'Passion' patrons nearly speechless after screening (The Passion of the Christ)

Atlanta Journal Constitution ^ | 02/25/04 | By DON FERNANDEZ

[miltonim]

Eyes swollen, wide and weeping, the patrons depart theater 2 at the Regal Mall of Georgia 20, near speechless.

When words finally come, they are staccato. But even without an utterance, reaction is easy to gauge: awe.

"I think . . . it says more than my words could say," said Glenda Simpson, of Gainesville, who had to pause for tears. "What little things we go through compared to what he went through."

The public debut of "The Passion of the Christ" Wednesday packed movie houses. Viewers appeared stunned and moved by what they witnessed.

Directed by Mel Gibson, the movie is a relentless and brutal account of the final 12 hours in the life of Jesus Christ. The film spares no viewer as it details his torture and crucifixion.

Tammy Whitley of Sugar Hill took the morning off to watch the film with her husband, Mitch. The pre-release hubbub concerning the film's level of violence wasn't enough to prepare her.

"You go in with expectations but when you're watching the emotions are overwhelming," she said.

The theater was presenting 16 different screenings of the film Wednesday. Tuesday evening, 2,500 people showed up for an early showing.

No children were present at Wednesday's 11 a.m. screening and many parents pondered what age they would permit their children to see the film.

"I would wait until they were a teenager," Whitley said.

The most challenging moment for many was watching as stakes were driven through Christ's palms.

Peggy and Wayne Oliver of Hoschton were walking through the mall for a little daily exercise when they decided to buy two tickets on a whim.

Both had heard about the film but neither were ready for the level of realism.

"Just awe . . . just in awe," she said. "It made it more real than reading the Bible or history."

Wayne Oliver's opinion was succinct.

"Everybody should see it," he said.

[RetiredArmy]

My wife and I never go to movie theaters. We may break the mold for this one.

[sam_paine]

Be careful. If your demographic goes to see this movie it might encourage other such movies to be made by Holloywood instead of "Lethal Transvestite Action" and the like!

[smith288]

The most challenging moment for many was watching as stakes were driven through Christ's palms.

Im a devout Christian but I just don't see how this is possible (ripping tendons and such). My thoughts were that his wrists were nailed...

[danneskjold]

the wrists were bound as well as spikes being driven through the palms...

[tallhappy]

"What little things we go through compared to what he went through."

Not all that long ago newspapers would have written:

"What little things we go through compared to what He went through."

[freedom44]

ping

[newgeezer]

Problem is, if Gibson were to use the archaeologically- and pathologically-accurate method of nailing through the wrists, he'd be flying in the face of centuries of traditional Roman Catholic beliefs regarding stigmatics and stigmata.

[Digger]

My wife and I never go to movie theaters. We may break the mold for this one.

My wife & I will be in a theatre for this first time in 13 yrs plus. BTW we haven't missed much entertainment in those yrs.

[ConservativeDude]

Do go. You will be deeply moved.

[Chummy]

You may wish to study crucifixion as a means of execution as did one of our classes in religion back in HS in the 70s; the Romans had defined this to a science, and knew exactly where to drive the nail to hit a particular nerve so as to inflict as much pain as possible.

[Chris Talk]

Crucifixion ain't no fiction!

[Dead Dog]

From what I understand, the Romans always nailed through the writst. That the hand's things are a product of a couple of French girls stigmata. I could be wrong.

personally, having the nails through my wrists would be much more frightening than through my hands.

[RetiredArmy]

We probably will. Normally we wait till they come out on DVD so we can at least get some review of them first. I am totally sick and tired of going to movies to watch some slut fall into bed and make out with some dude and they call that movies. The "dirtiest" sex scene I ever saw in a John Wayne movie was him kissing Pat O'Neil or some other female co-star in a quick kiss. All their clothes stayed on and they did not drop off into bed. I am sick of it. I want to be entertained to the point that I am excited, amused, happy, thrilled, educated, etc. by a movie. If I want to see someone naked, I'll go look in the mirrow (which ain't a pretty sight at age 53)!!!

[Dead Dog]

except they knew how to spell 'wrists"

[ErnBatavia]

My wife and I never go to movie theaters.

Neither do we...but today, wifey went to see it after Ash Wednesday service. She called me at work around one and quietly told me she was home....she sounded like she'd really taken a journey.

[Fury]

Problem is, if Gibson were to use the archaeologically- and pathologically-accurate method of nailing through the wrists, he'd be flying in the face of centuries of traditional Roman Catholic beliefs regarding stigmatics and stigmata.

Doesn't Scripture mention the hands? I believe in the Greek, some words for hand included the wrist.

[Defiant]

If the stigmatics didn't know that the nails went through the wrist, and thought they went through the hand, would that make the phenomena less genuine?

[rudypoot]

When a movie makes people have "Eyes swollen, wide and weeping" and "near speechless" while saying, "Everybody should see it" then you have to conclude that this might be a good movie. But a member of the oscar academy said he wouldn't vote for it (saw him on foxnews). I wonder what was the last movie that had this kind of effect on those that viewed it. Where they "Oscar" material?

[newgeezer]

Doesn't Scripture mention the hands?

Of course.

I believe in the Greek, some words for hand included the wrist.

I wouldn't be surprised.