Moved to tears; quiet tears that rolled down my face for most of the duration of the movie. I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I did not see anything in the movie that shocked me, as I knew the story well. The Bible tells us he was beaten beyond recognition. This movie just shows it more intensely than other films in the past.
I was moved by the portrayal of Mary's stoic bearing of the events. This, I believe was because she knew that this was God's will. Not the doings of man, any group, or race of people. God's plan from the beginning, He was born to die.
Because I believe this, I never felt anger towards anyone during the events of the movie... except perhaps God. Truth. I actually felt anger towards God for turning away from the cries of His Son, in such a time of need.
The crowds? They were influenced by the religious leaders, who were acting against someone they believed to be a heretic, but a popular one. Jesus had shown the potential to undermine the laws and teaching they enforced, He was a threat that they felt they had to get rid of, for the good of the people. They too were reacting just as God had planned for them to act. Were they any different than every other civilization of people? How many times throughout history has a religion, a government or a group of people done seemingly immoral things to squelch what they felt was a potential threat or rebellion? Done for the good of the people, or even in the name of God?
As for those performing the scourging, I think that every society has these people who can perform such acts, and actually enjoy them, excusing them as justifiable under the guise that it is their vocation. The better scourging they could deliver, the better they were at their jobs.
Judas? I have never held the betrayal of Jesus against him. At the Last Supper Jesus spoke to Judas saying "What you must do, do quickly." Again, part of the plan. Oh, Judas had his reasons, were they to "force Jesus hand" into action and rebellion? Was it because Jesus had let him down, not being willing to fight against the Roman oppression? Call me naive, but I believe God called the shots here too.
Satan: I think I could have done without. (can't we all) I was thinking that this was an unnecessary part of the script ~ too bizarre for me ~ and too disturbing ~ but then I realized that he was there, tempting Jesus to the end. So I'll allow it.
So, Mel Gibson used some "poetic license" ~ don't all filmmakers? He combined the story of the passion as one story, but he took references from all four Gospels. HORRORS! Doesn't every priest or minister do the same when preparing a sermon? Aren't we to read everything we can, then put it all together to make our own judgements?
Do some people take the events of this movie and turn them into anger or hatred against people? Perhaps they do, but for my part, I can not see how or why. Then again there are still people who watch a movie portrayal of the Civil War and take up new anger against the North ~ or the South. If this is done, it is not a fault of the filmmaker; it is a fault of small-minded, angry people who are already looking for reasons to hate. I went to see this movie looking for a reason to love, and I found it.

Most years I make it a part of my lenten preparation to attend a passion play, watch a movie portraying the events of Holy week, or work through a lenten Bible study. This year I saw The Passion of the Christ. It will stay with me.