Army choose twisted movie over "The Passion" for our military in Iraq.

NY Post | 3.16.94 | C.Adams

[w-pat]

AN Iraqi theater previously owned by Saddam Hussein reopening for our U.S. military. The Army Air Force Exchange Service chose Paramount's Ashley Judd-Samuel L. Jackson-Andy Garcia filmo "Twisted" for the debut

[Bogey78O]

It's run 2 weekends during an offpeak period. 10 million a weekend isn't "bad".

The Passion did great though. Mainly because it's a great movie. But as I had said. AAFES would show "The Passion" if enough soldiers requested it.

[Bogey78O]

Personally I'd have probably sent 50 First Dates. Lighthearted comedy with Drew Barrymore as eye candy.

I think that would have went over well.

[RedMonqey]

Exactly. For example, during WW2, the most popular movies were comedies, starring very beatiful women in skimpy outfits in , Rita Hayward was a fav, so was Betty Grable.


The LEAST popular were John Wayne movies or any other film that was heavy into war propaganda, gore, etc.

The guys want to see ESCAPIST ENTERTAINMENT(A little flesh goes a loooong way in the lonely desert nights)

[Bismarck]

Well, I would rather play "Starsky & Hutch" or "Eurotrip". You gotta cheer'em up!

[kms61]

I'm a bit of a World War II buff, and in one of the books I read--possibly one of Ambrose's but I wouldn't swear to it--he told of a survey the Army did. They asked the troops what one man they hated most. It wasn't Hitler, Tojo, or Mussolini. It was Frank Sinatra...which, when you think about, isn't surprising. They were over there, and he was back home with the bobbysoxers swooning over him.

[Indie]

Pushing a purely religious film out there would be like making sparks next to a gasoline-soaked pile of tinder.

I agree with your post. It's just too bad that what's OK for Islamonazis and leftists/gays/the ammoral liberal jews that run Hollywood/etc [pushing their agenda down everyone's throats] is OK for them but not for Christians. I am sick of the hypocrisy. It seems so simplistic and cynical to say, but this country is going down the toilet...fast. Unfortunately, this generation will either stand by as witnesses to our own destruction, or have to fight to save it. Neither option is easy, but one is assured. As for me, I'll fight.

[Steel Wolf]

As far as religious materials, any MWR center will have a table full of spiritual pamphlets, New Testaments, and other inspirational readings. It is not banned outright, but you're not supposed to try and convert the locals with it. They will be curious if they see it, though.

(A friend of mine who speaks Arabic was standing near one such setup when some Iraqi workers were asking about what was on the table. He said it was religious books. One sneered and said 'Ah, Jewish stuff'. He said, 'No, it's mostly Christian'. 'Oh, same thing', another answered.)

For any soldier that wants to see 'The Passion', pirated copies of it are pretty easy to get your hands on at any of the local Hadji shops. It'll run you about $3. I understand that the copy is decent, and cover of the DVD case looks pretty good, the main caption on the back reads 'Hilariously funny'. Go figure.

[xp38]

I've seen both movies. Twisted is a standard thriller mystery with very little mystery. I could tell who did it long before the end. Ashley Judd is a tough cop on the way up who sleeps around and those who she sleeps with get murdered. The Passion is a masterpiece albeit a bloody one. Out of 5 stars I'd give Twisted 2 or 2 1/2 if I'm being generous. Passion gets 4 out of 5 from me.

[Quix]

how about

A BUNCH OF US emailing Gibson through his site

to give a bunch of DVD's of the movie to the troops in Iraq???

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

They know all about death and suffering; they see it up close and personal every day. What's wrong with giving them some plain old entertainment?

First of all because it could give them HOPE.

More importantly, your comment of "entertainment" I found very funny about Twisted. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Twisted-1130029/Its one of the lowest rated movies I have ever read about. After sitting through Eye of the Beholder I can assure you, whether or not servicemen like Ashley Judd's body, anyone that finds her films entertaining is an idiot.

[philosofy123]

The decision maker is probably a left over liberal from the cliton administration

[cinFLA]

The decision maker is probably a left over liberal from the cliton administration

Speaking from experience, Skin wins over passion every time. Back years ago on a submarine cruise, one of the two most watched moves was (I think) The Vampire lovers. A horrible movie but the most skin.

[PeoplesRep_of_LA]

Twisted didn't exactly bomb at the box office, you know.

Oh I wouldn't go THAT far. The military could have picked ANYTHING but that pretentious piece of dung. The fact that we are talking about THIS MOVIE is hysterical. http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/Twisted-1130029/

Only the government would subsidize this tripe instead of any other film.

[Hacksaw]

I understand why they did it - we are occupying an Islamic country and it might not "play well" (all that Crusader BS and stuff). Can't say I like it.

[theFIRMbss]

>Sad choice

I imagine lots
of Catholics will be sad
after this weekend

when Dawn of the Dead
-- of all things! -- kicks The Passion
down to second place . . .

[TankerKC]

How old is Twisted? AAFES ususaly doesn't get first run movies...especially overseas. Was The Passion even available to them?

[kms61]

see post #32.

[w-pat]

What is "Dawn of the Dead"? Why would you say specifically, Catholics will be disappointed?

[theFIRMbss]

>What is "Dawn of the Dead"? Why would you say specifically, Catholics will be disappointed?

"Dawn of the Dead" is
a big budget re-make of
a famous gross-out

zombie film about
people struggling to survive
in a zombie world.

The Passion's about
God and life from a certain
Catholic viewpoint.

I've been unsettled
by the way many Freepers
embraced the film biz

over The Passion --
as if God and the Holy
Spirit need movies

to spread the Good News --
and I've thought it strange
the way some Freepers

read daily grosses
as if theater money
was a deep message,

somehow, on the place
of religion in our world.
I thought those Freepers

in particular
would be especially sad
about the "message"

of a "zombie" film
knocking a "religious" film
out of the top spot.

Although, to be fair,
extreme zombie films like this
can be taken as

esoteric -- not
Catholic -- illustrations
of this -- Satan's -- world:

Luke 9:59-60 --

Then He said to another, "Follow Me."

But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."

Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God."

[w-pat]

Good idea. Or we can each buy two when they come out and mail the second. Anyone know addresses to use?