Today I joined a preview of 'The Passion of the Christ' for Christian leaders in the Cinemec in Ede. An invitation-only preview like this has some advantages: no commercials, no break halfway the crucifixion, no popcorn.
Of course everyone was deeply moved. It's an intensely dramatic and violent movie, and at the same time a great artistic expression of the heart of the gospel: Jesus Christ who gave his life to reconcile us with God. Personally I liked it more than the 'softer' Jesus movies I've seen. Well-known phrases from the prophets suddenly became vividly real... "He was wounded for our transgressions; He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was on Him; and with His stripes we ourselves are healed." (Isaiah 53,5)

The scenes that touched me most were Jesus crushing the snake's head, Peter denying Jesus, Mary running to Jesus when he falls face down, the crucifixion itself and the tear out of Heaven that caused the earthquake.
Having seen the movie, I wonder why so much 'political' discussion has been going on about it. More than other Jesus movies 'The Passion' closely follows the gospel accounts. There's no trace of antisemitism (or the gospels would have to be antisemitic) and it's clear that the underlying forces that came against Jesus were demons of religion, intimidation and death (in fact Satan himself), working largely through the religious establishment of his time.
So I'm not really bothered... well, maybe about the eagerness of Evangelicals to 'use' the movie for evangelism. I don't think 'The Passion' needs that. In terms of artistic quality it's much better than the Evangelical movies produced so far, and God's Spirit will convince people. There's no reason to 'jump' on it and claim it.
Perhaps an appropriate, low-key way to reach out would be to start 'Passion meals' or 'Passion groups' for people who have seen the movie (or want to see it as a group) and wish to process it with others. If they want to discover more about Jesus, Alpha could be a next step. But after that it gets a bit complicated. The radical sacrificial lifestyle of Jesus as expressed in the movie is way beyond where most Evangelical churches are heading.
May God use 'The Passion' to help us refocus on the cross and it's radical meaning. If we look at the cross, there is no room for trivial things like petty programs and divisions, or lookalike nails on a cord.