My Experience at a Preview of Mel Gibsons's "Passion of The Christ"

Recently I received the opportunity to attend an invitation-only preview of Mel Gibson’s “Passion of The Christ”. The event was yesterday and I will share some of the experience here to those who might be interested and who’ve asked me. Invitations were sent out to churches and I attended with another lady from our church.

There were about 5,000 in attendance in a large contemporary church auditorium. Three large screens were on the main floor as well as three smaller screens in each balcony section. In short, not a bad seat in the house. Security was in place and admittance allowed only after the registration process which required submitting the original invitation, a confirmation number and photo ID.

The movie is currently in post-production and the version we saw is not the final version. Certain special effects and the final ending are still not edited in and we were told the music is still being tweaked. That said I believe we probably saw 98% of what will come out on Feb. 25. The movie is true to the Gospel version of the story but also utilizes artistic interpretations and methods to make points. Effectively too.

Mel Gibson was present for about the last 30 – 40 minutes of the event and I will provide as much information as I can about that interview. It’s important for everybody reading this to know that I am not a transcriptionist and I don’t know short-hand. I took my own notes and admittedly they are not complete representations or fully direct quotes from Mel. What I offer as his responses are a combination of my handwritten notes and my ears.

After gracious remarks from a church leader and a religious author the movie began. I’ve thought a lot about what to try to write about the movie. It’s important to me to not “give away” the movie through a lot of scene description. Besides the movie trailer can be viewed on-line and several reviews have been written. So I will just say a few lines about my impressions and what the movie has initially stirred in me. These are in no particular order of importance.

The movie focuses on the last 12 hours of Christ’s life but also uses flashbacks effectively. It’s a relief to periodically be reminded of Jesus how he was during his life and ministry in contrast to those last hours.

I’m generally not a viewer of foreign films and usually find sub-titles rather distracting. Somehow, I found them less distracting in this film and Mel offers a good explanation as to why they are effective in the Q & A that I will include at the end of this post. The Latin and Aramaic were appropriate.

Yes, the movie is quite violent and graphic. My friend had to look away at various times during the film. While it is difficult to watch, I came away feeling that the level of violence provides a rather direct correlation to the level of Jesus’ sacrifice. More about this from Mel, but I felt the film shows a very believable portrayal of the brutality of humans, corruption of some in authority, what it’s like to be in the middle of a frenzied crowd and several human issue struggles.

There were one or two brief touches of humor. Good to have us remember that Jesus laughed and joked like us.

I have a new personal understanding of Jesus’ words about tearing the temple down and re-building it in 3 days.

This is a movie that I will see again. And maybe again after that. I believe this film will do a tremendous amount of good for the Church. I believe many non-church people will find the meaning of Jesus after watching the Passion. I believe that those who follow Christ will also gain new insights and understandings. And all people will have many, many questions as well. This movie, if nothing else, will stir discussion.

I want to re- read the Gospels; to re-familiarize myself with the differences and similarities of their story.

During the movie I found myself musing at what my role might have been had I been present in the crowd. This was one of the most powerful (and disturbing) effects that I felt during the film. I loved that, but it’s also very sobering to ponder especially when I consider my life and relationships now.

I will never think about or partake in the Sacrament of Communion in the same way again. For me, this is one of the biggest blessings from the film.

Neither of us who attended saw any attempt to portray anti-Semitism. Yes, it’s easy to be angry at the Sanhedrin, at the Romans, at Pilate. But this is a historical film and this is what happened at that time. Loving, sympathetic Jews and Romans are also frequently portrayed. Like anything else, if somebody has already decided to be anti-Semitic they may use the movie to try to justify their position. That says nothing about the movie and EVERYTHING about the viewer.

The man who’s coerced into picking up the Cross and helping Jesus carry it represents every one of us. He depicts the reluctance and hesitation that we’ve all shown at some point in life when we’ve been asked to participate or help in various projects or activities. May we all learn the lesson that this man learned.

Folks, as I sit a write this today the movie images come to mind and are touching my heart and bringing a tear to my eye. See the movie, decide for yourselves. I think it’s wonderful. Even if you hate it I believe you’ll be hard-pressed to say it’s a disappointment. Thanks for reading.

Mel gave a brief autobiography. He was born in NY and moved to Australia as a boy. He is the 6th child in a family of 10 children and has 5 sisters and 5 brothers.

He was raised Catholic. During the ages from about 17-35 Mel took a “hiatus” from religion although always believed in God during this time. He said that “what isn’t maintained (he was speaking about spirituality) eventually goes into chaos”. He said that pain brought him back to the church. That feelings of being spiritually bankrupt, feelings of emptiness, pain, regret, despair became too much and he got tired of the pain and wanted to try something else.

Q: What did you do to turn back to God? A: Mel said that he mostly prayed. Then got more involved and active in church. He’s been heavily focused on Passion for at least 3 years and that also had an impact.

