Commentary: Movie industry is two-faced in its criticism of 'The Passion'

Ogden Standard Examiner ^ | 2/28/2004 | JIM BURTON

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Hurray for Hollywood hypocrisy!

That's what correct-thinking conservatives ought to be singing these days. The Hollywood in-crowd and the media who follow them like faithful puppies are suddenly aghast over the violence in Mel Gibson's new movie "The Passion of the Christ." This, frankly, is amazing.

Amazing in a good way.

Although the in-crowd makes no secret of its general disdain for middle-American values, the current rhetoric over "The Passion" is, even by Hollywood standards, off-the-charts transparent. The movers/shakers/moviemakers are so caught up in histrionics, they apparently can't -- or won't -- see their flawed logic.

Nobody ever claimed these people were rocket scientists, mind you, but by decrying the violence depicted in Gibson's film about the final hours of the life of Jesus, they have shown a bright light into their own dark arrogance. In the process, they have scored points for their avowed enemies: middle-American conservatives who like to think for themselves.

For years Hollywood has reveled in its own filth and thumbed its nose at the regular folks who were appalled by it. Under the guise of "pushing the envelope," Hollywood continued to churn out films designed solely to shock and offend.

"We're making you think," they said. "We're challenging your beliefs and examining your fears."

The same people who now express dour-faced concern that "The Passion" is subjecting Christians and -- oh, heavens no! -- their children, too, to extreme violence have delighted in making films that glorify pedophilia, rape, serial murder and drug addiction.

In the so-called fly-over states, many of these movies were met with disgust and even organized protests. However, in Hollywood, New York, D.C., and San Francisco (you know, out there on the edge) the Popular Kids scoffed, smiled and patted themselves on the back. Like nerdy, insecure school children who desperately seek the approval of the "cool" crowd, the elite national media have shown a willingness to disregard all logic -- and sometimes dignity -- for the chance to hob-nob with a bona fide celebrity.

These days, film critics who hailed the gritty reality of the Oscar-nominated vio-flicks "Monster" and "Mystic River" just a few months ago, hike to the moral high ground over "The Passion."

Here are the words of New York Daily News critic Jami Bernard regarding "The Passion": "No child should see this movie. Even adults are at risk.

"Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' is the most virulently anti-Semitic movie made since the German propaganda films of World War II. It is sickening, much more brutal than any 'Lethal Weapon.' " Ironically, Bernard had no trouble embracing "Monster," a film about Aileen Wuornos, a Florida prostitute sometimes referred to as "America's first female serial killer."

Bernard writes of Monster: "The first time Aileen kills a client, it's for good reason. After that, the rush of inheriting the dead man's wallet and car ... make murder too tempting a way to pick up pocket change. It will be hard to lure audiences to this downer, but its acute understanding of such a monster's misery furthers our comprehension of how and why human atrocities occur."

Well, there you have it. Although Bernard and other left-leaning critics of the "Gosh I hope they like me" ilk seem blind to the hypocrisy; it stands out like a lighthouse beacon: Violence is OK, so long as it is part of the vision of a beloved Hollywood liberal. On the other hand, if a conservative like Gibson uses violence to honestly depict the sufferings of Jesus -- and mainstream American is moved by it -- well, then, it's an outrage.

Jim Burton is a sportswriter and columnist for the Standard-Examiner. He accepts e-mail at jburton@standard.net.

[King Black Robe]

Yeah!

[txzman]

Gore and Violence, in any way you want to defend it is NOT defensible in the Christian perspective.

Those who demand that believers see the Passion have no clue as to mans inhumanity to man.

I do not need to see death to understand death. Or do you not know what Christ spoke about?

[Enterprise]

"Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' is the most virulently anti-Semitic movie made since the German propaganda films of World War II."

Prove it!

[SauronOfMordor]

The local theaters have signs up saying Passion is R rated and they WILL check for ID

I would not be surprised if some Leftist group has put out the word that they will be testing theaters, and swearing out complaints on ones that do not rigidly enforce the R rating.

[JohnEBoy]

Exactly right. I saw this same behavior in the local movie reviewer here in Houston. "The Passion" was so terrible with its violence ... he gave it an F grade in his review. But "Kill Bill" which (as I have read) is non-stop blood and gore in a "stylized fashion" was swell. Oh, boy. Of course you can guess, "Kill Bill" got an A from this same reviewer. Nth degree hypocrisy.

[freeangel]

It's fun to watch these idiots try to use excuse after excuse in trying to convince people that this movie should not be viewed. First, no one will want to see a film about this subject so no money will be forthcoming for distribution, then anti-semitism, then, it's too violent, then, Mels father said this or that, then, Mel only did it for the money, and, then, another idiot whines that it is just having this much polpularity because it has a "built-in audience.(duh!) While it may seem to be a run-on sentence, so are the excuses from all the hollywood "experts.

[LibertarianLiz]

These days, film critics who hailed the gritty reality of the Oscar-nominated vio-flicks "Monster" and "Mystic River" just a few months ago, hike to the moral high ground over "The Passion."

I went over to "Rottentomatoes.com" to see what their round-up of critics gave this movie. It ended up with a rotten tomato, and the critics were mostly upset about the violence.

I then went over to "Kill Bill Vol. 1" to check-out those reviews, as I know that the violence in that movie was a topic of conversation. It got great reviews and the critics were practically praising the use of violence in that movie.

