"Passion" Changes Everything

National Review Online ^ | Feb. 25, 2004 | Ralph Winter & Mark Joseph

[Caipirabob]

I'm not so sure. I mean, there's over a billion Christians world wide. Then again, in most cases they don't have available electricity, never mind a movie theatre. Yet, if 1/5 of them see it we're talking about 1.6 billion dollars. Either way it'll be interesting to see what happens.

[Dr.Deth]

It'll be bloody and gory, but it wouldn't be as Satanic as...

[Teacher317]

Hollywood is in for a massive financial shock with this movie, and I will be contributing to that shock.

Ditto that. I'm not all that interested in seeing the film, though. (Subtitles annoy me.) I'd almost rather buy a ticket and go have a pizza.

[hosepipe]

Gibson <<- the most important talent in Hollywood bar none..
Looking forward to Mel Gibson's direction and production OF:
"TREASON" by Ann Coulter....(or even "SLANDER")

This boys got a way of bringing the TRUTH out in a story..
Oh! My God the uproar in the wake of that film..
riots MAYBE EVEN..

[Chris Talk]

I have been to two movies in the last 15 years. Titanic, and one about asteroid hitting the earth.

[Chris Talk]

I had wondered if this movie would come right away to our town of some 20k people or less. I was just over there by our one theater, and sure enough, it already is playing today this afternoon.

[kenth]

Sorry, I caused a misunderstanding. I was just adding to this comment:

Having said all that, there is a guarantee (!) that the media will report that turnout was less than expected.

I can see it now, "The Passion did $100M business on its opening weekend, placing it 2nd for all-time top opening. This was disappointing to many in the industry who were expecting it to be a bigger hit, blah, blah, blah ..."

I only meant that one more attempt to lessen the effect of the movie will be the media trying to say that Mr. Gibson did it only for the money. I didn't mean to sound as if I thought Mr. Winter was saying this.

[reformedcrat]

Oh, dear. No apology necessary. I jumped the gun. My apologies to you, friend.

--Marty

[livius]

Mel has sucked all the oxygen out ot the industry air.

Great way of putting it.

[livius]

I believe it's opening in Spain on April 2. Madrid now has a very orthodox bishop (Cardinal Rouco) and I think the response is going to be different from what it might have been a few years ago. Of course, all the left-wing "intellectuals" and El País, the Spanish equivalent of the New York Times, will shudder with disgust. But I think Spain still has some religious leaders (mostly the newer, more orthodox ones) who will encourage people to stand up to the scorn of the chattering class.

Many of the images in "The Passion" are taken directly from Spanish paintings, and I think it will have a profound impact on Spaniards. And, of course, as you point out, the Filipinos will love it!

[livius]

Go see it. You won't even notice the subtitles, I promise.

[Pahuanui]

"Passion" Changes Everything

The Passion changes nothing. It's a movie. Get over it.

That is all.

[ServesURight]

Actually, what's going to happen now is that Hollywood is going to reluctantly produce some Christian movies that patronizes and condescendingly put down Christian audiences.

Passions is truly a once in a lifetime epic. There'll never be another movie like this for another generation. Hollywood will throw their feces at the wall to see what sticks but Christian audiences won't buy it.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

be sure, everyone, to buy popcorn...for theatre owners, this is where the $$$ is. if you don't buy popcorn, they will take it out of the theatres even if the theatres are full.

I've read several posts with this message. I don't know anything about the theatre business, but I find it strange that a theatre could sell out two or three screens three or four times a day and only make money if enough people buy popcorn. Do they buy the right to show the movie based on the number of tickets they sell? If the theatre is only half full, but everyone buys lots of popcorn and drinks do they make more than they would with a sell out with paltry snack sales?

I just saw the movie this afternoon. I wasn't very early so I had to sit in the second row. I've seen Jim Caviezel do several interviews but I knew nothing about Maia Morgenstern, who plays Mary. She is great. She was in all the scenes where I got choked up. When I left the theater I turned on the radio just when Barbara Simpson (no relation) was interviewing Maia Morgenstern. She is a Rumanian who started in Jewish theatre and went on to become quite popular in that country. She was pregnant with her third child during the filming.

I'll be going to the movie again with my catechism class (9th and 10th graders).

[ConservativeDude]

im thinking that the movie is gonna do ok even if no one buys popcorn...i retract my previous remark.

[Texas2step]

I don't know anything about the theatre business, but I find it strange that a theatre could sell out two or three screens three or four times a day and only make money if enough people buy popcorn.

I know the owner of a local theater. They have to pay 90% of the box office "take" back to the distributor in royalties. If every movie was filled at every showing, they can make money. We know that's not the case, for any movie.

However, we know that won't be the case. The majority of the theater's profits come from the sale of concessions. If the movie goers are not buying concessions, they won't keep that movie very long.

[unspun]

The subject of "The Passion" made the stuff of everything you see around you; and He has promised to change it a great deal.   ;-`

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Thanks for the informative reply. So they have a fixed 10% margin, out of which they must cover all other costs before reaping any profit. Now I understand the $3 drinks and $6 popcorn.

I was too late to stop at the counter myself, but everybody around me was munching and drinking.

[Freedom2specul8]

My kids told me today that one of our local theaters was allowing people to see the movie free last night!