Q: When was the 1st time you got a sense from God to do this film about Christ? A: Mel responded that he read the Gospels and wanted to know more. He wanted to know information about other aspects of the Passion and he read accounts of people’s visions, medical doctor reports etc. to get information which then helped him develop the desire to do the film. Mel said he’s been faithful to the Gospels but has also been able to inject his own artistic impact into the film.

Q: When you committed to the film, who were the early supporters? A: Gibson answered that people were scratching their heads when he told them the idea for the film. They wanted to know why the Latin and Aramaic was necessary. Mel felt that the languages added a mysterious reality and provided for more frightening confrontation. He likened it to trying to make a movie about scary murderous Vikings but then having the scary murderous Vikings charge off the ship for their attack and start speaking English. Said it made them not very scary any more. (huge laughter at this) However if they charged off the ship speaking some old Germanic tongue it was much more believable and they would be scarier.

Q: What is your favorite moment in the film? A: Mel said he didn’t know that he had one.

Q: What is your second favorite moment in the film? A: Gibson began talking about how well the film portrays evil. That evil can take on the form of something almost beautiful but when the mask slips a little, it can be seen that it’s all the masquerade that evil does to try to lure and trick us. But if our antennae are up we can detect it.

Q: Why all the violence? A: Mel began answering by saying that the movie has been rated “R” and that kids under 13 are maybe too young. Some children might be fine seeing the film though. Mel’s intention was the push it over the edge and force us outside our comfort level. This was to make us realize very up front and personal the sacrifice that was made for us. As far as the scenes that show lots of blood, Mel said that blood was required and represented the old covenant. He said that Jesus chose to fulfill that prophecy by going all the way, and not just by a drop of blood from the prick of a finger.

Q: How much of your own money have you put into the film? A: About 20 to 30 million dollars---and a lot of time.

Q: Did you put that much money in because nobody else would? A: “Absolutely!” (huge laughter)

Q: If the movie doesn’t do well, is he worried it will cost his career? A: Mel said, “I’ve had a career, I’m bored with it”. He had started to ask himself “What have I been doing?” for the past couple of years. Gibson said that acting doesn’t have the importance it once did although there are things he might consider if opportunities arose. He felt he had created a sort of secular utopia for himself, an “empty worship of self”…and he didn’t care for that anymore.

Q: Are you nervous about the release of the movie? A: He responded that yes, it was like putting your kid out there. He said the film will be subjected to lots of things, possibly savaged by critics. He hopes it makes people look inward and take something from it.

Q: What’s your ultimate dream and prayer of what will happen to those watching your film in theaters? A: Mel believes that cinema and theater is like “public dreaming”. A series of sounds, images, darkness and light that can impact the viewer in many ways. Art can transcend many things. Mel hopes that the film will inspire people and make them aware of who they are and what came before them. He said that all of civilization, Christian and non-Christian was changed after Christ died. And nothing has been the same in civilization since.

Q: “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me”….Is this an intolerant position? A: Mel responded that his belief is that people from the Old Testament were saved by those words. That people who don’t know anything about Christ can be saved by the merits of Christ. Mel says that revisionists try to say that the Gospels made up the story of the Passion to push an agenda. Mel said that he doesn’t think they’d go to all the trouble of doing that and then die for it.

Q: How supportive has your wife and family been? A: Mel considers himself to be a very lucky fellow and his family has been great about it.

Q: How will you go back to “Lethal Weapon 6” after doing this? A: That’s not on the calendar. (laughs) But Mel feels there are other good stories to be told, other good Bible stories although Christ’s Passion is the Big Story. Mel says it’s unfortunate that Christian films are many times rather lame. The intention is good but they simply don’t fulfill what’s trying to be reached. He says he doesn’t know what the curse is? He didn’t try to make a religious film. He tried to make something that was real for Mel Gibson.

Very erudite summary, well recorded and well presented. Thank you for giving us the report.

You might like to read this, from RICK JOYNER
http://www.morningstarministries.org/

Mel Gibson's, The Passion of the Christ is one of the most controversial films to be produced in a long time. There is a reason for this - it is one of the most anointed and powerful films produced in a very long time.

I watched it with a small group of invited guests a few weeks ago. It was by far the hardest movie that I have ever watched, but was also the most powerful and impacting. After watching great movies, I often wake up the next day thinking about them, and will often think about them for a few days afterwards. After watching, The Passion, it almost completely dominated my thoughts for days, and now that it has been weeks after I saw it, I still spend time each day pondering it. It touched something within me that deeply.

I don't think there is any question that this is the most accurate, honest portrayal of the crucifixion ever screened. The acting, directing, and overall quality of the movie is excellent, but there is more to it than that. There is an anointing on it. Even before I saw it, I knew it had the power to begin changing Christianity. I know this may sound like a wild exaggeration, but I believe it to be true. It is my earnest prayer that every Christian will see this movie.

