[jeffo]

Gibson bows to pressure, changes "The Passion"

In a move designed to appease detractors who have labeled his upcoming movie antisemitic, Mel Gibson has made numerous changes to the controversial film.

"I am just sick of the fight," remarked Gibson from his offices late Tuesday night. "The movie was intended to be a very personal statement of my faith, but the controversy has has changed it into something else entirely. I hope that these changes remove the bad feelings but still leaves at its core the message I was trying to convey". The re-shoots were reportedly done in secret last weekend.

Gibson, a Catholic, had come under fire when early viewers of the movie reported that it places the blame for the death of Jesus Christ on Jews, and many fear that the film will inspire hatred or even violence against them. Although the details of the changes to the movie were not confirmed, sources at Gibson's production company give the following details:

• The setting of the movie has been changed from Judea, traditional homeland of the Jewish people, to Saskatchewan, Canada.
• Although Jesus remains of Jewish lineage in the movie, no other Jews appear in the movie. Instead, Jesus' death is sought by a large group of terrorist aliens from another galaxy.
• The horrifyingly graphic scenes of Jesus' crucifixion have been replaced with him being sternly talked to and, in one scene, being made to stand in a corner for several hours. This has resulted in the movie being re-rated as a "G" film.
• In the most shocking change, Jesus no longer dies at the end of the movie. He is instead rescued by a company of Navy Seals who represent each of the world's major religions.

Insiders who have seen the changes have had mixed reactions. Actor James Caviezel was apparently unavailable for re-shoots, and in the new scenes Jesus was played by a much taller man who holds a cape over his face.

The film opens nationwide this Friday.

[bray]

You forgot the other change, Jesus is going to be played by Whoopie Goldburg.

Pray for W and The Salvation of Iraq

[Maximilian]

The re-shoots were reportedly done in secret last weekend.

LOL. This is hilarious. Did you write this yourself?

[My2Cents]

in the new scenes Jesus was played by a much taller man who holds a cape over his face.

LOL...Film has been retitled, "Savior 9 From Outer Space"

[GretchenEE]

Thanks for the update at post #3. This is good news for the theologically squeamish.

[Gorjus]

Instead, Jesus' death is sought by a large group of terrorist aliens from another galaxy.

Whew! You had me goin' there for a minute. But we know the bad guys have to be white Aryan racists (as in the movie version of 'Sum of All Fears'). No way the libs would allow us to insult the no-doubt disadvantaged and persecuted aliens. Why, if Gibson changed to that story line, he might as well not even have bothered.

[TommyDale]

Although Jesus remains of Jewish lineage in the movie, no other Jews appear in the movie. Instead, Jesus' death is sought by a large group of terrorist aliens from another galaxy.

Oh, so now he was crucified by Scientologists?

[Clintons a commie]

Now that was funny!

[Yardstick]

Great post! You had me going for a sec.

He is instead rescued by a company of Navy Seals who represent each of the world's major religions.

That's about right.

[mrustow]

The re-shoots were reportedly done in secret last weekend.

Baloney. No one does re-shoots days before an opening; it's logistically impossible. Not only does the movie have to be re-cut, but the re-cut version must be shipped to every theater playing the movie. Re-shoots must be done weeks, even months before an opening.

[Tennessee_Bob]

What?

No moose?!?!

I am outraged! Incensed!! Angry!!!

Until the moose is represented properly, I will boycott this movie!!!

[kidd]

Funny stuff!

Was the car chase scene removed as well?