Will The Passion Movie Have Political As Well As Spiritual Consequences?

Vanity | 2-20-2004 | John Fields

[Sans-Culotte]

This movie, I believe will set the all time record for box-office take.

No way. I hope it does well, but it's not going to top Titanic, or Lord of the Rings or even those American Pie movies, IMO.

While I agree there is a double standard in the reception of Gibson's film as opposed to Scorsese's, remember that it's been a rather long time now since The Last Temptation of Christ was released. Also, I don't think the basic temptation premise was all that objectionable in Scorsese's film (since Christ does reject the temptation and dies on the cross). It was the other stuff, like Jesus making and carrying crosses for the Romans, and saying stuff like "I'm the prince of blasphemy", etc that was annoying to me. However, the crucifixion was quite well done, particularly the Via Dolorosa (in the style of a Hyeronomous Bosch painting with spooky music in the background).

Two things bother me about the Gibson film. 1.) The language thing. I see no point in the gimmicky use of languages. 2.) The point of the story. Will the movie relate Christ's death to salvation, or will it merely be a document as to the brutality of crucifixion as a form of punishment?

I will be seeing it in ay case.

[Pyro7480]

I have that book! There's a Catholic edition of the book printed by TAN Books. It's really good.

[jonboy]

As I said in the article, the political considerations and impact of the movie are certainly secondary to the societal implications. I would respectfully suggest that the political implications become more important, although certainly not up there with the spiritual impact. Think of all of the spiritual causes that have been set back and maligned because of politics? Abortion, homosexuality, taking the Ten Commandments down, lack of prayer in school, the proposal to take In God We Trust off of our money and One Nation Under God out of our pledge, and other things like these have entered into the political realm from the spiritual. What will out of control politicians and bureaucrats take away next. While God should always come first, having political blinders on (which I'm not suggesting you do) can cause us to fall into a spiritual ditch.

[AnnaZ]

1.) The language thing. I see no point in the gimmicky use of languages.

Gimmicky? LOL... it was one of the riskiest aspects of Gibson's vision, and it's historical, and I commend him for it. I, for one, am definitely tired of "hearing" Jesus speak with an English accent.

[Sans-Culotte]

Yes, but it is written in English, and translated to these languages, which are spoken by English-speaking actors not even fluent in them. Remember that Gibson did not even want to use subtitles originally. I believe Gibson is probably making some sort of "statement" about how he preferred the mass in latin. If he had left out the subtitles, I would avoid the film for that reason alone.

[jonboy]

I'm also quite glad that He did that (except for having to read the sub-titles). I think it will bring a lot more realism into it.

[discostu]

Given the number of screens this is going to be on it will definitely be a top 10 (which means beating American Pie) grossling film, probably top 5 (which means beating any single installment of LOTR), and could be #1. There's HUGE prospective audience for this movie, by some counts theres around 150 million Christians in this country if half of them see the movie once (no multi-viewings, no non-Christians in attendance) it'll tie Titanic. If only a third go (same conditions) it's wedge inbetween ET and Star Wars for the number 3 spot.

I don't think the language thing is gimicky at all. The movie is in the same languages the Bible was originally written in, I wouldn't have a problem with somebody doing the Iliad in Latin (actually I think it would be cool), any fan of opera knows you've got a lot more things telling a story than the words and there's nothing wrong with telling the story in a language the audience doesn't know. I'd rather it wasn't subtitled actually, subtitles draw the eye and brain away from the images rhythm and inflection which are really the part that tells a story.

From what I've seen the message of the movie very much is "this is what Christ went through for your salvation".

[Sans-Culotte]

The thing that is the real "story" here is the fact that a movie about Christ's crucifixion is "controversial" at all. The Last Temptation, Corpus Christi, et al deserve controversy because they took a controversial approach from the get-go. Someone mentioned on another thread that King of Kings and The Greatest Story Ever Told did not cause such a ruckus back in the 60's. Sadly, they would today.

[discostu]

I see nothing wrong with it being controversial, religion IS a controversial subject that's why you're not supposed to discuss it among friends. But what those against it are objecting to is absolutely hilarious. The fact that so many people are so aghast that anyone would make a pro-religion movie is funny (at least from where I sit), the other side has crossed the line from controversial to horrified in a way that should embarass them.

[SpookBrat]

"I'm fascinated by the obvious spiritual dynamic at work here."

I am too Anna, and I'm anxious to see what will happen in the next few weeks.

