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Mel Gibson Softens 'The Passion'
NewsMax. ^ | Aug 14, 2003 7:53 am | Carl Limbacher

Posted on 08/14/2003 9:34:50 AM PDT by joobers

Date: Thu Aug 14, 2003 7:53 am Subject: Mel Gibson Softens 'The Passion'

Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003

Mel Gibson Softens 'The Passion'

Director Mel Gibson, under attack from Jewish groups for his movie "The Passion," has "softened the story" and made changes to placate critics, a spokesman says.

Gibson has edited the film to show more "sympathetic" Jewish characters who were not calling for Jesus to be crucified, said Paul Lauer, marketing director for Gibson's Icon Productions.

"We believe we have softened the story compared to the way the Gospel has told it," Religion News Service quotes Lauer as saying.

He mentioned Matthew 27:25, in which the Jewish mob calls for Jesus' blood "to be on us and on our children."

"That's in the Gospel," he said. "It's not in our film."

Religion News Service reported: "In addition, Lauer said the character of Simon of Cyrene, who was forced to carry the cross for Jesus, will be clearly labeled a Jew in the film. A shouting mob will include voices opposing the execution, Lauer said. Faced with vocal Jewish opposition, Gibson is mounting a pre-emptive public relations offensive to counter his critics - all for a film that is still being edited. After regional screenings, Gibson has lingered with his audiences to listen to their advice.

"In an effort to soothe concerns, Gibson is also hoping to launch 'The Jewish Initiative' to recruit Jewish and Christian leaders to discuss the film's effects on Christian-Jewish relations."

Lauer said, "We've gone out of our way to accommodate this process because we felt it was necessary and important, and to show that we care and that we're not callously sitting back saying, `Screw you, we're going to make the film we want to make.'"

The New York Times, a loud critic of the movie without having seen it, in early August quoted Lauer as saying "there is no way on God's green earth" that "dishonorable" critics such as Abraham Foxman, national director of Anti-Defamation League, would be invited to previews.

'Very Concerned About This Feedback'

However, Lauer told CNN last night that Gibson would meet with "eight to 10 significant Jewish leaders over the next 30 days" to "invite their dialogue, their feedback."

"We are very concerned about this feedback, and we are processing that feedback, and we have always planned on inviting this kind of dialogue," he said on "NewsNight with Aaron Brown."

The onslaught has upset Gibson, Lauer said. "It's hurt him a great deal. He has many close Jewish friends. He's worked with Jewish people in his career, in - certainly in the movie industry for 25 years. He's never been accused of any degree of anti-Semitism or hatred or bigotry."


TOPICS: TV/Movies
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1 posted on 08/14/2003 9:34:50 AM PDT by joobers
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To: joobers
Gibson + softens
2 posted on 08/14/2003 9:36:51 AM PDT by dighton (NLC™)
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To: joobers
All the Jews are asking is that he remove the "trial" and "crucifixion" episodes. They are OK with the rest of the movie... Is that SUCH a big deal???
3 posted on 08/14/2003 9:40:19 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: joobers
Want to lose respect really fast? Soften your position based upon the baseless whining of your critics.

If this report is true, Gibson goes down a notch or two in my opinion of him and his work.

4 posted on 08/14/2003 9:41:37 AM PDT by Spiff (Have you committed one random act of thoughtcrime today?)
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To: dighton
Gee Mel, I thought that this project was something that you where "compelled" to do? Something that was to be the most accurate portrait of the passion ever made? I see that the critizism of men has changed that. I wonder if the Bible has something to say about that? I have lost my respect for you, as you have sold out to public opinion, and not held to the scriptual account. It is now just another Hollywood watered down gutted rewritten gospel. Thanks.
5 posted on 08/14/2003 9:45:00 AM PDT by Dudesdad
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To: Onelifetogive
Looks like the anti-Gentiles are making headway.
6 posted on 08/14/2003 9:48:10 AM PDT by steve50
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To: joobers
Why Mel??????
7 posted on 08/14/2003 9:49:11 AM PDT by Digger
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To: joobers
How can we send him a comment about the BIG MISTAKE of softening his movie for a bunch of LOSERS! ??
8 posted on 08/14/2003 9:51:31 AM PDT by steplock (www.FOCUS.GOHOTSPRINGS.com)
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To: steve50
Looks like the anti-Gentiles are making headway.

This kind of anti-genitism makes me sick!

