'Passion' Opening Draws Massive Crowds

The Associated Press ^ | Thursday, February 26, 2004; 10:20 AM | By ALEXANDRIA SAGE

[mgist]

'Passion' Opening Draws Massive Crowds

By ALEXANDRIA SAGE
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 26, 2004; 10:20 AM

SALT LAKE CITY - The opening of "The Passion of the Christ" drew everyone from conservative churchgoers to confrontational New Yorkers more than willing to roll out their soapboxes as screenings got under way.

But the gore - and in some cases, church rules - kept some Christians away.

In Salt Lake City, curiosity about the film among many Mormons was outweighed by church teachings that discourage viewing R-rated movies.

"I don't think our Lord would want me to see an R-rated film about his son," said 20-year-old Shawn Watts, a Mormon missionary.

Watts said he was intrigued but would need permission from his bishop, since missionaries are not allowed to watch films or television under church protocol. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stresses family values and frowns upon members seeing R-rated films.

Despite concerns about violence and accusations that Mel Gibson's film fuels anti-Semitism, "The Passion" made a bundle on its Ash Wednesday opening.

The movie took in an estimated $15 million to $20 million after just one day of release, remarkable for a religious-themed movie. It opened in more than 3,000 theaters - an unusually large release for a religious film with English subtitles to translate the Latin and Aramaic its characters speak.

Among the legions that saw "The Passion," many streamed out of movie theaters feeling as if they themselves had been through a flogging.

"It sort of felt like you were coming to watch an execution," said Peter Hitchins, whose wife, Amy, wiped away tears as they left a movie theater in Charlotte, N.C.

"It's a little bit more brutal than you would think," said a sobbing Kim Galbreath, 29, in the Dallas suburb of Plano. "I mean, there were times when you felt like it was too much. But I dare anybody not to believe after watching it."

A woman in Wichita, Kan., collapsed during the film's final, bloody crucifixion scene. While people were helping the woman, identified as 57-year-old Peggy Law Scott, the lights were turned on and moviegoers were ushered out. She later died at a hospital. No cause of death was immediately given.

Directed, produced and co-written by Gibson, the film has received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised Gibson's commitment to his subject. Others see it as excessively bloody, obsessed with cruelty and unfair in its portrayal of Jews.

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League who saw "The Passion" before opening day, said he was still worried about reactions to the film when it comes out in places like Argentina and Europe, where there's been less debate about its content.

"We know the power of images, and we know the power of a star with a reputation around the world, and this concerns us," Foxman said.

In New York, famous for its love of raucous debate, members of the New Black Panther Party gathered outside a West Side theater, saying the film's biggest problem is obvious: Jesus wasn't white.

"We call this the greatest story never told," said Divine Allah, a youth minister in the group's Trenton, N.J., chapter, citing a biblical verse that describes Jesus with wooly hair and brown skin.

Even People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sounded off in the Big Apple - but this time, it was in support of the film, which they said underscored the brutality of violence.

"It points out our belief in the unacceptability of violence and how animals suffer the same pain humans do," said Corinne Ferraro, 29, of Hoboken, N.J.

It wasn't theological or moral concerns that kept 77-year-old Pat Curry away from "The Passion."

The Ocean City, N.J. resident had been intending to see the movie but changed her mind after getting some bad news at the doctor's office. She opted for the comedy "Welcome to Mooseport" instead.

"I need a laugh," she said.

 

 

[Rodney King]

"I don't think our Lord would want me to see an R-rated film about his son," said 20-year-old Shawn Watts, a Mormon missionary.

20 year-old Shawn Watts has lost all capacity to think rationaly.

[Rodney King]

"It sort of felt like you were coming to watch an execution,"

Uh, you were.

[Taiwan Bocks]

If you've seen The Passion PLEASE post comments.

These personal comments are so much better than the articles by critics/whiners.

Meanwhile we'll wait for the DVD in Taiwan, sigh...

[dukeman]

Leave it to PETA to try to get in on the action. Sheeeeesh!

