[jonboy]

Just this Christians view of how this will play out. If any other things come to mind, please mention them

[jonboy]

Please bump this article if you will, I had intended only to preview and then post it more around quitting time. Oh well, I posted it by accident.

[reed_inthe_wind]

Hollywood will come under severe financial pressure due to this movie. Families will want to watch this movie many times almost ritualistically. It will replace new movies and DVD rentals (for a significant market segment) because it will be watched so many times. Hollywood will be in turmoil while they try to imitate it and compete for our attention. Movie trailers and television commercials will come under its sway first, while movie studios and television series will struggle to adapt. Foreign films with subtitles will also flourish for a while.

[latrans]

It has already had a profound affect on my thinking
about torture.

[2banana]

Great read except for this:

Also consider the other merchandising.

Somehow I don't see Burger King putting something from this movie into the "Kid' Meal" bag...

[sheik yerbouty]

I'm curious. Was there any kind of flap over the films "King of Kings" or "The Greatest Story Ever Told"?

[jtminton]

Too bad many of the people who NEED to see this movie will be too busy lined up around the courthouse in leather pants and comfortable shoes. . .

[Squawk 8888]

I'll have to respectfully disagree with your opinion on Last Temptation. I didn't like it but I didn't find it anti-religious at all, we do know that Satan wanted Him desperately so the film could have been an interesting "what if" exploration.

[AnnaZ]

Excellent summation of events. The poltical stuff in the end of it is unimportant to me, but you laid out quite well many of my thoughts, rants and predictions.

 

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

 

 

 

 

[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.

[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.

[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.

[Red Boots]

One impact I think might be big is that this movie was distributed independently, and will be probably be a blockbuster. In our small town, over 2 weeks of showings have already been sold out to area churches. That's the money in the hands of theater owners 3 weeks before the movie even arrives. You can't say no to that kind of cash flow. Mel Gibson has demonstrated the way for other independent film makers and distributers to get around the existing Hollywood stranglehold, and proved that the money, and lots of it, is out there. This trickle will become a flood, bypassing the Hollywood elite. Their days are numbered.

[The Cuban]

PLease don't use the terms Christian and Catholic in contradistinction. The terms are Protestant and Catholic. Thanks. We are ALL Christians.

[Brimack34]

The news shows seem to be attacking it. I have seen a lot of churches with signs up that they will be discussing this movie.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Like "Braveheart"???

[TheCause]

Well.....jonboy, after having read your piece I can only say this.

That was truly inspiring and I will have a Wonderful Weekend and Wonderful upcoming week because I was lucky enough to read your post!

I really think you hit the nail on the head.

I will be thinking about what you said when I sit in church on Sunday with my three wonderful children & my lovely wife.

Have a Wonderful Day!

[Quix]

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

FOR SURE. WELL SAID.

BTTT

[solitas]

Poor Mel, his detractors said, he'll be out so much money, between $25-$50 million by the time you count distribution costs. I predict that once the dust settles Mel will be a billionaire from this venture. Not only will this movie be seen by Christians, but detractors and curiosity seekers will see it as well. Plus the HUGE Catholic audience worldwide will want to see it. Also consider how many people will be seeing this movie multiple times to send a message. We haven't even looked at DVDs and videos which will be purchased later for evangelism tools and for personal collections. I wouldn't think of not owning this movie. Also consider the other merchandising.

Gibson's no fool: the pocketbooks of the pious are just as deep as those of the lemmings who have to be the first in line for the latest "blockbuster". Considering all the free publicity he's been given (this website just being a minor example), by his dealings and interviews and private screenings, and who _was_ and who _wasn't_ invited to a screening, everything goes to show he knew what he was doing and is going to make a lot more than if he just kept his mouth shut, made the film, and put it out with only the regular showing of advertising. Posit a religious belief, or in some way demonstrate your faith or expound upon it and not only will you have your detractors and conscientious defenders but also unintentional detractors and defenders caught along in the undertow.

There are those who only want to be entertained with another "blood and mud" movie, there are those who will attend hoping for some kind of divine experience (not saying that they won't think they'll have one), plain old curiosity seekers, malcontents looking for another device to be insulted/offended/scandalized by, aforementioned lemmings, and the regular crowd wanting to see another crucifixion movie. Six months from now all the conflict will be blown over; and then in a year the DVD will come out and I'll bet it'll be presented with a nicely merchandising "own the movie everyone's been talking about today or you won't go to heaven" spiel. Sad.
< /my interest in the topic>