Bottom line: It is not the violence that is upsetting them, it is the Christian theme and positive message of Christ that is bothering them. They are floundering, trying any excuse they can come up with to keep people out of the theaters. The reviews are simply a reflection of the anti-Christian bigotry that the media in general display.

[dagoofyfoot]

Never mind what the critics say about this movie! I saw this movie last night and I'll never forget it!


Two things about this movie I've never seen before, first thing was there buckets of kleenex (packletts) at the doors, and the second was there were no previews or comercials prior to the showing! The curtains roll back and the movie starts

Mel didn't want them and the way things are going he sure as heck won't need them.

[laconic]

Fox News' film critic, Roger Friedman, was beside himself about the violence in The Passion until Mike Gallagher last night asked him about his rapturous review this past summer of "Kill Bill", the Quentin Tarantino film filled with blood, gore, endless murders, rapes and mindless violence. Friedman responded that this was just "cartoonish" violence that was entertaining and that no one would believe it as opposed to the "graphic, all too real violence" of Ths Passion. Roughly translated, what Friedman really meant is: "I can't stand films that are made by conservatives, which are attended in droves by middle America, and which track the literal truth of the Bible".

[Uncle Hal]

I watched OReilly, Norville, and Scarborough in consecutive order last night from 5-7PM PST. After watching these shows and their discussions of the "Passion", we are most certainly in a cultural war. In particularly, Scarborough had on Lawrence ODonnell (who is in Hollywood trying to make it as a screenwriter) and Carl Bernstein (he looked mummified). The latter 2 guests were particularly viscous, mean spirited, and hateful toward Gibson and his movie. I assume they are fairly representative of the feelings of the Manhattan elites and the Hollywood crowd. It was beyond the pale. It is obvious the liberals and their friends in the mainstream media are scared to death of Christianity and the fact 90% of the people in the USA are Christians. This is going to be a long war. The "Passion" simply brought it to a head. I am sure the liberals are most concerned about the long term implications this event may have on politics.

[FBD]

"Those who demand that believers see the Passion have no clue as to mans inhumanity to man."

I don't think anyone is demanding that you see anything, FRiend.

But the hypocrisy of liberal fim critics is interesting to observe. I think that is the point of this thread, perhaps you missed that?

[Wallace T.]

The liberals' fuss over the violence in The Passion is absolute nonsense according to Hollywood standards. Last week, I watched Cold Mountain, which portrayed a gruesome version of the Battle of the Crater. Body parts flew in all directions, soldiers were crushed, the Yankees and the Rebels were up to their ankles in blood. There was little criticism of the gore in that movie, not to mention dozens of others.

As to anti-Semitism, this charge is also nonsense. By far, the most brutal treatment Jesus received was at the hands of the Romans, not the Jews. The actors who played the Romans were clearly European in appearance and spoke Latin in a manner that made it sound like modern Italian. Of course, Caiphas and most of the Sanhedrin were shown as villains, as the Gospel narratives indicate. But since when does showing Jews as villains make something anti-Semitic? What about the negative media portrayals of Meyer Lansky, Roy Cohn, Michael Milken, etc.? No one would argue that their negative portrayals were anti-Semitic.

Mel Gibson essentially sacrificed his future movie career to produce The Passion. All the caterwauling and blustery indignation of the liberal media have not prevented this movie's financial success. Had the liberals been smart, they would have ignored the film. By their relentless and obstinate criticism, they increased the polarization between those who hold to Christian or traditional values and those who embrace hedonism, secular humanism, and moral relativism.

[Uncle Hal]

The liberal critics of the "Passion" are beyond the pale. This movie is no more violent than any other Hollywood movie rated R. No body that is not anti Semitic is going to be swayed by this movie to be against the Jews and vice versa. The liberal elite is scared of Christianity and the fact 90% of the people in the USA are Christian. They do not want the sleeping giant awaken and rise up and question the liberals that are running the the mainstream media and the entertainment industry. The viscousness of their attacks on Gibson shows you how nervous and threaten they are. The cultural war continues and it is going to be long and ugly.

[Jeff Chandler]

Gore and Violence, in any way you want to defend it is NOT defensible in the Christian perspective.

The Passion of the Christ is about the passion of Jesus. It cannot be decpicted realistically without realism. It is not gratuitous violence; it is the Blood of the Lamb, shed for our salvation.

Those who demand that believers see the Passion have no clue as to mans inhumanity to man.

I missed the part about believers being demanded to view it.

I do not need to see death to understand death. Or do you not know what Christ spoke about?

Christ spoke "This is my Body, which will be given up for you." and "This is my Blood...which will be shed for you and for many."

[Jeff Chandler]

The critics are Christophobes.

[Paul Atreides]

Wasn't it Follywood that turned its back on Joe Lieberman, for criticizing violence and excess in its movies?

My, how their principles do turn on a dime.

[dpa5923]

Who demanded that you see it?

[GretchenEE]

The same people who now express dour-faced concern that "The Passion" is subjecting Christians and -- oh, heavens no! -- their children, too, to extreme violence have delighted in making films that glorify pedophilia, rape, serial murder and drug addiction.

That was well said.

[DentsRun]

Bottom line: It is not the violence that is upsetting them, it is the Christian theme and positive message of Christ that is bothering them.

I agree completely. The critics don't hate the movie because they think it's anti-Semitic. They hate it because they know it's pro-Christian.