The Passion of the Christ

After months of hype and controversy, Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ opens across the UK today - and

Starring Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci, The Passion tracks the last 12 hours of Jesus of Nazareth's life. Containing scenes of graphic violence described by one writer as "sado-masochism disguised as religion", the film has polarised critics and cinema-goers alike.

Despite, or maybe because of, the huge arguments surrounding the Passion, it has been an enormous success: becoming the highest grossing independent film ever in the US, with a running box office total of $273 million.

So, overblown theatre of cruelty that could incite racial tension, or epic work of religious genius? We've put together the essential Passion of the Christ package so you can be 100 per cent genned up on the film event of the spring.