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Posted on 03/01/2004 3:38:56 PM PST by Tumbleweed_Connection
"The Lord of the Rings" is no match for the Lord. Updated figures show Mel Gibson's foreign-language "The Passion of the Christ" with a box-office take of $125.2 million, the greatest debut in movie history by a film opening on a Wednesday. The previous record holder, "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," had $124.1 million. Oh, how the studio bosses must be gnashing their teeth today after refusing to finance or distribute the movie. "The total was almost $8 million more than Newmarket first estimated, because far more people turned out Sunday to see Gibson's grisly crucifixion re-creation than originally predicted," the Associated Press reported this afternoon, and the movie "is positioned to get even bigger as the Roman Catholic season of Lent leads up to Easter on April 11." Bruce Davey, Gibson's partner at Icon Productions, said, "I think we'll see strong bookings leading up to Easter, and I would anticipate Easter would be a huge weekend." Rob Schwartz of the distributor Newmarket predicted "The Passion" could gross up to $350 million in the United States and Canada alone. The movie could have reached even more people if the cinemas hadn't been so foolish in limiting the number of the screens. Many showings have sold out. We saw "The Passion" Saturday at a googolplex in West Palm Beach, Fla., where people lined up at the mere two auditoriums that played it - the same number of screens the theater has devoted to such flops as "Gigli." We checked out the other auditoriums showing such typical Tinseltown trash as "Twisted" and "Club Dread." Hardly anyone was in those theaters.
Most likely they figured that the conflict with that alledged religious experience of The Academy Awards would certainly dampen people leaving their houses....after all, who wants to miss *insert Movie trade show dribble here*.
Someone said that late last week the powers that be where predicting a steep drop this weekend, with an overall week of $35.
Keep underestimating this movie Left!
Another thing to add to that is that ROTK was the final installment after 2 successful movies, that movie was a known commodity, its almost as if people had already paid their ticket when they saw the other one. Also no matter what the talking heads say, all the inuendo's that this movie is divisive have most likely hurt this movie early, as people begin to hear word of mouth that it is in fact not anti semetic.
The critics keep trying to talk of The Passion of The Christ as just another movie. NewLine's low estimates were based on how normal movies behave on Sunday, particularly matinees. Your example points this out further.
The Passion of The Christ isn't a movie. It's... something else. And it's having an effect. Not the effect that the scare mongers and haters predicted.
Except for loons that want to try to intentionally screw things up (like the clown who attended one showing in a devil costume and made rude comments throughout) I don't think that we'll see any rise in antisemitic incidents. And if they happen we'll find that they are either the usual suspects (islamofascists, Senator Byrds friends, etc.) or we'll find that they are 'agent provocateurs.'
What will happen, is already starting to happen, is that people of all faiths and circumstances are starting to talk about Jesus and what he did for us. They are starting to talk to each other and to LISTEN to each other. Without judgement. Without rancor.
They are also starting to look at the forces that are lining up for and against this movie. The same forces that are lining up for and against us in the war. The same forces that are lining up for and against George Bush. And now I know why they fear this movie so much. Why they hate George Bush so much. Why they want to stop the war so much.
Now, that's what I call "Return of the King"!
Well, I think your assessment is right on, but perhaps I would comment that the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, specfically) are pretty well "known" commodities.
I completely understand what you mean regarding the specific movie, but I think the reason why this movie is rocketing through the charts is that it finally depicts the true love that God has for us. Most people know that already, some might be figuring it out for the first time. After seeing this movie, there will be no denying that...
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" - John 3:16.
Without a doubt the most cogent observation I've heard or seen regarding the impact of the movie.
Thank you!
Maybe he's thinking, "Wow! Now I've got the money to make a film on the life and times of Elia Kazan, a movie that shows just how rotten and communist Hollywood was and still is." He could use all east European actors whose families suffered under communist Russian rule while Hollywood defended and glorified Stalin.
I'm betting that they'll try to exploit this obvious market for Christian film while continuing to do everything possible to restrict distribution and box office for any further Gibson films.
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I wonder if journalists hope for things to happen just so they can use clever lines like this. LOL!
. . . or maybe just to make a string of G-rating worthy, Philippians 4:8 movies that will double and redouble that money again!
You're right. It's a little over 2 hrs. I saw Passion yesterday in a 1920's era theater with 400 seats. I believe that people who want to see it will wait patiently until they can get in. I think most people are hoping to see it before Easter.
I'd love it!
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