OK, so I’m not a movie critic. In fact, I barely know the difference between cinematography and cinnamon rolls. But I do know that Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” is not just another motion picture.

“The Passion,” rated R for graphic violence, earns that rating a hundred times over. But it’s not about violence.

“The Passion” does not have one word spoken in English during the entire 2 hours and 2 minutes of its showing, yet more of the movie’s dialog has been memorized by people worldwide than any other film to date.

“The Passion” cost Gibson $25 million of his own funds to create, and he claimed on network television he was willing to lose every cent of it to do the work. “The Passion” earned nearly $24 million the first day. It earned $153 million the first week and appears destined to pass “Titanic” as the biggest moneymaker of all time. Yet the film is not about money.

Entire private high schools have attended “The Passion” and used the film as curriculum for days. Countless church congregations have rented movie theaters across the country and gone as one to view the movie. One man used his life savings of $40,000 to make sure every person in his community could attend.

Being familiar with these facts, figures, and previews, I drove to the Neptune Theater Thursday night to see “The Passion,” feeling a little like I was going to the dentist. I guessed I’d probably be better off after going, but I also figured I might be feeling some discomfort along the way.

The coming attractions and the advertisements elicited nervous laughter from the 200 viewers, kind of like we all were waiting for a job interview or a visit to the principal’s office.

Then “The Passion” began with no fanfare. For two intense hours no one stirred, no bathroom breaks, no popcorn munching, only the emotion of the actors and of the story spilling into the audience.

I had planned to write of people’s reaction to “The Passion” in my notepad following the movie with the intent of sharing with Observer readers man-on-the-street comments about a well-hyped blockbuster film.

When “The Passion” was over, no one said a word; 200 people utterly speechless, many dabbing at tear-moistened eyes. Later, there were a few muffled “hello’s” among friends, but my notepad never left my pocket. “Wow” 200 times is the only report I could think to write.

Suddenly it dawned on me that we were all letting each other go first, actually caring for each other. Drivers were patiently letting the elderly cross in front, people were motioning for cars to enter before them, and moviegoers were holding doors open as they gave smiles to their neighbors.

“The Passion” and the story it so gruesomely and tenderly depicts visibly changes people.

“The Passion of the Christ” is more than a movie and I don’t need a notepad to believe that.