Like Deer Caught in the Headlights

It is graphic. It is like watching the torture of the One you love the most for more than an hour. Several times it was so intense that I was about to get up and leave the room, and then, with extraordinary timing, there would be a flashback to a happier time in the Lord's life. I was able to catch my breath, and then I was thrust back to the most terrible day in human history.

I watched this movie with what I thought would be a very tough audience. There were many entertainers, entertainment company executives, and accomplished artists present - the kind of people whose eye for excellence could not but help to cause them to catch every little flaw or mistake. I was stunned by the weeping I heard across the room. When the lights came on at the end, the entire group looked like deer which had been caught in the headlamps of a car. When it was over, Mel walked up front to answer questions, but it was a very, long awkward time before any one could say anything.

It was curious to me how the pope replied after he viewed it, basically saying, "That's the way it was." For one of the most articulate men of our times, who knows many languages, that he could muster only five words in response is in itself a major statement. This movie will probably leave you speechless for a good while.

"I Can't Believe He Would Do That For Me!"

If it is like this watching a movie, which was just an hour and a half, what was it like for His disciples, His mother, and the other women who stayed with Him when He was crucified? After having lived with Jesus for more than three years, coming to know who He was, loving Him, and seeing Him endure what He did for their sakes, was without question the power behind their radical commitment, giving them the willingness to suffer for the gospel that gripped the first century church. What Mel Gibson has produced is just a movie, but it may be as accurate as it can be in a movie, and it has an anointing on it that can help us in the same way. If Jesus did that for us, what must we do for Him?

When we showed a few clips from this movie at our Harvest Fest Conference last September, they were so graphic that I was concerned about having the children see them. Then I heard that after watching the clips, my eleven-year old son and his friends were crying almost uncontrollably. I was alarmed until I heard his response to why he was crying like that. He said simply, "I can't believe God would do that for me!"

His Highest Title is the Lamb

I think that simple statement captures the most basic message of this movie and of the cross itself. The cross has been sanitized and homogenized to the point of losing its power. The Lord did not just die for us - He submitted Himself to the most cruel torture of which demented human minds could conceive. Evil vented its rage on Him with all of the power that it could muster on that day. He took it all for us.

There will never be a more powerful demonstration of the love and character of God than what was demonstrated in the last twelve hours of the Lord's life on this earth as a man. This is why His highest title in heaven, and the one the Scripture implies that He will be called forever, is the Lamb.

Embrace the Cross

We have been prophesying for more than twenty years that the cross would be popular again. The church is going to embrace the cross again. I Corinthians 1:18 says, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Because the cross "is the power of God," when the church embraces the cross, it can be trusted with the power.

As Paul also said in I Corinthians 4:20, "For the kingdom of God does not consist in words, but in power." For the church to preach the gospel of the kingdom at the end as it is called to do, we must have the power. If we want to experience the power of God in our daily lives, we must take up the cross daily. Great power is coming to the church at the end, and it will come because the church has embraced the cross.

Unfounded Fears of Anti-Semitism

I would like to also say something about the opposition to this movie that has come. To date I do not think that anyone who has seen it has opposed it. The most influential leaders of the church from across the spectrum of Christianity have endorsed it. The fears that it will release anti-Semitism are completely unfounded. In fact, every one of the heroes in this movie are Jewish, as are almost all of the heroes in the gospels, and the entire Bible.

My greatest concern is the way that the extremists who claim to be defending against anti-Semitism are themselves driving many to anti-Semitism by their tactics. This extremist group comes across like the very embodiment of the spirit that hijacked the leadership of Israel under Rome, and was the greatest persecutor of Jesus Himself, just as it is in this important movie about Him.

It will probably hit the news at some point about the extreme things that this small group of Jewish extremists have done to try to keep this movie from being distributed. Their threats and intimidations are backfiring, but many Christians who have traditionally been true friends of Israel are already being tempted to become anti-Semitic because of the behavior of these extremists. We cannot let this happen.

Do Not Judge by Extreme Elements

These extremists probably represent less than 2 percent of the Jewish population. One of the worst deceptions that continues to bring much destruction to mankind is our tendency to judge others, or other people groups, by their most extreme elements. Let us never forget that our Savior was Jewish. The writers of the New Testament were Jewish, as were the writers of the rest of the Scriptures.

The Lord promised Abraham that his seed would be a blessing to all of the families on the face of the earth, and the Jewish people have fulfilled this - they have been the greatest blessing to every nation, people, and culture, and they still are. Their ultimate destiny, which is clear in the Scriptures, will ultimately make the Jewish people again the greatest heroes of truth and righteousness. Do not let a handful of radical extremists rob you of your support and loyalty for not only God's chosen people, but also for His purposes in our times that will be revealed through them.

Also, do not let them rob you of seeing this movie. It does have the power to begin a profound change of Christianity in our times - which is desperately needed.

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