"I SAW [Mel Gibson's] THE PASSION" [the attacks are pretty much demonic]

Act One: Writing for Hollywood | 6/26/03 | Barbara Nicolosi

[Polycarp]

I SAW THE PASSION

Barbara Nicolosi

6/26/03

So I was at a private screening at Icon Productions yesterday, and got to see a rough cut of The Passion. There were about twelve people in the room, including Mel Gibson, his producing partner Steve and four or five other Icon staffers. After the screening, we talked to Mel and friends for about an hour. (As cool as that was, the quality of the film was such that the celebrity stuff was completely gone from the moment. I can't explain it really, except that it would be like standing in the Sistine Chapel next to, well, someone like Mel Gibson. Great art is a great leveler....) The rough cut we saw obviously didn't have the final score or special effects, and there were many more sub-titles than they will have in the finished film.

So, here's my take...

The Passion is a stunning work of art. It is a devout, act of worship from Mel and his collaborators - in the way that Handel's Messiah and Notre Dame were artistic acts of worship in previous times.

Let's get the controversy out of the way right at the top. The film is faithful to the Gospel, particularly St. John. It is no more anti-Semitic than is the Gospel. There are at least two members of the Sanhedrin who come forward to protest on Jesus' behalf during the sham trial. The Romans are just as guilty of cruelty and hatred against Jesus in the film. And best of all is a final look right into the camera of Mary, holding her dead Son. She is looking at all of us with a kind of , "Look what you've done"/This is for you" expression. A cinematic Pieta worthy of Michelangelo.

Having seen the film now, I can only marvel that the attacks are pretty much demonic. Hopefully, the devil will end up spitefully biting his own tail on this one-- as he does in The Passion by inciting on the executioners of Christ, and thus being complicit in his own ultimate defeat. The Passion is high art. It is the greatest movie about Jesus ever made. In the discussion following the film, Mel and co. were asking us how mainstream theater audiences would react to the film. I told them, "Who cares? What you have here is so much more than just a product to sell. It will live forever, regardless of whether it is a commercial success for you or not."

For those of us who love Jesus, The Passion is devastating to watch. It is so good, I almost couldn't stand it. There is one moment on the way of the cross sequence, in which the whole tragedy unfolding devolves into a vicious riot of hatred between Romans and Jews with the Savior on the ground in the middle of it getting it from both sides. It was so frenzied and terrible, I wanted to run from the room. But then, the film again finds Mary, Jesus's Mother on the sidelines, and her presence gets us through it. Kind of like how Mary's presence helped Jesus get through it, it seemed to me.

The film is lovingly Marian. Mary is perfectly portrayed here. She is contrasted repeatedly with the really super creepy Satan character, who is also a woman (something for the feminist theologians here? heh heh...).

The film is strongly Eucharistic. There is a beautiful juxtaposition of images that cuts from the stripping on Calvary to the unwrapping of the bread to be used at the last Supper. Fabulous stuff.

Every Christian needs to see this film at least once. Just to remember, in our current comfort zones while evil is closing in, the price that was paid for us. On my way home from the screening, I found myself praying in the car, "Jesus, I'm so sorry, I forgot..." How many films have led you to compunction lately? The Passion is a miracle.

[AD from SpringBay]

Absolutely - think about the use of the "Word", as in, "In the beginning was the word and the word was..."

The message, the good news, the inspired word, go ye unto all the world and preach, etc... It is critical to Christian thinking that the message get out and the more that hear the better.

But if you look around, the discussions have been silenced (as in, "Out of site, out of mind"). There can be no faith issue discussion in public schools, there can be no religious items on government property, all opinions are equal, keep it to yourself, blah blah blah

We don't have to see this movie to understand that an accurate portrayal to the death of Christ will upset a lot of people who would prefer the story never be told again.

[Marysecretary]

If it is close to the actual scriptures, then I think we pentacostals can manage it okay (smile).

[Marysecretary]

That's exactly the way I feel. If it's true to the gospel, it's fine with me! M

[Maximilian]

She said nothing about the photography. If the cinematograper did his job right, that could make all the difference.

I think that's implicit in her comparisons of the movie to the Sistine Chapel. I've seen another article about the movie in which Mel Gibson says that he told his cinematographer that he wanted the movie to look like a "moving Carravagio" and that he was blown away by how well the cinematographer achieved this.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Not only that, but because the movie is becoming more and more controversial, people will want to see it, to hear what the buzz is about. The ADL is actually promoting the movie, in some respect. Some people might think that a movie about Christ would be boring, but when they learn it is by Oscar-winning Gibson, and done in a creative way, they will be exposed to the story of Jesus. I truly believe that God can use the movie to make some people look closer at the historical Jesus, so that they can later find the Savior that Jesus is.

