Mel Gibson Screens Religious Movie In Colorado

The Denver Channel.com ^ | 6/27/03 | staff

[HairOfTheDog]

but subtitles were in place during Thursday's showing.

That is hopeful... I have heard in other articles there wouldn't be any subtitles.... That was a real head scratcher for me, and my only worry about the marketability of film.

[DPB101]

Internationally. In 1995, before I was on the net, I went to this small newstand in Guilford, CT to buy the American Spectator. The owner was oriental and spoke almost no English. One day she thrust a paper at me, said, "good people, you like..they send mail". Turned out to be Focus on the Family.

[Ciexyz]

How much impact do they have among Protestants?

An endorsement by The National Evangelical Association will bring the Assemblies of God and other evangelical Christian groups on board to see the film. Focus on the Family has a radio show that is widely listened to by born-again Christians. For instance, if you're the type of person who would wear a T-shirt saying "Jesus Saves", then you probably listen to Christian radio and TV and will be open to hearing a story about Gibson's movie.

In other words, this was a VERY smart move by Mr. Gibson, because the above-named organizations will give positive feedback on the movie that will energize their home base to see the film.

[Ciexyz]

Anybody have some pics to post of Jim Caviezel as Jesus?

I saw him on an interview on EWTN and he looked like he'd make a fantastic Jesus: beautiful features, long dark eyelashes, soft, expressive eyes, gentle but masculine voice. Thought he was great in "Count of Monte Cristo" too.

He also has the correct initials: JC -- hehehe.

[DPB101]

Thank you. Those outside really need the type of scorecard you have provided. Until people on this forum set me straight, I thought the National Council of Bishops (or whatever it is called) spoke for the Vatican and American Catholics.

[kstewskis]

I know a Jewish guy who married a Catholic woman. He is 70 now and still tells everyone how difficult it was...

You could be talking about my grandparents! (except if they were still alive, they'd be in their 90's). I'm sure it was a bit difficult for your friend, as well as my grandfather who brought home a "shiksa" (apologies if I destroyed the spelling of that word) for Mom to meet!

We are all in the business of Salvation through God, together. The more we heed His advice of "Love one another," the better off we'll all be.

...btw, thanks for the google tip! ;o)

[kstewskis]

He also has the correct initials: JC -- hehehe

He was also age...33...when he filmed the movie-- :D

[opus86]

I think having the endorsement of FOF and the National Evanagelical Assoc. will help promote the film among Protestants.

[iowaboy]

I don't know much about Haggard, but Focus on the Family is very highly respected as far as I'm concerned.

[DPB101]

Mel has been subjected to a level of criticism and character assassination usually reserved for conservative Supreme Court nominees.

LOL!...you better copyright that line today because every conservative pundit is going to be stealing it.

[CyberAnt]

"agnostics and Muslims ... converting to Christianity"

No wonder the attacks were so vicious. This is going to be a very powerful film.

Anybody ... is there anyone on FR who knows who to contact to distribute a film. Perhaps a little FReeping is in order. The best way is to ask them if they are distributing the film - when is it going to be released. If we sound like we are anxious to see the film, it might encourage someone to distribute the film.

[DPB101]

Yup...sounds like a perfect cause to me.Won't take much either.

There are plenty of state representatives and state attorney generals who want good publicity. What better for an elected official in, say Utah or Alabama, than to demand an investigation into why a film his or her constituents want cannot find a distributor?

[CyberAnt]

Do you know any film distributors ...??

[DPB101]

Hear Ann Coulter got a 7 figure advance on her latest book. Perhaps we should ask her to get into the business. Wouldn't that piss the Hollywood girly-boy's club off?

[bets]

Maybe check w/who distributed the recent Christian movie "Joshua." (the movies website lists Epiphany Films, studio as Artisan Entertainment)

[CyberAnt]

Thanks, I'll start there!

[DoughtyOne]

I've commented on Gibson's efforts elsewhere on this forum.  So here I'll just address two things.

"I'm not a preacher, and I'm not a pastor," Gibson said Thursday. "But I really feel my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelize."

If the pre-release buzz on this movie, instigated mostly by it's detractors, is any indication, nobody will be able to stop this film from evangelizing.  The Holy Spirit probably was working on Gibson, and I'd just suspect the Holy Spirit has been working on those contemplating going to see it as well.  I don't think the Holy Spirit will stop working on people after they've seen it either.

When I go see a big sci-fi flick like Close Encounters, Star Wars, Star Trek, etc, I never observe an offering in this genre without thinking that the one true Conflict of the Ages has never been depicted using today's cinema magic.  Now there's a flick I could sink my teeth into.

One more thing came to mind as I considered this topic and what might result from renewed emphasis on religion in this nation.

Many faiths have somewhat lost their ways over the years.  What with the likes of Bill and Hillary Clinton and other "what seem to be in name only religious observers", attending churches these days, it is of concern to me which way an awakening could lead the transformation.

When pseudo Christians get a fire in the belly, they are capable of doing some pretty devastating things in the name of religion.  I just suspect the same folks who have denigrated this nation almost beyond recognition would be some of the same people leading out in the revival.  I shudder to contemplate the results.

That could have an impact of truly Biblical proportions.