Loud Applause for Mel Gibson's New Film "The Passion" is Awakening Deaf Ears in Hollywood

News Pundit.net ^ | 7/18/2003 | Douglas Oliver

[ex-Texan]

Loud Applause for Mel Gibson's New Film "The Passion" is Awakening Deaf Ears in Hollywood

A Resounding Bravo for Mel !

Mel Gibson has stirred up both resounding praise and strident criticism for his new film "The Passion." Strangely, the criticism comes mostly from critics who have not even seen the movie but were basing their attacks on an old draft version of the script. Criticism of that type is a very weird first for Hollywood. It reflects a shocking closed-minded attitude from a "creative community" that generally proclaims its right to produce controversial films with "real life impact."

Mel's critics appear to led by the Anti-Defamation League who are concerned about the possibility of the film inspiring attacks on the Jewish community. With all due respect to the ADL, I must strongly disagree.

Mel Gibson is an excellent director and does not have an antisemitic bone in his body. He is a devout Roman Catholic. His work on "The Passion" appears to have been inspired by regular daily prayer and his own study of the Bible. There is no doubt that Jesus was Jewish; that is a historical fact. Many Catholic Priests even include brief readings from the Hebrew Torah in their sermons because they read and speak Hebrew. Rabbis are invited regularly to speak at Mass or other Christian services across America. The primary cause of violence against Jewish people today comes from Muslim fundamentalists and not the Christian community.

But there are new signs that the film is awakening deaf ears and exciting the public generally.

Harry Knowles runs the AintItCool.com film web site. He features insider reports on films and the film industry and draws millions of visitors each month. On July 11th he posted this brief report the "The Passion:"

Once every now and again a really special project comes along borne out of a passion for the material. We've seen Peter Jackson's passion really come through with his LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy thus far, and well... I've got a feeling that Mel Gibson has that same sort of drive in the making of THE PASSION. While I'm not a deeply religious person, I can not help, but acknowledge the ingrained power to the story of Christ's final hours. Simply, as one film called it, it's the greatest story ever told, or at least one of them.

The story of Christ in those final hours is one of pain and torment and astonishing spirit. From the images in this trailer that was sent to me, I can't help but believe in Mel's vision for the film. Shot in the original language of the time and allegedly being shone sans subtitles, I really feel this is not only powerful filmmaking, but a bold artistic step forward for Mel. I also feel that it has the chance to really become a bit of a phenomenon in theaters that play it, and can't believe it hasn't been picked up by a studio yet. I mean, the story behind the making of this film in its original "dead" languages and the opportunity to have Mel Gibson on every talk show in the world talking about the decisions and reasons he had for making the film this way... Well, I think it has a wider audience than anyone is currently expecting. Here's the trailer that was sent to me... See what you think, though 10 to 1, it will crash my server, so be quick!

By all accounts it was impossible to get through on that link for several days. I know because I attempted to hit it myself. Ten times over a period of two days. Finally I located an alternative link and viewed the trailer for myself. The best word to describe the preview is "AWESOME!"

Movie fans all over the world are showing genuine interest in "The Passion." They are beginning to have an impact on Hollywood. There are rumors that Gibson will soon announce he has found a major distributor for his film.

< -- Snip -- >

Many people will be horribly surprised or even shocked by the scourging that Jesus suffered. He was flogged with whips by Roman soldiers. Those whips contained tiny iron barbs that were designed to inflict wounds on human flesh. That is historical truth and it is not pretty.

Agnostics and Muslims being converted to Christianity? Perhaps the true graphic representation of Christ's suffering is really too powerful for movie viewers today?

I believe that people today thirst for the truth. Let them see the truth with their own eyes. "The truth will set you free."

[Map Kernow]

Thoughtful Christians do not and never have used the crucifixion as an excuse to engage in Jew-bashing.

This is a very key point. While there are very small "fringe" anti-Semitic sects like "Church of True Israel" (which ironically holds that the Jews are not the "True Israel") claiming to be Christian, there is not a single contemporary Christian denomination in the US that encourages its members to view the Jews as responsible for the death of Jesus. It is grossly insulting to members of these denominations to assume that a cinematic portrayal based upon the Passion narratives in the New Testament themselves would necessarily stir up anti-Semitic feeling among members of such congregations.

[rwfromkansas]

And many have actually seen screenings of the movie.

Granted, you have a point about this particular reviewer.

But many others have seen the actual movie and have had rave reviews.

[rwfromkansas]

I have seen comments by lots of non-Christians that indicate they don't care about the subtitles. Some folks will care like you, but I don't think many will.

I will see it in the theater either way and then rent or buy the dvd to get the subtitles.

