were several inches long, square-shafted and about 1/2" square. Much more like stakes or spikes than nails.Actually, just last night I viewed a documentary on the History Channel that explored "the nail placement question" with much detail. Now it seems that scientists and archeologists have realized that the nails could have been driven through the palms.Your average man back then was only 5'1"/110lbs and it has been proven nail-driven palms can individually bear up to 60lbs of weight for total dispersion of 120lbs. They also think that the Romans tied the arms with rope for even more support (as portrayed in this movie). Also they are absolutely certain that Jesus did not carry the entire cross, but the cross beam, which by itself weighed a hefty 100lbs.Seems as though the movie's portrayal of the Crucifixion is very accurate indeed.
share"The Passion" shows more accurately the brutality of the execution of Jesus. The gospels do not dwell on details because their first readers would have known all too well how it really was. Jesus is said to have been flogged, and even limited to forty strokes, that would have torn his back open. Powell's back show hardly any evidence of such a beating. Of courses owing him carrying just the cross-beam was probably more accurate.
shareActually, the documentary on the History Channel explaned that the whole body weight would be totally displaced on each hand. So, for example 110 lbs. on each hand, and so only nails used is impossible. I agree that ropes would help though. Also, I will add that the ancient Languages of that time considered the "hand" as beginning with the wrist.
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