The Gospel of Mel Gibson

The Record of Hackensack ^ | 03.14.04 | Mike Kelly

[Coleus]

The Gospel of Mel Gibson

Sunday, March 14, 2004

By MIKE KELLY
RECORD COLUMNIST

NO MATTER whether you think he is the Son of God or not, there can be no denying that Jesus of Nazareth is one of history's most compelling personalities. Too bad Mel Gibson missed this.

With his movie, "The Passion of the Christ," Gibson has committed Hollywood's most unforgivable sin. He made a boring movie.

I know what you are thinking: You've seen this film and you were transfixed. But what really got your attention?

Was it the 11 minutes of blood-spattered scourging of Jesus by Roman soldiers? Was it another 15 minutes in which a bloody Jesus carried a cross through the streets of Jerusalem on the way to his Crucifixion on a hill outside the city's walls? Was it the blow-by-blow hammering of nails into Jesus' hands and feet on the cross - much of it done in slow-motion cinematography?

With so many slow-motion sequences to draw out the violence in "The Passion," you almost expect a panel of sports commentators to suddenly emerge on-screen and demand a replay. "Hey, Pontius, let's go back to that last hammer-blow. What do you think of the technique?"

Spare me. At the end of all this silver-screen blood-letting, one sad fact becomes apparent: We learn a lot about how Jesus died, but we learn almost nothing of how he lived and the words he spoke that are so meaningful even among non-believers. We see Jesus' last agonizing hours. What about the rest of his life?

The story of Jesus' death falls at the end of each of the Gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What comes before the death sequence are some of the most inspiring acts in religious history.

There are the stories of Jesus reaching out to the poor, the sick, and society's outcasts, from hookers to bill collectors. There are Jesus' words about peace-making, about treating prison inmates with dignity, about blessing the "poor in spirit." There is Jesus' basic instruction for life: "Love your neighbor."

To read such passages is to understand that Jesus was not just a stock figure, going through pre- ordained motions that led to a tragic death. His words were challenging, inspiring. That's why even non-believers quote them, from novels to political speeches.

Such words also provide a sense of meaning to Jesus' death. Any competent theologian could have explained that to Mel Gibson. Why didn't Gibson pay attention?

I have a theory. Violence catches people's attention; inspiring sermons and self-reflection do not. As a TV producer once said in explaining all the mayhem on the nightly news: "If it bleeds, it leads."

Gibson did what so many movie-makers do. He went with the blood. No surprise there. But 11 minutes of scourging? This is why "The Passion" is boring. It catches your attention but delivers little substance.

Yes, Gibson offers a few snippets of Jesus' words. He shows Jesus forgiving his executioners from the cross - definitely an important moment. But when something other than a painful groan actually emerges from Jesus' mouth, it almost seems out of character, an afterthought.

Some of the most meaningful words of Jesus' life - the Sermon on the Mount, for instance - are presented only as brief flashbacks. Coming in the midst of the Crucifixion, they have all the impact of a beer commercial during the Super Bowl.

Gibson even hinted in an interview that he resorted to the flashbacks as a way of offering audiences a brief rest from the blood and gore of the Crucifixion. Said Gibson: "I've given you some escapes."

Gee, how thoughtful. The Resurrection - the most important moment in Christian theology - gets a brief nod at the end, almost like a footnote. Was that an escape, too?

What emerges in "The Passion" is a wooden Jesus. But if you think Jesus is depicted in a shallow manner, consider the Jewish priests. Presented merely as stock figures who plot Jesus' death, these characters inspire nothing more than anti-Semitism.

Gibson denies this was his intention. So do some Christian leaders who have a nasty habit of calling critics of "The Passion" anti-Christian. Maybe they missed that line about loving your neighbor.