[NCC-1701]

I hope it tops the lists for a long time. Having seen some stills from "The Passion", someone is finally going to show how Jesus must have realy looked in His final day. If you believe that the Shroud of Turin is the genuine article, Mel must have used the marks as a guide for his make-up crew to go by. Every movie based on Christ's crucifiction has shown a rather sanitized version. Mel's got it right this time. The visual impact this is going to have on people can not be quantified. It will hit them like the proverbial lightening bolt. When I saw the stills, they made an impact. On the big screen, one can only wonder what impact that will have. If "The Passion" is as good as the preliminary reports have it being, we will see it every year like "The Ten Commandment", "The Bible", and "The Greatest Story Ever Told" has been. As a Roman Catholic, I can't wait to see it. There will be a plenty of Kleenex used when it opens.

[iowaboy]

I'm a Christian who is a member of a Pentacostal church. I'm also a huge fan of Mel Gibson (especially BraveHeart). I fully intend to see this film. I hope and pray the it leads others to the Lord.

[Marysecretary]

Yeah, God's neither democrat or republican. He's looking for rightousness in his people, not political views. Mxxx

[Gamecock]

Hey, thanks for ruining it for all of us!!

;-)

[Notwithstanding]

You make my point for me!

All religions have lax adherents who don't seem to take it very seriously.

What is more, I see here at FR many "bible christians" who know NOTHING about passages that strongly support Catholic doctrine, yet they have 100 verses set to memory and quote them here and there and then claim to have superior knowldege of the bible.

Their claim is both untrue and a prideful sin.

[Gamecock]

See you have an issue with the 10 Commandments as well?

[Hermann the Cherusker]

Last night. The point was not that Protestants don't read their Bible, but that the "Protestant Blinders" prevent them from even seeing obvious things in the text. The original poster stated that showing Mary at the death and burial of Christ was not in the Bible.

[Dick Bachert]

BUMP!!!

This is our chance to shove it back in the faces of the apostates and Christ haters infesting Hollyweird.

Let's make it a MONSTER HIT!!!

[Marysecretary]

A professor I know actually did that. He spent a goodly amount of time perusing the Vatican library for research. Since he was only a visiting professor and didn't come back to school, I don't know what the outcome of that research was but I bet it was interesting.

[Marysecretary]

I'm hoping for that, too. Any way we can get the gospel out to a dark and hurting world, is A-OK by me!

[RobbyS]

Speaking of the Sistine Chapel, I was there several years ago, and I, of course, looked at the ceiling, which includes the famous painting of God giving life to Adam. But what is most striking, now that they have cleaned the surfaces, (I was last there thirty years before) is the mural of the Last Judgement behind the altar. The figure of Christ is arresting, the stern judge casting sinners into into hell. That is not a Jesus who appeals to some Catholics, I think. Me, I sat in the back of the Chapel drinking it all in, with no sense of being in a place for tourists.

[TheGunny]

Its not called the gospel of St. John! Get a grip!

[homeschool mama]

**How do you suppose the Pentecostals will respond. I was watching the 700 Club the other day and Pat Robertson made it clear he's not a fan of the Catholic Church. **

As a Christian (believer in Jesus Christ as my savior..have a personal relationship with Him) I'm looking forward to seeing this movie. <><

[homeschool mama]

Please be so kind as to not lump all non-Catholics together. I know very well the John 19 scripture you shared, H. In my heart I'm sure Mary would have held her son tenderly as only a mother could. To judge non-Catholics as not knowing Biblical scripture is unkind.

We may have different opinions on Mary (ie praying to her) but we can agree that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, the Life, right? The *only* way to the Father is through the Son. :o)

I'm looking forward to this movie. <><

[Zack Nguyen]

I am very disappointed with the Catholic Church. I no longer attend. The only thing I can do is do my best to keep to the Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule.

I understand being disappointed with the church (it is, after all, run by mere men), but you should find somewhere to attend. Church is one of the primary places where the Word of God is proclaimed, and you need to subject yourself to that. Living by the Ten Commandments and Golden Rule is excellent, but remember Christ came to "forgive us our sins", not to encourage us to simply live better.