Hollywood star Mel Gibson has long hoped for banner headlines to accompany his latest directorial work, The Passion, scheduled for release early next year.
His wish is now coming true as the movie, which tells the story of the death of Jesus, is generating headlines both good and bad.
Some Christian groups are hailing the movie as a compelling spiritual work, while others accuse it of straying from the Biblical account and being anti-semitic.
In one article in the New York Times, the Reverend Ted Haggard, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, is quoted as saying: "Mel Gibson is the Michelangelo of this generation."
"Mel's movie is perhaps more descriptive and brutal than other Passion portrayals, but he holds to the facts," Haggard told Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). Haggard's conservative fundamentalist Protestant group was among a handful to get a sneak preview of the film a few weeks ago.
The reverend said he does not see any evidence of anti-semitism in the movie, as alleged by some critics.
One of those critics is theology professor Mary Boys, who goes so far as to say the film could have disastrous effects if the finished version is true to the screenplay, which she obtained along with Catholic and Jewish scholars.
"A film based on this screenplay is potentially deadly," said Boys, of the Union Theological Seminary in New York. She explained that the film's content could fuel Jewish hatred, especially in the Arab world which may trigger violence. The Jews are portrayed as "bloodthirsty, vengeful and money-hungry," she said.
Other critics have suggested that the film is not true to the Bible, giving the example of Roman ruler Pontius Pilate, who orders the crucifixion of Christ, which they say is downplayed in Gibson's film.
Some groups that petitioned to see an advanced screening of the film were denied the chance by Gibson's production company, Icon, which has also accused some of the critics of illegally obtaining the movie script.
Gibson rejected the film's criticisms in an interview with the industry publication Daily Variety. "Neither I, nor my film, are anti-semitic," said the director. He added that the movie stays true to the message of the New Testament and deals with the positive messages of "faith, hope, love and forgiveness".
The staunchly-religious Catholic action star, who is still married to his first wife and has seven children, fulfilled a long-held wish with his latest $25 million (R185 million) project, which he financed with his own money.
In April, he closed a deal in Rome with the film's lead actors, James Caviezel and Monica Bellucci. The movie, which retraces the last hours of the life of Jesus, was filmed in Aramaic and Hebrew.
In the celebrity-rich Los Angeles suburb of Malibu, California, the Hollywood star financed a church in which mass is still conducted in Latin.
Boys says she has received hate mail and e-mails containing anti-semitic slogans since she publicly criticised the film.
Among the complaints received is that she and other theologians are trying to suppress the "truth" about the "evil Jews" and are attempting to discredit the film before it is released.
Haggard, who gives the film his highest praise, said the criticism brings welcome publicity. He believes God had a hand in the public debate, saying: "Mel Gibson could not have hoped for better or cheaper advertising." - Sapa-dpa