But consider how Jews might feel. Here, on the screen, is an innocent Jesus, sent to his death by a bunch of devious Jewish priests who tricked Roman governor Pontius Pilate into signing an execution order. The story is presented without historical context. There is no sense, for example, of why these priests were so desperate to kill a small-town Jewish preacher. Were they afraid of Jesus' popularity as a rabbi? Were they insulted?

Even the bare-bones Gospels hint at a deeper, more complex story, but Gibson goes only for simplicity - and downright inaccuracy. Besides showing the priests only as evil, he depicts the ruthless Pontius Pilate as benign, even kindly. Worse, the film even shows a Satanic figure mingling with the priests as they plot Jesus' death. No subtlety there.

This is precisely the sort of narrow storytelling that led to centuries of anti-Semitic acts, culminating in the murder of 6 million Jews during World War II. Why doesn't Gibson see this?

He had a great story to tell. But he took the easy path. He went for the blood and gore and those old stereotypes. What's truly scary is that audiences are flocking to this.

---

Record Columnist Mike Kelly can be contacted at kellym@northjersey.com . Send comments about this column to oped@northjersey.com

[Coleus]

So sanctimonious, and he's blaming us for anti-Semitism and for seeing the movie with a pre-conceived notion that we love blood and gore and become anti-Semitic after we watch it.

[Coleus]

`

[Lawdoc]

Sounds like he wants Mel to film a "prequel". Count me in! I think that would be great.

[GhostSoldier]

Mike Kelly from Hackensack huh?

This peice of garbage is a far cry for the other Michael Kelly that was killed in Iraq.

[Blzbba]

" We see Jesus' last agonizing hours. What about the rest of his life?"



Ummm, dumbass? The movie is titled "The PASSION of the Christ", not "The Life and Times of Jesus".

[Romulus]

We learn a lot about how Jesus died, but we learn almost nothing of how he lived and the words he spoke that are so meaningful even among non-believers.

Christ's Passion is the event that uniquely informs those words with meaning. To displace the Passion is to demote Jesus to the status of cuddly ethical culture philosopher -- the sort of fellow secular liberals like to see preaching the Gospel of Hugging on PBS fundraisers.

[Fiddlstix]

This guy is more full of tripe than the insides of a herd of cows.

[Clemenza]

This guy is a boot-licker of the worst sort. GO MEL GO!

[Mr. Mojo]

Gibson has committed Hollywood's most unforgivable sin -- He made a boring movie.

Actually, the only sin Hollywood finds unforgivable is the inability of a filmmaker to make money. Gibson, obviously, doesn't have this problem.

[Migraine]

It's amazing how differently two people can view the same event. What we saw in "The Passion" is the central moment in history, when the Eternal intervened in the temporal and we were the beneficiaries of the redemption it afforded.

In church, we sing a little two-verse chorus that I kept reciting throughout the film:

"It's Your Blood that cleanses me;
It's Your Blood that gives me life;
It's Your Blood that took my place
In redeeming sacrifice,
Washes me
Whiter than the snow,
My Jesus, God's Precious Sacrifice.

And I was racked with sobs again and again; and the tears were tears of utter gratitude and worship.

I'm amazed when people write dispassionate articles like this on a subject which means everything to me. But I also expect it, in a way, because I know that if you're on your own wavelength, none of it can possibly make any sense.

But he still should be more respectful of the millions who are so moved by it. Unless, of course, he feels superior.

[mcg1969]

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." John 3:19-21

[Judith Anne]

Interesting...Kelly's first clue that the film was about Christ's crucifixion should have been the title.

I get a little tired of critics who complain that Mel Gibson didn't make a different story. If they think he should have made a film about the whole life of Christ, instead of the Passion, fine. But it wasn't THEIR money and THEY didn't do it, so....

Christ's death on the cross, and His resurrection, are central to my faith in many ways. I honor Mel Gibson for making a film about a part of Christianity that many today would like to forget--The Old Rugged Cross. And I'm sorry Mr. Gibson has to put up with the shoulda woulda coulda crowd, but that's the way the world is.

