[Land of the Free 04]

the archbishop quoted the pope not only as saying "it is as it was" but also as calling the movie "incredibile."

So the story is true---yet the liberals whine on and on and on and ....

[OpusatFR]

"Such us-vs.-them religious oneupmanship is more about political partisanship than liturgical debate. Its adherents practice what can only be called spiritual McCarthyism, a witch hunt in which "secularists" are targeted as if they were subversives and those who ostentatiously wrap themselves in God are patriots.'

Stretching that point, buddy. I notice that on the left, the only good ideologues are those ideologues who approve of blasphemy in art. But then again, they aren't termed ideologues by the left. They are visionaries, protesters, AR-TEESTS instead of what they truly are: hateful bigots. The only ones I see wrapping themselves in the Almighty are those on the left who are not imbued in a faith tradition, nor are they religious, but use religion like the flag, as a Clintonian talking point.

I fully expect Kerry, Dean and Edwards to borrow that bloody big Gutenberg Bible from Bill Clinton. Makes a wonderful prop.

[cake_crumb]

Gee...the POPE, enjoying a PASSION PLAY. THAT can't be...he HAS to be a member of the VRWC!

[goldstategop]

A Jewish liberal who defended a painting with dung plastered around the Virgin Mary as "free expression." But a movie that respectfully portrays Jesus' final hours is bigotry and intolerance. And he hasn't even seen the movie! Liberals like Frank Rich can be such hypocrites with the First Amendment.

[tallhappy]

I drove past a local theater complex yesterday and "Passion of Christ" was on the marquee.

I guess it was a sneak preview or something.

[sinkspur]

This is the very reason the Vatican will not comment on what the Pope said, because it would be used by opponents and proponents of a commercial venture.

[kstewskis]

Evil rears its ugly head yet once again.

[apackof2]

Well I will personally do my part to make sure Mel's movie is a blockbuster, first in line to see it and recommend it to everyone I know!

Will love to see the egg on the collective faces of all these godless leftisits when Mel's movie breaks box office records!

[antiRepublicrat]

If I were doing a story on the Rolling Stones, I'd want to get Mick's thumbs-up. If I were doing a story on something deeply held by the Catholic church, I'd also want a thumbs-up by their leader. Add to that the fact that Mel is Catholic and would surely want to know that he's not misrepresenting his faith to the world pretty much seals it for me that the endorsement was a good idea.

[weegee]

John Paul's free plug is being exploited by the Gibson camp to aid the movie star's effort to recoup the $25 million he personally sank into a biblical drama filmed in those crowd-pleasing tongues of Latin and Aramaic.

What? Is it wrong that Mel Gibson had the guts to put his money where his mouth is and finance a project he believed in?

Mel will have NO problem making his money back based on the reviews I've read (including those from the agnostic fanboy talkbackers at Ain't It Cool News).

The movie does not need "endorsement" from the Pope to make money. Approval from the Pope does serve to hold religious scholars/critics at bay who might argue with the accuracy of the presentation. The Pope is not the final authority on all things Christian (at least for protestants) but he has devoted his life to religious teachings.

[weegee]

This clymer should realize that all this talk of The Passion being a film that promotes "antisemitism" will be shown to be hollow when the film is finally seen by the masses. In the mean time he's giving the film a lot of free publicity by generating a "controversy".

With press coverage like this, who needs the Pope's quote for the poster?

[quietolong]

>>>> the movie star's effort to recoup the $25 million he personally sank into a biblical drama <<<<



Female, forty and furious http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1060610/posts

[VOA]

Since I am one of the many curious Jews who have not been invited to press
screenings of "The Passion," I have no first-hand way of knowing whether the film
is benign or toxic and so instead must rely on eyewitnesses.

(engage Joe Pesci voice/attitude emulator)...
"Yo, Frankie! It's nuthin' personal...You didn't get dis-invited because youse are a
"curious" type of Jew, whatever the f--- that means...you didn't get
an invite because youse are an A--hole. OK? Like I said , it's nuthing personal!"
(disengage Joe Pescie voice/attitude emulator).

[VOA]

Mr. Gibson has said he felt that the Holy Ghost was the movie's actual director — Mr. Michelini
says that the successful campaign for the Vatican thumbs up is an example of
divine providence. Jews in show business might have another word for it — chutzpah.

When the "Making of 'The Passion'" documentary is released to show how the
record-breaking movie came to be...
I wish we could see Frank Rich gag when he learns that "The Passion" was helped
along by some decent Jews possessed of discerning intellects.

Besides, it's an open secret that hardly anything done in Hollywood gets made
without the involvement of Jews (observant or not):
An Empire of Their Own : How the Jews Invented Hollywood
by Neal Gabler (Author)

I'll never forget hearing the funny response of a Los Angeles talk-radio host
(of Jewish ethnicity) when a caller mentioned this book:
"Yeah, so what? Of course we Jews made Hollywood!"
(it's just refreshing to hear a bit of honest group/ethnic pride in
these PC times!)

