MEL'S 'PASSION' A BLOOD BATH

New York Post - Page Six ^ | 7/16/03

[hellinahandcart]

It'll be one of the top 10 grossers of all time.

Perhaps eventually. I see it as starting slow and getting "legs" later.

But if Mel only breaks even, he's still way ahead of half the bozos in Hollywood, and didn't have to compromise his vision to get there.

[egomeimihi]

I'm sorry if I misread your post. What led to my apparent misinterpretation was your comment that "the movie going public is stupid" and that people "don't read books, they watch reality shows instead so they SURE ain't gunna make the effort to READ at the movies." I thought that such comments might suggest that Mel's decision to not include subtitles was merely to attract the average illiterate moviegoer. What specifically did you mean by such comments?

[Guillermo]

Maybe someone should tell them that Jesus was a Jew, as were the 12 Apostles and the Apostle Paul (a Benjamite).

[Hermann the Cherusker]

I just don't get the objection to subtitles.

The people begging for subtitles want to distract filmogers from the visuals of what Our Lord did and what happened to him at the hands of sinenrs. The story is known well enough by all. What filmgoers need to focus on is watching the story and action unfold on the screen, not being distracted by rereading a film script version of the Passion. You will understand the words when you see the film. The film is like an Icon or Fresco or Stained Glass Window with moving action instead of the stillness of a snapshot.

There is no need for subtitles. The film will be in essence a silent movie with a sound track of the dialoge in Latin and Aramaic. I believe the understanding needed will come to the viewer.

"Ecce homo!" - "Behold the man!"

[keats5]

"The Passion is about a
CRUCIFIXION
for God's sake"

Actually, it was for OUR sake.

[Hermann the Cherusker]

You're right. Outright lies I would say.

[Manic_Episode]

I look forward to seeing this, even tho I read the book.

[sinkspur]

It'll be one of the top 10 grossers of all time. Wait and see.

Care to bet on that? Gibson STILL doesn't have a distributor for his movie.

His intent is entirely praiseworthy, but to hope that masses of people will sit through a film in dead languages with no subtitles is just ludicrous.

Why did he put subtitles in the initial screenings? So it would get some good reviews, that's why.

I'll bet the subtitles stay.

[rintense]

I think I had read somewhere that Mel wanted viewers to be captivated by the imagry alone, and that it would tell the story- not the subtitles.

[Puppage]

Ego, perhaps I misread as well.....

that Mel's decision to not include subtitles

I was under the impression that he WAS going to have them, leading me to think that people wouldn't see it for that very reason, thus my comments. That make sense?

[AmishDude]

It will likely do OK at the box office. I do expect it to be one of the best-selling DVDs of all time, however.

As someone who has a spot reserved on his shelf for the DVD, I'd like to have subtitles as one of the special features, myself.

But, given the amount of grief he's getting, Mel will probably leave that option out just to tweak the critics. And, you know, I'd be OK with that, too.

[F-117A]

Why am I drawn to the dictum that actions speak louder than words?

[Rodney King]

The people begging for subtitles want to distract filmogers from the visuals of what Our Lord did and what happened to him at the hands of sinenrs.

Perhaps we just want a lot of people to go and see the moive. Besides, if words are not important, then why did anybody bother to speak? Certainly the words spoken during the event are relevent.

The story is known well enough by all.

Look around you at the world. I think it is clear that is not the case.

[egomeimihi]

Makes sense now.

[jalisco555]

I haven't been following this story very closely so this the first I heard that the film is in Latin and Aramaic. Without subtitles? Is that true? If so of course it will be a financial disaster. Who will go to see it? What is the point of making a film like this and then making it inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of your potential audience?

I know it will be easy to blame this movie's impending failure on anti-Christian sentiment but the blame will rest squarely with Gibson.

[Puppage]

Have a good day

[Rodney King]

I am temporarily in Switzerland. I try to watch German channels all the time to see if I can figure out what is going on. Trust me, it does not get me to "focus" on the visuals. It is distracting, annoying, and leaves you thinking "I sure wish I knew what they were saying". And then, even if it looks like it might be a good movie, after a few minutes I get impatient and turn the channel.

Now, I don't know the intent of Mel's movie. But if he wants a lot of people to come and see it, it needs subtitles.

[Rodney King]

If so of course it will be a financial disaster. Who will go to see it? What is the point of making a film like this and then making it inaccessible to the overwhelming majority of your potential audience?

I agree. It seems to me like some people just like feeling that since they are "in the know" already, that Mel is making a private movie for them. They don't want to have to share with the masses. The reality is that very few people know the story enough to not be annoyed by the lack of subtitles. These people simply will not go to the movie.

[Non-Sequitur]

It is worse than the graphic scenes in 'Braveheart.' "

I find that hard to believe. If memory serves nobody at the crucifixion was beheaded or had an arm loped off or took an axe to the head.

[hardhead]

If people don't 'UNDERSTAND' what is happening, they never will.