[Mike Fieschko]

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

[Taiwan Bocks]

The story of Jesus' death falls at the end of each of the Gospels by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. What comes before the death sequence are some of the most inspiring acts in religious history.

Thanks for the reminder.

While the film expanded my idea of the sacrifice my Lord made for me,
my experience of Jesus, who lives in my heart and is my best friend
is more like the Jesus who walked with His disciples before and after "The Passion."

[AMDG&BVMH]

"What's truly scary is that audiences are flocking to this"

Gives himself away, here. ;)

[gonzo]

"...I'm amazed when people write dispassionate articles like this on a subject which means everything to me. But I also expect it, in a way, because I know that if you're on your own wavelength, none of it can possibly make any sense..."

This 'Mike Kelly' is goin' to hell, Migraine, and that's a good thing! I'll be waiting for him there...........FRegards

[SuziQ]

We see Jesus' last agonizing hours. What about the rest of his life?

Yours is a tired old argument, Mr. Kelly. The movie is called The Passion of the Christ for a reason; that's what the movie's about!

If you TRULY want to learn more about the rest of Jesus's life, just read the BOOK!

[scan58]

Here's the letter I sent to him and his paper:

The review of this movie by Mike Kelly missed the mark. Mr. Kelly seems to have expected more out of "The Passion of the Christ" than the Passion of the Christ. The Passion is exactly what Jesus experienced in His last hours on Earth. I disagree with most all of the article.

"...consider the Jewish priests. Presented merely as stock figures who plot Jesus' death, these characters inspire nothing more than anti-Semitism."

I beg to differ. In my eyes (and other's I have spoken with), the Sanhedrin's position (portrayed by Mel) was very believable and understandable. I could detect the fear, envy and uncertaintly in their minds and hearts as they set out to see that this Man was crucified. I mean, here they were - after centuries of slavery - and now they finally have a little clout and "say-so" in the religion and politics of the land and along comes a Man who challenged that...who appeared, to them, to want to take all that away. I could understand what they were probably thinking and feeling. They weren't necessarily evil men - they were human and acting on fear and impulse.

"Gibson denies this was his intention. So do some Christian leaders who have a nasty habit of calling critics of "The Passion" anti-Christian. Maybe they missed that line about loving your neighbor."

Just because they think you might be "anti-Christian" doesn't mean they don't love you.

"But consider how Jews might feel. Here, on the screen, is an innocent Jesus, sent to his death by a bunch of devious Jewish priests who tricked Roman governor Pontius Pilate into signing an execution order."

Jesus was a Jew, too, and there were many other "good Jews" (if you will) in the movie. This true Story is told as it happened. Why sugar-coat the truth because someone is offended by it? The past is there to learn from. Besides, we Christians don't blame anyone but ourselves. To do so would miss out on the grace He offered with His shed blood. My point being, if Jesus had lived and taught in China - it could have been the Chinese that put Him to death, etc. It was planned out...it was going to happen - no matter what.

"The story is presented without historical context. There is no sense, for example, of why these priests were so desperate to kill a small-town Jewish preacher. Were they afraid of Jesus' popularity as a rabbi? Were they insulted?"

Well - yeah, they were afraid and insulted, exactly. For "historical context", try Matthew 27. The movie goes pretty much right along with Scripture. Yes, the Satan mingling through the crowd was just an effect. But it served it's purpose.

You thought the movie was "boring"? I didn't. It helped that part of Gospel come alive for me in a way like never before. Thank you, Mel Gibson.

[Anij]

To all:

"We see Jesus' last agonizing hours. What about the rest of his life?"

The life of Christ taught us who we need to be, and how to be that. But it was the DEATH of Christ that saved us, and reconciled us to The Father.

In the love and peace of Jesus, - Anij.

[scan58]

(Nails didn't hold Jesus to the cross, - LOVE did!)

beautiful!