By Bill Raack, Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis – Movie theaters in the St. Louis area were packed Wednesday as residents sold out early showings of the film "The Passion of the Christ."
The much-publicized and controversial movie opened across the country. At the Galleria Theater in Richmond Heights, reaction to the film was mostly positive. John Carpenter of Collinsville enjoyed it.
"I thought the film captured the essence of the what the Christian faith is about, not only from a catholic but a protestant viewpoint," Carpenter said.
But some viewers, like Caroline Beaudet of St. Louis, disagreed.
"Extraordinarily graphic and no plot basically," Beaudet said. "It's a great work of fiction; it's what it is."
Most of those we spoke with after this showing commented on the emotional impact of the film's version of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.