[kellynla]

I saw "The Passion" yesterday. It was the most powerful movie I had ever seen in my lifetime. Andy Rooney's("60 Minutes"), on the Don Imus radio show this am, remark that he "wouldn't spend $9 for a few laughs" was blasphemous! The movie is a must see! Semper Fi, Kelly

[over3Owithabrain]

The media is doing their damnedest (literally) to hide the obvious message of this movie. Their hit pieces focus on the false charges against it and highlight negative reaction to it or twist the positive reaction. I've seen it, as did my wife and many of our friends. It is about JESUS and His love for us. And our need for him.

[el_texicano]

He's lost the capacity to "think" at all it appears to me.

[Mycroft Holmes]

I saw it last night with my dear wife. She is a practicing ash wearing Catholic. I am a devout agnostic (not here to argue, thank you). We both loved the film. I found it very moving. The dialog in Aramaic and Latin and Hebrew was perfect, it made me feel as if I were watching something that actually was happening, not a movie. I would pay to see it again, and probably will just to piss off a few liberals and put some money in Mel's pocket for doing a very good and right thing.

This makes my very short list of a few "perfect" films. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Tricorn]

It is simply the most powerful movie I've ever seen. It's not an entertainment, it's an experience. I'm still shaken by it.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"In Salt Lake City, curiosity about the film among many Mormons was outweighed by church teachings that discourage viewing R-rated movies."

Sheesh, I don't patronize R-rated movies either, but there is such a thing as common sense. Where did the R rating come from, maybe Hollywood? They probably would have given it an X if they could . . .

[lady lawyer]

Actually, the Mormon position on R-rated movies is more flexible than some think. The Church recognizes that the ratings system is less and less reliable, and that many PG-13 movies are much more offensive than some R movies. The missionary quoted in the article is just stating accurately that full-time missionaries are very restricted in what they can do during the two years of their mission.

The Passion is playing at lots of theaters here in Utah. I suspect it is doing well. Actually, I logged on to Fandango yesterday and bought two tickets, just to make a statement. My friend and law partner did the same thing. Neither of us went to see the movie, but not because of the R rating. I'm just not sure I can stand to watch the graphic violence, and my friend felt the same.

When my husband got home last night, I asked him if he wanted to go use the tickets I had bought. He said he wants to see the movie, but he's going to have to get himself mentally prepared, first, like he did for Raising Private Ryan.

I imagine that at some point we will both buy a couple more tickets and go see it. In Mormon theology, the unimaginable suffering and atonement was not the physical suffering, but the spiritual suffering Christ endured when he paid the spiritual price for our sins. That is not to denigrate the physical suffering. But I believe it was less agonizing than what he suffered spiritually. That would be impossible to show on film, and from what I understand of Catholic theology, the physical suffering is paramount.

But those theological differences would not keep me away from a movie with the potential to make so many people think about Christ and about their own commitment to Him. The larger point is the important one -- He paid for our sins because of His the the Father's infinite love for us.

I applaud Mel Gibson. It moves me to see someone risk so much to make a sincere expression of his faith. It angers me that people like Andy Rooney, Howard Stern, Maureen Dowd, and others are coming out of the woodwork to slander believers. I think it's a good place to apply the words that sum up the lesson of the Passion: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."

[aegiscg47]

You need to live in Utah to understand that sort of comment. Devout Mormons won't see R rated films at all, but many Mormons do go to them anyway. A few years ago there was a theater in Provo that got in trouble for cutting out swear words from newly released films!

[AFPhys]

I apologize, but I believe it useful to cross link some of these articles:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085936/posts?page=11#11

I've got to run very soon and don't have the time to restate too much of what I've already written about this, but
in the link above, and in later posts there, I discuss:

"... I've got a (weird) friend - a historian whose specialty is pre-Renaissance torture - techniques, results, etc. He
informed me long before this movie ever was a thought that there are many contemporary texts available which
describe the Roman methods of torture and crucifixion. "

Perhaps you may wish to check this out.

