Mel Gibson's controversial film about the last hours of Christ on earth has been denounced by a critic as "the most virulently anti-Semitic movie made since the German propaganda films of the Second World War."

Jami Bernard wrote in the New York Daily News: "No child should see this movie. Even adults are at risk. It is sickening, much more brutal than any Lethal Weapon."

The bloody depiction of Jesus's crucifixion has garnered enough advance publicity to guarantee The Passion of the Christ will be a box office success despite being in Latin and Aramaic with subtitles.

It shows Jesus repeatedly beaten by Jewish temple guards and Roman soldiers, with focus on a lengthy scourging that leaves his body covered with deep lacerations.

Jesus, played by actor James Caviezel, is beaten more as he drags a cross through the streets, and the intensity of the violence escalates when he is crucified.

The film opens in America tomorrow - Ash Wednesday. Churches and religious groups have block booked many cinemas for the event.

Bernard, an award-winning critic, was deeply un-impressed with Mel Gibson's production. She wrote: "The Passion feels like a propaganda tool rather than entertainment for a general audience. Is it anti-Semitic? Yes. Jews are vilified, in ways both little and big, pretty much non-stop."

New Yorker magazine said the film is a "sickening death trip, a grimly un-illuminating procession of treachery, beatings, blood and agony."

The Hollywood Reporter newspaper says that the film contains "near pornographic violence" with Jews depicted as "a bloodthirsty rabble."

Newsweek said the film is "more likely to inspire nightmares than devotion."

Hundreds of New Yorkers saw a preview of the film yesterday - leaving many deeply moved and in tears, but some taken aback by the gory violence.

"I'd give it ten stars. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen in my life," said Maritza Castro, 32, who had tears streaming down her face as she left a screening for church groups.

"I knew from the Bible that he did take a beating. I didn't know how intense," she told the New York Post.

Tom Schoenherr, a law school dean, said he wept during scenes showing Mary's devotion to Jesus, but there were also times he had to avert his eyes from the often-bloody depiction of the last hours of Jesus' life.

"The story is about someone who was murdered in a horrific way. It's not a pretty thing. But it was an accurate portrayal and extremely effective," he said.

Peter Trautmann, 32, a minister from Manhattan, said the film was "excellent, overwhelming. I cried through much of it," he said. "It's a very accurate, powerful, visceral experience."

Several people said they were shocked by the graphic violence and gore.

"I think it's more violent than the biblical texts indicate," said Gene Habecker, 57, president of the Bible Society, which gave away 8,000 tickets for regularly scheduled screenings of the film.

He said he was concerned by what he saw as "gratuitous violence in the movie," but added that the film will help spark religious discussion and exploration.

Episcopalian minister Earl Kooperkamp said, "It was way too Hollywood. The production was too violent and over the top."

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