[exmarine]

Nothing will awaken deaf ears in Hollyweird. The liberal idiots of Hollywood aren't interested in truth, or in honesty, or in fairness, they are only interested in advancing their cultural marxist agenda. The whole lot of them aren't even worth time time it takes to type their names.

[rwfromkansas]

If they see dollar signs, they will be awakened. lol

[Kevin Curry]

I realize attacks and murders have been carried out against Jews allegedly for their being "Christ killers" but that rationale has always rung obscenely hollow to me. That viciousness simply cannot proceed from any genuine Christian understanding of the arrest, trial, crucufixion, and resurrection. Viewed through the very Jewish lens of the Gospel accounts, there were only two groups of people involved: Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). Both groups are inclusive enough to encompass every person who has ever lived or will live. All were responsible. None can point at another without pointing at himself.

That is how I have always understood the crucifixion, including the words of the mob who, when Jesus had been bound over for scourging and crucifixion said--unknowingly prophetically--"His blood be upon us and our children." The Christian understanding is one of great, astonishing joy bound up in those words. It is a vile and lying adversary who twists them to mean that vengeance must be taken on the Jews and their children.

Understood in the proper spirit, the passion events should deepen one's love for the God of Israel and the Jews.

[Thorondir]

Every true Christian knows that we crucified Him--each one of us, individually, with our sins.

[I'm ALL Right!]

I'm looking forward to (and budgeting for) taking at least 10 people to this movie with us, just to be supportive. Remember, everyone, it's the OPENING WEEKEND that counts at the box office. PLAN TO GO THE OPENING WEEKEND, because the box office on opening weekend is the big factor to whether theaters decide to keep it, add it, or lose it. My hubby markets movies, so I have learned that saying "Oh, I'll see it when there are less crowds" is really not helping support the movie's success at all.

[Map Kernow]

Excellent post with excellent points. The Nicene Creed says Jesus was "crucified under Pontius Pilate," not "the Jews." Placing responsibility for the death of Jesus on the Jews is thus not part of the creed of any Christian worthy of the name.

[tiamat]

I had a Mantle of Victemhood once....got it at a swap-meet. Paid too much for it.

Then my ex-boyfriend stole it.

(grin)

Just messing with ya!

Tia

[Green Knight]

He probably stole it precisely BECAUSE he was your ex-boyfriend, I'd bet. Let me guess. You dumped him and you dumped him hard, didn't you? ;-)

[tiamat]

Green Knight wrote: He probably stole it precisely BECAUSE he was your ex-boyfriend, I'd bet. Let me guess. You dumped him and you dumped him hard, didn't you? ;-)

**************************************

Well, I HAD to dump him! He stole my Mantle of Victimhood!

It wasn't my fault! He MADE me do it!

(snicker0

Seriously, I think "Mantle of Victimhood" sounds like something from a Sword and Sorcery movie....Something found in an old trunk that immediately makes the hero into a whiny, litigating nebbish....

Tia

[apackof2]

And you shall know the truth

Hey that's my line!

[contessa machiaveli]

i won't see the film....not because it's anti-semitic or in aramaic. it would be just too painful and heartbreaking visually.
i have tremendous respect for mel gibson for attempting a project like this and i don't believe for a nanosecond that this film is anti-jewish.

[jjm2111]

If it's in Aramaic w/ no subtitles I'm not watching. Period.
Why?

I'm not paying good money to see a movie where I cannot understand what the characters are saying. I can read about the Passion in my Bible.

[DPB101]

The writer criticizes people for criticizing a movie they haven't seen, and then goes on to praise a movie he hasn't seen?

I think the movie is terrific too and I haven't seen it. I won't see it either. Movies don't interest me.

So how do I know it is great?

Because one putrid oleaginous bottom-dwelling, Stalinist slug after the next is bubbling up from the bottom of the liberal cesspool and expressing alarm over the movie.

[bradactor]

I watched the trailer myself the other day with my 56k modem. Even with that the power of this film comes through. I am reminded of the early days of the Catholic Church when I attended the different stations of the Way of the Cross. Those reflected the thorns and tribulations that Jesus went through. Just my thoughts.
Brad

[ex-Texan]

Thanks for your comments.

[al_c]

I'm not paying good money to see a movie where I cannot understand what the characters are saying. I can read about the Passion in my Bible.

If you read the Bible, you already know the story ... so what's the problem with seeing it acted out in the original languages?

[jjm2111]

Movies are ten bucks around here. No subtitles = no understanding of dialog = wasted money. I don't mind them doing in the original language, but provide subtitles, for goodness sake.

I think the lack of subtitles will turn a lot of folks off the film.