Replies

Your anlysis on the financial impact sounds rational. I regretted using the word "severe" after posting my piece. But, I still think that The Passion has the potential to be watched many times over because it (potentially) helps one contemplate a mystery of faith. I can't make a firm judgement until I see actually see the movie. Thanks.

Friend,

I agree with you and I expect it to be watched many many times, just not in theaters. It's a safe bet that this will be one of the biggest DVD releases of all time, maybe the biggest DVD release of all time. Many folks who take religion seriously will buy it, as will fans of Gibson and cinema.

The Passion has made the jump from movie event, to media event, to cultural event. That's very rare. It will be handicapped by the brutality, I think, something that will be more subdued on the small tv screen, rather than .

The trick is, this film will attract people to the movies that don't often go. It will be bought on DVD by people who don't often buy DVDs. It will make records, no doubt - it's full impact remains to be seen.

As for me, I am a practicing catholic and I am a huge fan of cinema. That being said, I rarely go to the movies anymore (though I am 'only' 36, haha!) since hollywood's output is so bad. I have a huge DVD collection, 1200+ discs, skewing heavily to older films (1975 and earlier), since that's where my taste skews. I was more excited about the release of 'Once Upon A Time in the West' than I was over the Special Edition of 'XXX' - hahah! The best DVD I will get in 2004 is the 8-film 'Best of Abbott & Costello, vol 1, for only 20 buks! So I am 'oldschool!'

But I'll see the Passion next Saturday, and I will also buy the DVD. This isn't a movie it's an event. That's whats ticking off religionphobes the most.