9 posted on 08/14/2003 9:51:56 AM PDT by Onelifetogive
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To: joobers
So you buy the DVD and watch the Director's Cut version.
10 posted on 08/14/2003 9:54:06 AM PDT by Hank Rearden (Dick Gephardt. Before he dicks you.)
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To: joobers
The story is about JEWS KILLING A JEW WHO TRIED TO DEFINE GOD AS LOVING OF ALL HIS CHILDREN. Let guilt fall close to the tree. The story is that of mankind condemning one of their own because what was being said destablized the money trail. Sorry, that's what happened, by all accounts.
11 posted on 08/14/2003 9:54:45 AM PDT by mict42
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To: Onelifetogive
There are Jews defending the movie. Medved comes to mind.

The ones who are objecting -- whether Jewish or not -- are the usual anti-American, anti-God, anti-family malcontents.

12 posted on 08/14/2003 10:01:18 AM PDT by Tribune7
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To: joobers
Im glad Jesus didnt cave in to the ADLs forerunners
The Pharasies and Sadducees who trumped up charges against him as well....
13 posted on 08/14/2003 10:07:51 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: mict42
The Jews bore false witness against Jesus because he told them and showed them that he was is God and the Messiah they had all 'claimed' they were waiting for....

He took their world view and stood it on its head....and proved that they were not the religous authorities they claimed to (be based upon expertise or a holy relationship with God) but were instead bullies and tyrants who exploited the people while claiming to be His representatives...

Not unlike the modern Christian mega churches and mammom preachers of today...imo
14 posted on 08/14/2003 10:11:44 AM PDT by joesnuffy (Moderate Islam Is For Dilettantes)
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To: Dudesdad
I have lost my respect for you, as you have sold out to public opinion, and not held to the scriptual account. It is now just another Hollywood watered down gutted rewritten gospel.

How do you know? You haven't even seen it. At least reserve your judgment for after you've seen the movie, or you're as bad as the rest of the blind critics of this film.

15 posted on 08/14/2003 10:26:14 AM PDT by alnick
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To: joobers
What else is new? The fore runners of the A.D.L. tried to bury the Truth 2,000 years ago, literally; and when the Truth rose from the dead they devised a plot to discredit the Resurrection, (Mathew 28:11). They keep trying to roll the stone back over the Sepulchre, but the truth just keeps finding ways of making itself known inspite of them.

The ADL claims that Gibson's 'Passion' movie will cause harm to Jews. I say they are lying slime balls who use this bogus allegation to suppress the Masterpiece of a great Christian artist, Mel Gibson. ~~~ "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." ~~~ (Luke 12: 2-3)

I'm praying that Mel Gibson sees his Jewish "friends", who are trying to make him whitewash the Scriptural facts, for what they are. Apparently, the only time the truth matters to the A.D.L. and their ilk is when it involves shoving the Jewish holocaust down your throats ad nauseum. This truth they will never 'soften' in deference to anyone's feelings. Any "Passion" movie that receives the 'Seal' of the ADL and not offend any Jews will be a Scripturally whitewashed one, in other words, a waste of time, money, and energy.

Perhaps the A.D.L. can work on editing the Talmud, which says Jesus is boiling in excrement in Hell, (Gitten 57a) and that Christ's mother Mary was a "harlot", (Sanhedrin 106a)

16 posted on 08/14/2003 10:26:21 AM PDT by TheCrusader
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To: joobers
Da*n! Just Da*n!
17 posted on 08/14/2003 10:31:25 AM PDT by It's me
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To: TheCrusader
Interesting, I didn't know that about the Talmud.

Another interesting fact which my mother brought up the other day:

The Jews are waiting for thier Messiah. There were so many prophets trumpeting the coming of the Messiah. Anyone wonder why the prophets stopped after Jesus? Hmmmmm
18 posted on 08/14/2003 10:35:41 AM PDT by It's me
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To: joesnuffy
I think that's what I was saying. God appearing to his people, the Jews, appeared as a Jew. This story as stood the test of time. Man demostrated his animal nature, dressed in the sheeps clothing of the Church.
19 posted on 08/14/2003 10:45:47 AM PDT by mict42
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To: joobers
Mel Gibson is a POS for giving in to the PC Nazis at ADL and other such trash, he is no better than they.
20 posted on 08/14/2003 10:45:55 AM PDT by Ursus arctos horribilis ("It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees!" Emiliano Zapata 1879-1919)
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