'Passion' critics retract reviews

Washington Times ^ | 2/27/04 | Julia Duin

[kattracks]

Early detractors of Mel Gibson's hit film, "The Passion of the Christ," are backing away from their critical remarks after the movie grossed a record-setting $26.6 million on its opening day.

"The Passion," which opened Wednesday on 4,643 screens at 3,006 theaters, set a record for the biggest opening day for a movie released outside the summer (May-August) and winter holiday months (November-December).

[Qwinn]

Heheheh, oh don't worry, I'm one of those masochists who will actually go on leftie websites and set them straight. Drives 'em right up the wall, it does. You can feel them -dying- to censor me, and in one case, I was - I had all my personal information published on an open forum. The hypocrisy is mind-boggling.

Qwinn

[MeekOneGOP]

John Kerry ?? ...

What an embezzle !
What an Ultra-Maroon !

[MeekOneGOP]

ping!

[MEG33]

I looked at your page.Oh,my..I can't teach you a thing about the evil of communism! I believe we have a man,Kerry, running for President and his wife that could be listed at least as useful idiots of communism.

[Future Snake Eater]

How ironic! Hollywood producers, once under attack by anti-Communists, now turn on their own.

It's especially cannibalistic that they're turning on Mel Gibson. How much money has he made for those people things? Goes to show you how much loyalty there is in that place.

[Qwinn]

Oh, I honestly think Kerry is beyond useful idiot. I think he's an open collaborator. The VVAW marched under the Viet Cong flag, ferchrissakes - what more does it take for someone to graduate out of useful idiot status and into "this man is a communist"? I would say he -used- to be communist, but I haven't seen a SINGLE thing out of him in the last 20 years to make me believe that. Not one.

Thank God I consider him completely, utterly unelectable. He'll never win. If he does, it will only be a result of a voter fraud so staggering that I believe it will be easily detected, and if it is, it may actually require taking up arms.

Qwinn

[Just mythoughts]

Oh they know Mel will forgive them, they can do and say anything and they know that "Christians" are required to forgive.

Some call it turn the other cheek, forgive them for they know not what they do.

There is one little thing that gets left out repentance!

[Fledermaus]

Even Democratic front-runner John Kerry weighed in during a visit to Los Angeles yesterday, telling reporters that the movie could be anti-Semitic.

"I am concerned," Mr. Kerry, a Catholic, told reporters. "I don't know if it's there or not, but there's a lot of it around now. I think we have to be careful."

Who the F'ing Kerry cares what he thinks? That's the ticket to winning the Presidency...yap about a movie! What a moron!

And his statement has got to be the lamest thing I've ever read. I mean, COME ON..."there's a lot of it around now"? Oh really Mr. Kerry? Happy you noticed you idiot.

[ODDITHER]

And the Hollywierdos were in shock. Having insulated themselves from reality for as many years as they have been a success, the just assume that the other 99.0 percent of America are either anti-Christian, prohomosexual activists or are on drugs and having affairs. What they were really in shock over is that a low budget religist film that Hollywood predicted not long ago would be a giant flop if it got released at all.

[RightOnline]

" "I am concerned," Mr. Kerry, a Catholic, told reporters. "I don't know if it's there or not, but there's a lot of it around now. I think we have to be careful.""

Ohfercryinoutloud, Kerry, ya sap. How about "Haven't seen it; can't comment until I do." That would have done it, ya d*ck.

....and this guy wants to be President of the United States, folks. Think about it.

[Tempest]

The Kerry line at the end is the funniest. Once again he takes a strong non-positional stand on the issue.

Ahhhh the tides are turning?! I don't know. But after watching the MOVIE tonight, I realize that I should traet those whom I don't like with more love.

[doosee]

When is the Disney crowd going to realize that their park attendance and movie attendance would go up if they started to reflect Christian values like they used to.

[Varda]

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) retracted critical remarks made about the film last April by its ecumenical and interreligious committee, which suggested that the film might be anti-Semitic.
    
This is misleading. Actually the USCCB retrated those remarks long ago

"Bishops Apologize to Mel Gibson Over The Passion"
National Catholic Register
June 22-28, 2003

A group of scholars reportedly affiliated with the Anti-Defamation League claimed to also be affiliated with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. After spiriting away an early version of the film's script, they called it potentially anti-Semitic....

The Register obtained a June 9 letter from Mark Chopko, general counsel for the bishops' conference,which stated, "We regret that this situation has occurred and offer our apologies. I have further advised the scholars group that this draft screenplay is not considered to be representative of the film and should not be the subject of further public comment. When the film is released, the [bishops' conference] will review it."

What the Bishops issued is not a retraction but simply the promised review.

[diotima]

Ouch.

[Aquinasfan]

In remarks released Wednesday on Catholic News Service, three staff members of the USCCB's Office for Film and Broadcasting said the film might be overly violent but not anti-Semitic. "Concerning the issue of anti-Semitism, the Jewish people are at no time blamed collectively for Jesus' death," said a review by Gerri Pare, David DiCerto and Anne Navarro. "Rather, Christ freely embraces his destiny." The reviewers went on to call the movie "an artistic achievement in terms of its textured cinematography, haunting atmospherics, lyrical editing, detailed production and soulful score."

That's good. Now I think it's time for them to seek employment elsewhere.

Even Democratic front-runner John Kerry weighed in during a visit to Los Angeles yesterday, telling reporters that the movie could be anti-Semitic. "I am concerned," Mr. Kerry, a Catholic, told reporters. "I don't know if it's there or not, but there's a lot of it around now. I think we have to be careful."

What an asinine comment.

[Aquinasfan]

yet any one of us here on FR could have told 'em a year ago what a huge hit Gibson had.

Yes. Last year when Mel was talking about releasing the movie without subtitles, I predicted that this would be one of the top ten grossing movies of all time. Right now, it looks like the gross will be much higher.

But more importantly, how many souls will be "grossed"? And how will this film reshape our culture?

[SuziQ]

And how will this film reshape our culture?

That is precisely why the film has been so roundly criticized by liberals in general, and Hollywierd in particular. They are scared of a "Great Awakening" of Christians.

[KC Burke]

This, the standing ovation on Leno and the box office gross indicate that the tide is turning in the coverage. Soon articles will hail Gibson as prophetic.

Then we will have the sour joy of the Hollywood imitations. How may Buhdda, Moses at the Mountain, Mohammad Fights for Allah movies can you stomach in the next three years.

As reality shows wind down on TV we will have the new show, The Apostles -- The Series.

Soon, Clinton will be telling everyone how he and Hillary had Mel to dinner and helped him rise to the challenge.

[Happy2BMe]

To J-FK: Be CONCERNED - Be VERY CONCERNED!

[eureka!]

"First we had the anti-Semite charge. That got no traction (and actually backfired, bigtime). Then we get the "most violent movie ever" talking point, ad naseum. It ain't working either. Now they don't know what to say or think....I think it's hilarious."

Isn't it? Good for Mel....