[oldfart]

The audience for this movie will be made up, in large part, by the ultra-conservative denominations, some of which consider movies a form of sin. It would only barely surprise me to find horse-drawn buggies parked in front of the theater.

[ArrogantBustard]

Iliad in Latin

I'd rather see the Illiad (and the Odyssey) in Greek, than in Latin. Maybe that's just me...

;'}

[CalKat]

What Hollywood elites have been voicing a drumbeat of disapproval over this film? I haven't seen anyone from Hollywood even mention it except Mel Gibson.

[discostu]

Wow how incredibly insulting of the devout Christians of the world.

[discostu]

Damn, I knew I was getting that one wrong but I just couldn't navigate it to right. Oh well, there's always someone on FR that knows better.

[catonsville]

My predictions:

The movie will have a 40 million dollar opening weekend , than go on to make about 150 million in domestic release. Sorry, I would like more, but unless a movie gets REPEAT business from the 16-25 crowd it will not do huge box office. This is a very violent movie, people will not want to go through it a second time.

There will be incidents, graffiti and destruction at synagogues, etc NOT done by the people who saw the movie but by those secretive losers who need to get a thrill being part of the news. Muslim extremists will try to use to the film to harm Jews and smear Christians.

There will be a major change FOR THE BETTER in the relationship of Jews and Christians throughout the world now that this has all out in the open. I really believe this.

Poor Mel Gibson, now a serious respected profitable director he will have to make more serious respectable profitable films to satisfy his fans. Lethal Weapon 5 is no longer an option for him.

Abe Foxman will try to prevent it, but The ADL will go the way of the NAACP and ACLU, periphery players in the political landscape, not taken too seriously anymore.

[Clintons a commie]

it, death threats were supposedly received, and to top it off, it only took in a little more than eight million dollars. Of course, it couldn't have had anything to do with the fact that it was an anti-religious allegorical interpretation of a Christ who was weak, implied gay

I'm not defending LAST TEMPTATION, which is loaded with theological and historical inaccuracies(but they were "ok" because it was Marty's vision/sarcasm off), but Jesus is definitely not gay in the film, implied or otherwise.

[Rockitz]

Nice piece, jonboy!

I had the honor of seeing a pre-release screening of "The Passion" back in January. Wow! Very well done with great use of flashbacks of Jesus' ministry and readily apparent spiritual warfare throughout. Christians won't notice the subtitles because they already know the story, but it maybe a bit tiresome for those that don't. The end left me wanting unless, of course, Mel is planning a sequel (let's say "Resurrection of The Christ"). There were a couple Jewish Christians in the audience who found some fault, but as someone else said in the post-movie discussion, "The truth is the truth."

[Borderline44]

It's just a movie.

Remember Last Temptation of Christ? I thought it was a pretty good flick the first time I saw it, but when I watched it with my kids 12 years later I was appalled at how boring it was. I was shocked at how dull the process of watching that turd of a movie was. Remember when it first came out? You would think that the world was ending and Jesus Christ himself had returned to judge the good and the wicked. 12 years later the whole thing is forgotten and any jackass like me can stroll into a Blockbuster and rent it off a shelf.

Passion of Christ? Probably it's interesting because of the blood. That's all I keep hearing about, and that's the only thing Gibson has ever been able to make. If it's about the blood, then it's going to be dull.

Tell the story about Jesus. Tell how he suffered. But don't pretend that Gibson is able to deliver to us real-life violence. Don't let some movie maker tell us that this is "really what happened". These guys have higher opinions of themselves than Jesus Christ had of himself. After he went back to heaven that is.

I'm going to be right there with the rest of the moviegoing public, munching on my popcorn while Jesus is up there on the cross. Don't for a second let any of these ridiculous reviews imply that any movie can deliver into our homes the violence or the "passion" of such an event. This movie will be just like any other. It will live with me for about 5 weeks and when I'm watching it with my grandkids 12 years from now I'll lie on the floor and beg to be run over because it is so boring, stupid and dull.

And don't get me started on Gibson's old man. Mel should do the whole world a favor and run that guy over with his car.

OK I've said enough. Please don't let this thing get blown out of proportion.

[jonboy]

Then what, BI? Unless they edited the part out of the script which said so I KNOW that the offending section of the movie had Jesus kissing EITHER John or Judas on the mouth. I acknowledge that it could have been edited out due to HEAVY criticism from mainstream Christians (probably in the DVD though). But it was there at one point.