Skip to comments.
A snuff movie for Christians
IOL ^
Posted on 03/13/2004 4:24:32 AM PST by narses
Edited on 03/13/2004 4:32:03 AM PST by Admin Moderator.
[history]
A snuff movie for Christians
|
March 13 2004 at 12:34PM
 |
By Angela Aschmann
The Passion Of The Christ is a pointless and sick film. It has been mired in controversy ever since devout Catholic Mel Gibson first announced that he was making a movie about Jesus Christ?s Crucifixion. At first the project seemed praiseworthy: unknown actors were to be cast (instead of buff starlets with impossibly perfect teeth), the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were to be consulted and the dialogue was to be rendered in Aramaic and Latin.
So far, so good.
But something went wrong. And instead of making a film that explains why Jesus was persecuted, or reinvigorates Christian faith, or even clarifies some aspects of Christianity to non-Christians, Gibson has made a snuff movie ? with the Son of God as the victim.
Much has been made of the flogging. And it is the most memorable image from the film. It goes on and on and on and on...
In fact, by the time we get to the really important and symbolic wounds that Jesus suffered ? the embedding of a crown of thorns in his skull, the hammering of nails through his hands and feet and the plunging of a sword into his side ? you?ve already seen so much blood and guts that they have no impact whatsoever.
Endless and relentless gore desensitises one. It?s almost as though your brain shuts down to protect from the horror. Remember how outraged the country was about the ?first? baby rape? And are we still so outraged and vocal now that we hear these stories every week?
If the flogging had been cut down to the initial strokes, the other injuries would have been far more shocking. And its hard to believe a man who ends up looking demonic ? dripping blood, his one eye swollen closed so that he peers out of the other like Quasimodo?s first cousin ? would have been able to carry a heavy wooden cross through the town and up a hill. It beggars belief.
And when Jesus, by now a putrid lump of oozing mincemeat, says that he?s thirsty, the Romans? cruelty in offering him a sponge soaked in vinegar loses all its power because the audience has a case ?compassion fatigue?. You just CAN?T care anymore.
What was the point of this film? If you are a Christian it will sadden and confuse you. There are bizarre and cringe-worthy incidents of the writers? own imagine, like a "funny" scene when we?re supposed to believe that every dining room suite on sale at Furniture City was ?invented? by Jesus.
And Herod is portrayed so camply that he looks as if he?s off to the Mother City Queer Project party. (So how did Salome seduce him into cutting off the head of John the Baptist?) As a friend quipped to me, Mel?s done "a Peter Jackson" on a fine piece of literature.
If you?re not a Christian and want to know why millions of people are, I?m afraid you won?t increase your knowledge much. There is so little contextualisation that if you are not familiar with the New Testament you?ll simply be bewildered.
Another gripe is that Gibson digs out all sorts of special effects and imaginary characters, one of whom looks a little like the Emperor in The Empire Strikes Back crossed with Darth Maul from Episode IV. Why does supposedly the greatest story ever told need gimmicks like John Woo-style slow motion or children?s faces morphing into screeching devils? Why do we need stirring music all along (was it just my imagination or was the soundtrack ?Arabic? when something sinister was afoot and ?European? when some happy was happening?)
Yes, the cinematography is stirring, the settings magnificent, the costumes marvellous and the actors realistic enough ? but so what? Today's cinema audiences take high artistic standards for granted.
And I burst out in indignant laughter at the second credit ? Screenplay by. No ?Based on a true story?. No ?Inspired by the Gospels?. No ?Adapted from?. Just the names of three publicity hungry men.
Think of the really affecting films you?ve seen. Perhaps Life Is Beautiful, Schindler?s List, Lemumba, Dancer In The Dark or Gandhi. Simple stories about suffering that are shocking in their accounts of man?s inhumanity to man. They have a humanity that even the most cynical among us grudgingly admit.
But the story of man?s inhumanity to the Son of God?
The Bible for the Terminator generation. Expect the computer game soon.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Israel; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: antichristian; catholiclist; christianbashing; christianity; christians; ffffff; godlesscomplains; godsaveus; idiotorial; irreligious; lyingliar; mediabias; melgibsonbashing; religion; religiousintolerance; sourgrapes; suffering; textdecorationnone; thepassion
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 121-135 next last
1
posted on
03/13/2004 4:24:33 AM PST
by
narses
To: GatorGirl; maryz; *Catholic_list; afraidfortherepublic; Antoninus; Aquinasfan; Askel5; livius; ...
Ping.
2
posted on
03/13/2004 4:25:14 AM PST
by
narses
(If you want OFF or ON my Ping list, please email me.)
To: narses
Jhdkl nlkdsf 7469&^^&^% $HVGVCFD, jkis77&& &^%GGB.
