shamrock, part of the persecution of the Jewish people over time comes from unscrupulous people giving credence to their killing/slaughter because they killed Jesus. In other words, the Jews killed Jesus, so we can kill Jews. That is of course a ridiculous argument, but many Jews were killed and discriminated against for that very reason. I guess some of the Jewish leaders think that this anti-semitism might gain a renewed fervor after people see the movie. I like to give my fellow man a little more credit than that, however, and I don't think this movie is going to spur any Achtung Juden environment.
The Old Testament scriptures prophesized about Jesus, his sinless life, and his death, and whether the Romans or the Jews did the killing matters not. His death was a part of the plan, he even forgave them all while he was on the cross ("Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do").
I'm looking forward to the movie, and I think it might be one of the top grossers of all time.