'Passion' will inspire other religious films (Michael Medved)

USA Today ^ | March 14, 2004 | Michael Medved

[beaversmom]

Mel Gibson's unprecedented hit, The Passion of the Christ, already has changed Hollywood forever. Those industry insiders who deny the significance of the transformation are fooling only themselves.

A recent article in USA TODAY, headlined " 'The Passion' could be a hard act to follow," displayed a subhead baldly declaring, "Hollywood is unlikely to get religion."

[PJ-Comix]

My favorite Bible flick was Sign of the Cross. It was made in the early '30s so it was shocking to see a certain scene in there where a Roman openly felt up a hot chick. Remember that? And what was with that painted Boy Toy that Nero was drooling over? The fact that movie was made back then makes it even more shocking. I try to catch this flick whenever it is on the tube.

[Paleo Conservative]

Sadly you are correct. The hollywierd types will dismiss Gibson's film as a fluke and take "elements" and then not understand why their religious PC bloodfest was not a hit.

But that's irrelevant. With the profits Mel Gibson is making from this movie, he can start his own studio to produce bilical movies. With his proven ability to direct movies that make lots of money he'll have no trouble attracting investors including investors who have never before invested in movies.

[beaversmom]

I've never seen it or heard of it. Was it made in the U.S.? I guess those scenes would have been kind of shocking for a 30's movie. I thought they got upset when Clark Gable said "damn" in GWTW.

[little jeremiah]

I am in complete agreement. What to speak of the large contingent of homosexuals in Disney, and the fact that much of the film establishment are either atheists or non-believers of one sort or another. The few Disney animated movies I've been unable to avoid in the last several years all seem to have transvestites in them.

They cartoonize great children's books and smear them with smarm.

[jude24]

Matt Crouch and TBN are producing a story on Esther that may be up there with the Passion.

TBN et al have been making "Christian" movies for years. They have invariably sucked. This time will not be any different.

"Christian" is no excuse for cheesy production or bad acting.

[PJ-Comix]

I've never seen it or heard of it. Was it made in the U.S.?

It was a Cecil B. DeMille film. One of the stars was Charles Laughton. In the original version (before being sanitized for TV) Laughton's Nero was a bigtime Homo who was accompanied by a painted blonde Boy Toy.

[DentsRun]

But that's irrelevant. With the profits Mel Gibson is making from this movie, he can start his own studio to produce bilical movies. With his proven ability to direct movies that make lots of money he'll have no trouble attracting investors including investors who have never before invested in movies.

I'm sure Gibson will (eventually) make another bible film. We were talking though about the quality of what Hollywood will produce when it attempts to jump on the Passion bandwagon. My guess is they will produce a bunch of pap that no one will want to see.

As for Gibson, I would be suprised if he wants to jump into another bible film right away. Nothing he does will have the impact of "The Passion of the Christ." In my opinion, he would be wise to do a Mad Max road warrier type film. Then once the dust has settled go back to the bible for more inspiration. Or he could do a another movie like "Signs" but one in which God directly intervenes. I've always wondered why no one ever did any movies like that. I guess Deus Ex Machina resolutions don't work well dramatically.

[DentsRun]

I don't think hollywood has the mental capacity to do this right. It is not in their brain or life experience.

I think you hit the nail on the head. Hollywood views this country's Christian majority the same way Lenin viewed the Russian peasantry--as bigoted slow-thinking deeply conservative reactionaries. If you are a producer or writer, how are you going to make a film that appeals to people you hold in utter contempt?

[apackof2]

I would too, but I hear him on Sean Hannity today say he is interested in the book of Macabees (Catholic bible only)

[xjcsa]

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is to be live-action, not animated. Not taking sides here, just clarifying....

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

Have you heard John Cleese's reading of THE SCREWTAPE LETTERS by C. S. Lewis? Abridged, but still quite good.

[Knuckle Sandwich Combo]

SAVED!: New Hollywood Movie Pokes Fun at Christians

[w-pat]

Re Post 8. Exactly correct. And certainly, they make no films without the required bad language, women with their tops open to the navel, homosexuality, copulation like dogs on the lawn and bathroom nonhumor. It took intelligence, decency, and goodness to make the "Passion". One has to be moral to get it. The amoral and immoral don't.

[nmh]

Why buy the Chronicles of Narnia from Disney?

It's ALREADY a MOVIE!

Animated or a regualr movie?

Order it here:

http://familysafemedia.com/the_chronicles_of_narnia.html?goo

Disney is not very original and VERY hard up.

[nmh]

B.B.C. did a VERY good job with Narnia and the stories. We have them all. We also have an animated version for smaller kids.

Anyone can buy them here:

http://familysafemedia.com/the_chronicles_of_narnia.html?goo

Disney HATES Christianity. They'll slip something obnoxious in it. You can COUNT on that.

[Tribune7]

bump for Medved

[Siamese Princess]

Hollywood views this country's Christian majority the same way Lenin viewed the Russian peasantry--as bigoted slow-thinking deeply conservative reactionaries. If you are a producer or writer, how are you going to make a film that appeals to people you hold in utter contempt?

Excellent observation.

[Siamese Princess]

My favorite Bible flick was Sign of the Cross. It was made in the early '30s so it was shocking to see a certain scene in there where a Roman openly felt up a hot chick. Remember that? And what was with that painted Boy Toy that Nero was drooling over? The fact that movie was made back then makes it even more shocking. I try to catch this flick whenever it is on the tube.

The much-maligned Hayes Code didn't really kick in until 1934. Before that, many films were quite racy or violent.

[beaversmom]

Laughton's Nero was a bigtime Homo

Guess he didn't have to dig too deep to get to the heart of the character

ttp://www.fact-index.com/c/ch/charles_laughton.html

Despite his homosexual inclinations, he had a long and resilient marriage to the British-born American actress, Elsa Lanchester, possibly because she had her own such inclinations according to contemporary gossip

I'll have to try and watch it if I ever come across it on TV

[Iron Matron]

So, we agree right?

IMO, Hollywood's use of the metaphor to present new age thought as actual Christianity can be dangerous to new Christians and non-christians alike.

Even heathens can be good people, but it does not bring salvation. Those buying into Hollywood's view of spirituality are actually spiritually dead.