[lonestar]

Email from friends who went to a screening---

Hey friends and family, Last night I attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's movie...12/8/2003, at Ricky Skaggs' church in Hendersonville. There were about 200 people in attendance.

Well,....let me just say that I am speechless, moved beyond words and sobered by what I saw last night. I'm sure many of you will be receiving emails from some of your friends who were there as well...and you'll probably be bombarded with their own personal stories.

The movie was in a rough cut version... but still I thought a very finished state,...special effects had not been added yet, nor was the music complete....still it brought uncontrollable weeping from everyone. I couldn't stop crying through the whole movie. And when the movie was over, there was complete silence in the church. I wanted the story to go on and on...for another two hours.... I think the movie was about 2 hours long. It got started late, like around 7:30, and the next time I looked at my watch it was 10:30... so I actually don't even remember. There was a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself, so who cared what time it was.

Every moment of the movie was captivating,..breathtaking....still, there are no words. The beating and suffering of Christ was almost unbearable to watch. The scenes with flashbacks of Jesus when he was a little boy and a scene of his mother running to comfort him and then cradling him in her arms after he had fallen down about the age of 4 or 5.....was interlaced with scenes of him falling to the ground carrying his own cross, so bloody and unrecognizable...and then her holding him in her arms after he had been taken down from the cross. Her face then stared into the camera while she was holding him...and you could just imagine the things she was thinking. Every parent who was seated near me ... fell apart.

The nails being hammered into his hands was the most real thing I had ever seen. One scene of Jesus and the interaction with his mother...just reminded me of every 20-year old man/child and mom relationship. Where she's trying to get him to come to eat...and has to remind him to wash his hands before eating...she brings water to wash his hands..and after washing, he gently splashes water on his mother..but then wraps his arms around her and kisses her on the cheek....and takes off running to the food.. I don't know..it just reminded me of something my 15 year old would do to me..... And the thought of one of my boys going through that, just made me want to die inside...

There was a question and answer period last night with Mel himself. We had heard rumors that he's been showing up to these screenings. I got brave enough to put my hand up and ask a question about the miracles that we had heard about, on the set. And he began to talk about so many I couldn't really keep track. I remember hearing about one of the actors being hit by lightning twice yet walking away from it..with only smoking fingertips, healings , conversions on the set,..but I especially remember him talking about a Two-year old child's, hearing and sight being restored...and he said..."you know you can't fake that when you're two. So we know it was real."

He was asked about Spiritual warfare on the set...and he just laughingly said..."Oh yeah..just being in Italy alone was enough warfare,..but he said it was intense.

He said that the bad press surrounding the movie..is just a few small pressure groups that are causing all the noise. But seem to have the loudest mouths. And that became the reason for having these small private screenings..is to get the word out and to start a grass roots campaign into a swell. WOW....that sounds familiar. We all get the chance to be Christ's disciples all over again, in a fresh new way...

Ricky Skaggs asked the final question of the night to Mel.....about how we can pray for him, help him, spread the word etc. He said that "prayer was the most powerful thing. And not to pray for all our enemies to have warts grow on their faces, (laughter), but to pray for our warring angels to fight against satan's angels, because the people don't know any better, they are clueless...and they are just being used by satan."

It was mentioned to everyone in the crowd who were artists, press folks, radio..and such..anyone who had a website...to get on a mailing list and sign up. That they would be sending links, so that everyone could put it on their websites,...there would be movie trailers that artists could take on tour with them, show at concerts....any type of promo material on product tables etc.

They passed out a poster flyer last night as we left...and the official website address is

http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com

This is the address they have on all promo materials for the movie.

It was a little easier to see the trailer on this site....as it was equipped for all computers video capabilities. You can go to this website and register to find out more info on how to help. This other site that is listed will just give you more info on press stuff and more press on the miracles that happened.

http://www.passion-movie.com (fan site)

The movie comes out February 25, 2004.. Ash Wednesday...in theaters nationwide. And the movie's official title is "The Passion of the Christ."

Mel said that he spent 35 million of his own money to make this movie.

Mel is a man of the word! He knows the Bible..and is a sold-out believer. He said that this movie has been his passion for the past 12 years....just 3 years ago did the Lord begin to give him landmark signs that now was the time to start filming the movie. He mentioned some of them...but one that stuck in my mind, was him saying that some random little old lady in France I think...came up to him and said something to him that nobody could've known, I don't know what she said to him..but he said the signs to get started on it, were unmistakable.

Ok....well...I know that I am changed...and I pray that what I saw will be etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to never forget the price you paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, or complain....shut my mouth Lord. And help us all to remember,...we are not home yet...that heaven awaits all of us who believe in Him....and that we all have a part to play, a heart to share, a burden to carry...and a story of love and hope to spread....

Thank you for the cross LORD! Make it a point to take your entire family to this movie!!!!