Posted on 02/11/2005 9:48:31 AM PST by NYer
Hollywood mogul Mel Gibson will release a new, low-violence version of his 2004 surprise mega-hit "The Passion of Christ" next month.
The star, dubbed Hollywood's most powerful figure since the huge success of the low-budget, graphically gory film, is trimming five to six minutes of violent scenes ahead of the film's March 11 reappearance on US screens, Daily Variety reported Thursday..
The original film raked in 370.2 million dollars in its North American run that began on Ash Wednesday one year ago, but Gibson noted that many people had avoided the film because of its grisly portrayal of Jesus Christ being tortured by Roman troops.
"There has been quite a demand by the religious community to bring (the film) back for Easter," Bruce Davey, Gibson's partner at Icon Productions, told Variety.
"And there has been a lot of discussion about the violence. Mel wanted to try and accommodate those people by making a version that is softer and gentler," he said.
"The Passion Recut," will be beamed onto 500 to 750 screens by distributor Newmarket Films, Variety said, adding that the new versions would not be lumbered with an audience age restriction.
The new less violent version of the film goes easier on the brutal details of the last days of Christ.
"There are no new scenes, and the cuts are limited to the more violent aspects of the film, if that's the right term. The scourging scene in particular has been substantially adjusted."
The film caused huge controversy in the United States, with Jewish leaders accusing the devoutly-Catholic Gibson of anti-Semitism by portraying Jews as responsible for Christ's death, a charge he denied.
But instead of keeping audiences away, the controversy at the bloody religious epic helped draw people into theatres, despite a minimum of traditional publicity.
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Et tu, Mel?
The title to this thread reads as if he's adding more violent scenes.
Not sure why he's bending on this now.
I think it's a good move.
I saw the movie with my church. It was amazing and very powerful. But I have to admit that I don't think I could watch it again with some of those scenes. I know they happened but that doesn't make it easier to view.
From a technical stand point I don't know why he can't relese both versions on the same DVD - in the menu you choose the original theatrical version or the editied version.
It's a story that needs to be told and if a slight edit can get more to watch it......all the better.
At this point Mel Gibson can do what he wants. Hollywood is still in shock over the boxoffice take and popularity of this movie.
The greater the spread of the message the better off we will all be.
Ok everybody - brace yourselves for another wave of anti-semitism from those religious red staters. </hollywood>
I agree. A 'child-friendly' PG or G version is a very good idea.
But I am still furious that neither Mel Gibson nor Jim Caviezel seem to be able to find work in Hollyweird.
Out of respect, I will never again sit down while this movie is being shown.
There is an audience of Catholic and Christian individuals that want to participate in viewing this film, but for them certain images may appear too graphic. He is merely accomodating them. What is the wrong in that as long as the ideas are conveyed.
Is it just me? It seems to be that the first thing anybody mentions about this film is the gore - like it was created for that purpose. I honestly did not find it to be exceptionally gory compared to other movies I've seen, but I'm sure some who almost never go to movies woud be taken aback.
I agree. I wouldn't want a 10 year old seeing the full version, but they should be able to see a milder version. The violence is part of what happened, but I think it can be conveyed without it being as graphic.
I am not sure if some reality is compromised when the "cat-of-nine-tails" is replaced by a feather tickler....
"Not sure why he's bending on this now."
I don't see it as bending. I see it as accommodating those who support the film and the message, but who don't have the courage to see the original. I support his having 2 versions.
I'm happy about this (fewer violent scenes). I wanted to be able to show my 9 yr old this movie. My 6 yr old probably can't quite read the subtitles yet (or at least not quickly enough!).
In fact I might buy this new version for my family now. Smart move. There are a LOT of Christian families who'd like to show it to their children.
Well, that ought to finally get the liberals to watch it.
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MEL's -PASSION- sparked by -WE WERE SOLDIERS-
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God bless you, Ronnie. My family and I thank you for the gift of freedom. Welcome home, sir.
I know a fundamentalist who referred to Gibson eliminating a few of the subtitles as "Giving in to the enemy".
Someone will find something to complain about no matter what.
I teach 7th graders in CCE. Out of 17 in class only 2 of them saw the original movie with parents. Many of them are curious about the movie but as one boy put it, "My mother forbid me from ever seeing the movie".
We all probably know adults who didn't see it because of what they read about the violence.
More people will see Christ's Passion for the first time.
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