Posted on 02/26/2004 11:02:02 PM PST by kattracks
Mel Gibson appeared on Jay Leno’s "Tonight Show" – and was greeted by the live audience with a prolonged standing ovation.
Gibson’s appearance on the top-rated late-night program came on the heels of new box office results showing that his new film, "The Passion of the Christ," may be one of the biggest hits of all time.
But box office success hasn’t stopped controversy from swirling around the religious epic.
"Some people thought it was a bad idea," Gibson told Leno about his desire to do the movie on Jesus’ death. The actor said anytime one touches upon politics or religion, that person runs the risk of touching a nerve.
"I didn’t expect to hit a main artery," Gibson said to chuckles from the audience.
Gibson said his film first germinated over a dozen years ago. He said he was unfazed about Hollywood’s criticism of his work.
He said that he discovered in Tinseltown that "you can get a shiv between the shoulder blades and it’s done with a smile."
Still, Gibson said he was shocked by the "pre-judgment and condemnation” which began over a year ago – before anyone had even seen the film.
He told America’s favorite comedian that he was surprised by the attacks against him; including the charge he was an anti-Semite.
"It’s wrong, it’s unconscionable,” he said.
Leno questioned Gibson about the film’s violence.
Gibson readily admitted the film is violent and deserved the R-rating it received. But he added that the violence was not "gratuitous” and, in his opinion, drew a different reaction from audiences who watch, for example, horror films.
Gibson said the film’s message is one of tolerance. He told Leno he chose actor James Caviezel to play Jesus because he projected both a childish innocence and masculinity – consistent with the Biblical Jesus.
Gibson’s decision to produce "Passion” may have earned him at least one fan in Hollywood.
"Thanks for the courage of your convictions,” Leno told Gibson as he concluded his interview.
Not many, I suspect. I wouldn't take my kids to see Saving Private Ryan or Schindler's List either. It's not a concern with them "not being able to handle it". Unfortunately, they see plenty of shocking things in every day's newspaper or on TV. It's more that if the level of (historically accurate and true-to-life) violence is enough to shock me then I would worry that a young child won't be able to see past it to understand what the story is really about.
Based on everything I've heard and read about The Passion it will take a level of knowledge and maturity rare among young children to not be overwhelmed by the raw violence, because of it's accuracy not in spite of it.
We're maturing in a wasteland they're making for all of us. We can see that they were very, very wrong. Before? It was all about work, families, building new things, better things. Service, duty, honor, country. Now it's all about "me." And everything is worse because of it.
They were like de Sade and Marat wreaking their experimental ways on our society. They had no idea where it was going, but they wanted to take us there as fast as possible. Well we know now where that road was leading.
There is something very positive happening with the late 20 something and 30 something group even in California.
Your Response: "We're maturing in a wasteland they're making for all of us. We can see that they were very, very wrong. Before? It was all about work, families, building new things, better things. Service, duty, honor, country. Now it's all about "me." And everything is worse because of it.
They were like de Sade and Marat wreaking their experimental ways on our society. They had no idea where it was going, but they wanted to take us there as fast as possible. Well we know now where that road was leading.
We older conservatives welcome you, our new and younger conservatives to the cultural war to save our Republic for your generation and those to come!
As I have told you, "I feel better about this cultural war than I have since it started in the late 1960's. We are starting fight back and regain what we lost in the last 4 decades!"
I saw the show it was great.I listened closely it was obvious Jay saw the movie.Jay said "your next movie should be about Sodom and Gomorrah". The look Mel gave him was priceless!
As far as Prince,his music was great.
It may be "interesting," but it is not an accurate description of traditionalist Catholics or their beliefs. He seems to be ignorant of the fact that there are many traditional Catholics who have not separated themselves from the Church. He even contradicts himself when, in the main body of his paper, he states, "Though the [traditional] movement is diverse...", "It is also a mistake to assume that all traditionalists are the same and their concerns are the same. They are a broad, ideologically-divided group...", and "The most radicalized ... adhere to a bizarre doctrine of sede-vacantism," but then in his summary paints all traditionalists as sedevacantists.
He appears to have read all of the mainstream media accounts of traditional Catholicism without having done any original research into the history of the Church. For example, the article claims that " ...the Latin Mass authorized by and in use since the sixteenth-century Council of Trent." The traditional Latin Mass existed long before the Council of Trent. The Council standardized several rites that existed at the time which were slightly different from each other.
There are many more inaccuracies in this paper. I have flagged some FReepers who can explain them better than I.
I'll excerpt here
(1) In Hawaii in May 1991 Bishop Ferrario decided to excommunicate some followers of the Society of St.Pius X for supporting the Society and attending its Masses. Rome declared that the decision "lacks foundation and hence validity". The excommunication was overturned by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, on June 28, 1993. "From the examination of the case, conducted on the basis of the Law of the Church, it did not result that the facts referred to in the above-mentioned Decreee, are formal schismatic acts in the strict sense, as they do not constitute the offence of schism; and therefore the Congregation holds that the Decree of May 1, 1991, lacks foundation and hence validity" (Apostolic Nunciature, Washington DC) (2) Extract from a reply written on May 3,1994 by Cardinal Edward Casssidy, President of the Pontifical Council for Christian Unity,to an inquiry about the status of the Society of St.Pius X "... Regarding your inquiry (March 25, 1994) I would point out at once that the Directory on Ecumenism is not concerned with the Society of St. Pius X. The situation of the members of this Society is an internal matter of the Catholic Church. The Society is not another Church or Ecclesial Community in the meaning used in the Directory. Of course the Mass and Sacraments administered by the priests of the Society are valid. The Bishops are validly, but not lawfully, consecrated.... I hope this answers your letter satisfactorily."
Hope that helps.
For the most part, Hollywood generates dreck that they think the public wants, and a film like the Passion is completely beyond their abilities. Goes to show you how compartmentalized modern culture can be, despite advances in communications, etc. Basically, birds of a feather flock together.
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