[Stewart_B]

I took my 14 year old son to see the movie yesterday. I cant put my finger on exactly how I feel about the movie even today. I was moved by the graphic scenes of Jesus being tortured but there is more to it than that.

The flashbacks to Jesus life during the film, the evil one lurking always in the background, Mary's memories of her son as a little boy and the underlying theme that it was his destiny to die made it an exceptional film.

My son didn't speak at all during the movie and when we left we were quiet for awhile....it really will have an effect on you.

I recommend the movie to anyone who hasn't seen it. I hope Mel makes a bundle off it too.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"members of the New Black Panther Party gathered outside a West Side theater, saying the film's biggest problem is obvious: Jesus wasn't white. "

BTW I don't think anyone is stopping anyone from making a movie with a differently-complexioned Jesus.

Have they heard of the Black Madonna, revered by many, including John Paul II? Maybe she got that way from environmental effects, but no one is shying away from her because of her black visiage.

I have seen the central characters of the Bible reflected in many different ways. Mary herself appears in a way recognizible by the population she is appearing to, such as Our Lady of Guadalupe.

I guess all this richness of Christian expression just doesn't fit into a neat little sound bite.

[lady lawyer]

You're right, some devout Mormons just use the R rating as a filter, and don't go see R rated movies. It's especially helpful when you're raising kids. That way you don't have to screen every single movie yourself to see if you approve. The problem with that is, you still have to screen all the PG-13 movies, because some of them are as sexually explicit as R movies used to be.

But others of us, just as devout, see R rated movies occasionally, depending on the reason for the R rating. The Church's rule is not an absolutely prohibition, but enough people use it as such that it can effect a movie's success.

I few weeks ago I saw a movie that will be released this spring called "Saints and Soldiers." It is a WWII movie that was made by a Mormon production company. It has won about 15 film festivals all over the country and was very well done. Being a war movie, there was some blood, but nothing excessive. For some reason, the MPAA gave the movie an R rating. No one can figure it out. The point is, we realize that the ratings system can be arbitrary, and we don't have to treat the MPAA's pronouncements as scripture.

A really good website is www.kids-in-mind.com. It rates movies on sex and nudity, violence, and profanity, and contains a detailed description of the movie's contents in each category. I usually take a bunch of grandkids to the movie every Friday night, and I use that website all the time to see if I want to take them to a particular movie.

As for the theater in Provo, that was the campus theater at BYU. They had used the airline version of movies for years, but the studios started refusing to sell them the airline version. There are also a couple of businesses here that will edit videos and dvd's for you, or rent the edited versions. I use them. Seabiscuit, for one example, was a wonderful movie. There was that scene with the prostitute, though, that was completely gratuitous. It wasn't in the book, but the director threw it in for some reason. So, I had it cut out, and now I don't have to comment on the scene when my grandkids watch the movie.

[hosepipe]

[ Directed, produced and co-written by Gibson, the film has received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised Gibson's commitment to his subject. Others see it as excessively bloody, obsessed with cruelty and unfair in its portrayal of Jews. ]

NOT unfair in how Jesus was treated but unfair as to how the JEWS! we're treated!.. WHICH JEWS.?.. Jesus, the diciples, the Sanhedrin.. which ones?.. LoL.. ONLY a liberal could come away that assessment... MAN!.. I would call that being brain washed in the extreme.. Maybe Pontius Pilate was also unfairly treated !.. LoL...

AND THESE PEOPLE VOTE TOO... God help us...

[Jaded]

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League who saw "The Passion" before opening day, said he was still worried about reactions to the film when it comes out in places like Argentina and Europe, where there's been less debate about its content.

"We know the power of images, and we know the power of a star with a reputation around the world, and this concerns us," Foxman said.

We know the power of ill-informed stupidity too.

[SpookBrat]

How does your son feel about it today? We can't decide about taking our 13 year old. She's mature and understands why Christ died for her. She is also non-emotional in general. She can watch "Romeo and Juliet" or "Old Yeller" and not bat an eye. (She really is a tender hearted person, she just chokes down tears and won't cry where people can see her).

So what is your opinion on 13 year olds seeing this?