Mel Gibsons Joke?

Page Six Washington Post ^ | 3/17/04 | Richard Johnson

[OneVike]

March 17, 2004 -- LEST anyone think Mel Gibson lost his sense of humor with his gruesome depiction of Jesus Christ's death in "The Passion," the legendary prankster inserted some private jokes. Only people who speak the dead language of Aramaic will get the gags. For instance, one line in the subtitles has Jim Caviezel's Christ saying, "Take care," when, in Aramaic, he is saying, "Take care of the laundry." Meanwhile, the picture book of the movie was released yesterday and has already shot up to No. 2 on the Times best-seller list.

[OneVike]

Does anyone have any more on this. I know Mel is a big prankster, but I find it hard to believe that he would do this when it ment so much to him. I have read other articles by scholars who can understand the ancient languages, and they pointed out how accuratley spoken the words were. I tend to believe that this is just a hit and run piece, the author does not even give any names.

[hellinahandcart]

That's the New York Post, not the Washington Post.

And I'm betting the author doesn't speak Aramaic, and is just repeating something he heard.

And I also don't get the joke. Take care of the laundry? How is that funny?

[Burkeman1]

I don't believe it for a second. Between this and Cohen's ignorant and hateful review the Post utterly clueless.

[Burkeman1]

I don't believe it for a second. Between this and Cohen's ignorant and hateful review the Post utterly clueless.

[longtermmemmory]

naa I think this is more uban legend cr*p. There is a list of christ jokes that are attributed to outakes of the movie but are in fact tastless jokes from waaaay back.

At worst they could just be a product of speaking a dead language. After all, kenedy may have said he was a jellyroll BUT in all seriousness we know what he was really saying.

[Jeff Chandler]

Take care of the laundry? How is that funny?

It might be funny if they were Chinese.

[Fiddlstix]

I don't believe it.

[Jeff Chandler]

kenedy may have said he was a jellyroll BUT in all seriousness we know what he was really saying.

Now if Homer Simpson said it...

[Burkeman1]

Thanks- since it is the New York Post- it makes sense. This worthless rag has been attacking this film while it was being made. It's "review" was a disgrace. The New York Post is sick and disgraced rag.

[WV Mountain Mama]

Now that was funny. I would have to say that this isn't true.

[Poohbah]

There are apparently outtakes where James Cavaziel botches the Aramaic, realizes he's done so, and laughs about it.

"If you can't laugh at yourself...don't worry, there are plenty of folks who can."

[Ciexyz]

One of my church friends who speaks Arabic and is of Arabic heritage, saw the movie and says the Aramaic is close to his dialect of Arabic, and he was able to follow the dialogue closely, and he didn't report any anomalies like the forementioned joke.

He did say that the controversial line shouted by the Jewish crowd, "His blood be upon us and our children", was left in and was was clearly understandable, but wasn't listed in the subtitles.

[pbear8]

I read this in an article posted on FR from 'Catholic Citizens' by Nathan Bierma.

Fulco (the Jesuit translator) even confessed to some linguistic mischief.

"Here and there I put in playful things which nobody will know. There's one scene where Caiaphas turns to his cohorts and say something in Aramaic. The subtitle says, "You take care of it." He's actually saying , "Take care of my laundry."

[Enduring Freedom]

It is true.

The idea is completely different though, and has integrity.

It makes the movie even more realistic.

The phrase conveys the same meaning, something similar to 'taking out the trash'.

It is playful, in the manner in which Roman guards of the time might talk to one another in a slang non-literal form.

[boris]

There is an R2D2 in one scene of Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

To give one example.

--Boris

[hellinahandcart]

"The subtitle says, "You take care of it." He's actually saying , "Take care of my laundry."

It's still not funny.

Father Fulco should never do standup.

[Burkeman1]

And why is that line controversial? It applies only to those present in that particular crowd. Remember- Jesus was welcomed into Jeruselem only 5 days earlier by a Jewish throng cheering him and laying reeds before his path.

[Burkeman1]

Even if true - and I have doubts- it is not funny in the slightest.

[steplock]

it's a shame these left-wing radical anti-Americans NEVER have a valid email ...

Ever notice that?