Riding "The Passion" Coattails: ABC's "Judas" (my title)

AP ^ | 02/29/04

[Kieri]

RADNOR, Pa. (AP) - The task given to Johnathon Schaech wasn't the easiest: Present a well-balanced portrayal of one of the most demonized figures in religion.

Although Schaech said his lead role in the upcoming ABC biopic "Judas" has been a challenge, it has also taught him a thing or two.

"A lot of religious individuals won't accept him as anything more than just a betrayer of Christ," Schaech told TV Guide. "When you give him a heart and say he's misunderstood, they don't want to hear that."

The television movie, scheduled to air March 8, tells the story of betrayal from Judas' point of view.

"We were trying to construct a psychological profile so you could see why he was doing what he was doing," said the Rev. Frank Desiderio, a Catholic priest who was the film's executive producer. "I hope it reveals Judas' humanity."

The movie should also benefit from being televised shortly after the release of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" in theaters.

"They're riding its coattails," Schaech said.

[Kieri]

Wow, Hollyweird's attempted jump onto Mel's coattails is happening sooner than I thought!

[Paul Atreides]

And, what is their first choice: a sympathetic portrayal of the man who betrayed Christ.

[whereasandsoforth]

I don't want to be exposed to anything ABC has to offer. I especially don't want my religion filtered through a TV screen tuned in to ABC.

ABC could acquire the TV rights to "The Passion of The Christ" and I would not watch it...not on ABC (or any other network).

[laconic]

I'm so offended. I haven't seen this movie but I just know it will stir up hate and who knows what violence against Christians all over the world. Does the father of the actor who plays Judas have any crackpot beliefs?

[stands2reason]

And the lefties will be thrilled over it.

[Think free or die]

So Judas was just misunderstood . . . sure.

[Dashel]

Yeah they played "Who killed Jesus?" on Discovery Channel a few times now. The conclusion they came to was 3 people were responsible for Jesus' death.

1. Caiaphas who had obvious motive and blame.

2. Pilate who condemned Jesus to death.

3. Jesus himself. He had a destiny and every action he took (or didn't take) was leading him to that fate. He had plenty of opportunity to escape, his friends pleaded for him to leave. He knew what his actions would result in.

I thought that was a pretty good conclusion personally.

[kittymyrib]

Hilarious! The spiritually blind just keep falling into the ditch. Trying to make a sympathetic figure of Judas shows how pathetic they are. I'll bet there won't be any mothers naming their babies Judas in spite of this ABC re-invention.

[shaggy eel]

"I hope it reveals Judas' humanity."

,,, that's about all it could do. What a meteoric aim for a Catholic priest. Will a film dealing with Klinton's betrayal of America follow this one in a line of movies celebrating traitors?

Put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig.

[11th_VA]

I guess it was his socio-economic surroundings that affected his sense of right and wrong. In any case, I'm reminded of a quote by Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, on the occassion when they asked for his forgiveness - "You meant it for evil, but the Lord used it for good"

[demnomo]

I like Mel's take on it. We, Sinners--everyone of us--killed Christ. Caiaphus and Pilate were merely instruments in Christ's chosen destiny.

Of course, The Discovery Channel's secular viewers who don't have an agenda or are not anti-Christian/religion would probably be satisfied with the three individuals chosen.

[sirchtruth]

Present a well-balanced portrayal...

First clue this will be nothing more than hogwash.

[joesnuffy]

Judas was stealing from the purse...he was their treasurer

Lk.22:3, 7
" Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot ....
Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the
passover must be killed."

Jn.13:27
"And after the sop Satan entered into him.."

There was not one good thing about Judas ....and being finally possessed by Satan (Hollywood's present master...) It is not surprising they would try to sell the notion
that Judas was .......

"A Victim"

[rcocean]

"A lot of religious individuals won't accept him as anything more than just a betrayer of Christ," Schaech told TV Guide. "When you give him a heart and say he's misunderstood, they don't want to hear that."

The television movie, scheduled to air March 8, tells the story of betrayal from Judas' point of view."

Amazing. My suggestion for ABC's next movie - Show WWII from Hitler's point of view and give him a heart - after all he was more than mass-murderer. Of course "narrow minded" people don't want to hear that. (SARCASM OFF)

[billorites]

"A lot of religious individuals won't accept him as anything more than just a betrayer of Christ"

Everyone has a bad day, now and again.

[TexasCajun]

Yesterday, the History Channel had a whole day of Christian/Religious programs.
..riding the coattails is exactly what I thought.

[kcvl]

That arrogant little punk from Newsweek was disgusting.

[Kieri]

ABC could acquire the TV rights to "The Passion of The Christ" and I would not watch it...not on ABC (or any other network).

I'm waiting for Dreamworks to cook up and film the special-effect powered epic:

"Lucifer the Victorious"

"A heartbreaking story of how the Angel of Light, seeking to please his Father, aspired to bigger and better things. God, sensing a rival and misunderstanding Lucifer's motives, threw him out of Heaven to fend for himself. Rather than succumb to his loneliness and longing for a family, Lucifer pulled himself up by his wingtips and remade the world into a better place for those who love him."

I'm only half kidding.

[Howlin]

Hmm...you're pretty dang good at that!

[Paul Atreides]

Years ago, I saw an ad for a book, by a feminist (of course), on the life of that poor misunderstood female, Jezebel.