3
posted on
03/13/2004 4:26:06 AM PST
by
Oldeconomybuyer
(The democRATS are near the tipping point.)
To: narses
font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt; color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none
So there
4
posted on
03/13/2004 4:29:02 AM PST
by
nuconvert
(CAUTION: I'm an acquaintance of someone labelled :"an obstinate supporter of dangerous fantasies")
To: narses
I guess she didn't like the movie.
To: narses
What was the point of this film? A stumbling block to the Jews and an absurdity to the Gentiles.
To: White Eagle
I can't repeat this often enough.
The movie is a mirror.
I thought the slow-motion was used to magnificent effect.
Just as in a nightmare or moment of terror, we see things as though they are happening in slow-motion.
The wild juxtapositioning of real-time and slow-motion in the Gethsemene arrest scene accentuated the sense of grief, inevitability and surrealism.
The -only- thing I thought was "too much" was the amount of water pouring from His side when the spear pierced it.
Just that one thing out of 126 minutes of perfection.
To: narses
I Cor. 1:18-21 (seems appropriate after reading the article)
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
8
posted on
03/13/2004 4:42:30 AM PST
by
dawn53
To: narses
If you are a Christian it will sadden and confuse you. How many Christians did she interview to come up with this intelligent conclusion?
I have not met one Chistian who was confused by this movie.
To: narses
Sorry Ms.Aschmann,haven't had the mis-fortune to view any "snuff Movies"so I cant make a comparison.
Although I'm sure, any one having the misfortune of the "lead role" in such sick film making were probably "snatched" from the street some where and did not "rise from the dead".
Oh well more mis guided editorialism.
To: 11th Earl of Mar
my 2 cents worth..i am not as religous as i should be and by somes standards i may be close to a heathen.(havent step foot in a church in 40 yrs) my beliefs are christian. having said that i will defend the right for all to practice their religion as they see fit. having said all that i can now ask those that are attcking this film..."WHATS YOUR AGENDA?" the film isnot, repeat not anti semetic, it isnt about "bad jews", its history. from what ive read and seen on tv mr. gibson went to great lengths in the historical research..so to those that have nothing better to do than attack this movie may i suggest the read a paper and see what the islamonazis are up to!
11
posted on
03/13/2004 4:57:40 AM PST
by
rrrod
To: rrrod
oops on the typos...dont have my glasses on
12
posted on
03/13/2004 4:59:07 AM PST
by
rrrod
To: narses
Not even original. I think Christopher Hitchens or Andrew Sullivan first called it a "snuff film" well over a week ago.
To: narses
This woman is trying to equate the mission of the Son of God on earth to a pornographic "snuff film." Fat chance.
Malcolm Muggeridge once commented that in his lifetime he had seen the rise and fall of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, and scores of other hate-filled cracked atheists.
In the end, the glorified image of Christ shines through all their destruction and murder.
God wins.
14
posted on
03/13/2004 5:03:02 AM PST
by
SkyPilot
To: narses
I knew it would be a matter of time for liberal injected homosexual sadism into the debate over Gibson's film.
Liberals are like that. Whatever it is that they secretly long for eventually finds its way into things liberals don't like.
To: narses
Well I saw the small segment of trailers on TV and they were enough to show me I was staying home
Hell I went to see the Return of the King the 3rd of the Lord of the Ring series on the big screen and thought that was too gory for my tastes . In fact there were several young children there and I thought it was too gory for them but they were not my kids
Guess I am out of touch wuith todays sensibilities
16
posted on
03/13/2004 5:15:12 AM PST
by
uncbob
To: narses
I saw The Passion for the second time last night. It is a magnificent film. It is one of very few movies which can be considered "art."
It is a masterpiece.
And, much to this hate-mongering bigot's chagrin, the theater was packed. Not one empty seat, and it has been shown on three screens in that theater for over two weeks.
17
posted on
03/13/2004 5:16:47 AM PST
by
Skooz
(My Biography: Psalm 40:1-3)
To: SkyPilot
Malcolm Muggeridge once commented that in his lifetime he had seen the rise and fall of Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao, and scores of other hate-filled cracked atheists.
Well Atilla the Hun , Gengis Kahn etc etc all died eventually as do all human beings but SO WHAT .
It is no consolation to the tens of millions they tortured and slaughtered
The ain't any more dead than their victims
18
posted on
03/13/2004 5:19:08 AM PST
by
uncbob
To: narses
This is just a guess here...but anybody want to guess that dear Angela is Jewish?...
To: Skooz
You've managed to see the movie a second time? Oh my, your compassion fatiuge must be at dangerously low levels.
20
posted on
03/13/2004 5:26:14 AM PST
by
fml
( You can twist perception, reality won't budge. -RUSH)
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 121-135 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson