Posted on 02/23/2004 4:56:38 PM PST by carlo3b
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST.. (A HIT OR A MISS?).. Live thread!Contrary to popular media pronouncements, the first of the commercial showing of this long awaited, landmark, and controversial film has already debuted and the misconceptions that the fate of this endeavor hangs in the balance.. That is HOGWASH.. The Passion of the Christ is on the brink of a record breaking opening, in spite of the limited available screens, and the all out, and outragous efforts on the part of the National Media's near unanimous rejection, and the Hollywood establishment roadblocks to stymie this motion picture and it's brilliant and courageous director/producer..
I just receive a call from friends that attended a church sponsored midday showing of the movie with more than 850 of their fellow flock. The collective response was "it was sobering and breathtaking, and they existed with a profound feeling of moral inadequacy".
I toyed with the idea of accepting an invitation to book a private showing at a local theater for this weekend, however after calling a few local churches to help fill the seats I discovered that all (I call 12) of the parishes and neighborhood churches had already secured their own private dates with sellout crowds.. Every one of them had sold the seats within a day of their announcements... I just may book a threater in three weeks for all of my friends and family, that wish to watch it again, and again..
Your comments...
Maybe this movie was one of the last signs for our generation.Not so fast, my dear FRiend, there is hope.. I got it, and perhaps there are a lot more that GOT IT too.
After having taken the time to digest this film, and settling in on the impact that this experience may have on me, I think I can honestly say I finally "get it". The "it" is why did this (the birth, crucifixion, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ) all happen, and how does it affect me and everyone else, today.
I think I discovered that we really do need to believe in something bigger than ourselves. Something untarnished, spiritual, therefore unattainable, and mighty impressive. I mean something really big, bigger than our bank account or our flawed and mortal idols, or any Hollywood depiction's of everlasting happiness. We needed a real role model. Someone to guide us to exist amongst ourselves, with all of those the temptations, the limitless complexities, and to be there when all appears lost. We needed someone when we discover that there are no apparent answers, that is without some divine intervention.
This is where God comes in. He, (our creator, this is where faith comes in), saw that we were struggling, and were probably not going to get any better on our own. And since He is a merciful and loving God, He gave us a second chance. He sent his son, his only son, Jesus Christ, to show us "The Way".
God gave us the ability to reason, to think and make choices. However, that ability came with the capacity to mess up, and we sure did that very well. Reason is our strength, and our weakness. It was obvious that we needed someone special to rock us on a straight course to a shot at eternal bliss.. The Passion of the Christ, proved to everyone that He believed in us, so why wouldn't we believe in Him.
I really didn't mean for this to be a prayer, but why not.. Thank you God, and Bless you my Jesus Christ.. Spend your time on someone else that really needs you now, there are still so many.. because I finally got it.. Oh, and just one more thing God.. thanks for sending us Mel Gibson with his special talents to help out..
I really hope Mel makes more than money for his courage, but I hope that he sets all of the records.. No one will ever attempt this subject again without being measured by his achievement..
Disclaimer, since you never know:
I'm not opposed to Fox News or supportive of this review! I can't wait to see the film and have supported the film, against some really angry opponents, on movie message boards which are populated by more liberals than the Democratic Convention.
Anyway, Roger Friedman has been using his position as Foxnews's Hollywood insider as a soapbox to bash "The Passion" for months now. There's a link to e-mail Foxnews on the top. He could use a Freeping.
I can't seem to find the words to explain the impact it had on me.
Never in my life have I seen a movie for the first time knowing the beginning, the middle and the ending..along with the dialogue and yet...it was as though I knew nothing at all.....as if it was all new....so hard to explain.
I don't mean to offend, but God, according to the Bible, knew right from Day one and before, that Jesus would be nailed to the Cross for our sins.
I realize you meant that God reached down to us, but even your explanation showed me that you didn't explain it Biblically correct, and that does make part of my point. God did not give us a 'second chance because he saw us go bad when He thought we would go good'
Your saying that, "and were probably not going to get any better on our own." shows that either you typed too fast, or you yourself just don't understand just what sin is and how far we as humans are separated from God and condemned because of our sin.
That is what I didst see in the 2nd show. These people had no clue why Jesus had to die. They knew the story, but they had no idea of what sin is to God, how it is that which condemns us, and it is that very reason God knew that He would have to die for us in our place, to place the full punishment for MANKIND on Jesus Christ in the way He did.
And those people laughed, ate popcorn, not knowing any meaning behind what they saw in that theater. It was just a movie! It had no personal bearing on what they knew of life and living, and eternity and where they will go when they die and even that they themselves are CONDEMNED without Jesus Christ.
The sin of Adam condemned MANKIIND entirely! ALL OF US! We are all born SINNERS. It is not about a second chance, it is about proving His love to men and Angels because of Satan and his fellow demons who were sinners before the World began, and how fragile men, who are only in the flesh, and must trust God by faith! and never saw God face to face, that His mercy to us is why Jesus Christ had to DIE on th cross for us, to pay the penalty for sin.
I'm not telling you off. Really. It's just people dont know or explain in Biblical terms with Biblical accuracy the things that are Biblically true!
...(me too sometimes...) :)
The girl I sat next to was probably 10-11 years old and she couldn't read, so the subtitles were worthless, and she said she had never heard the story of the Passion?!? I was trying to explain it to her as important things were happening. I was a little miffed at the guy in front of me that kept turning around, as if I'm interrupting his ability to hear the words (unless he was a scholar and knew both languages - or was just easily distracted and couldn't read the words with someone whispering behind him). I got over it. Out of 5 roses I give the Movie a 6.
The real crime will be the method in which they punish Mel and this wonderful film..They will ignore this film, except to slash everything about it.. Too Violent, Pointless, Inaccurate, Antisemitic, etc.. in 3 weeks you wouldn't know it ever existed, and Mel will be marginalize as a kook..
Whatever we say.. Every biblical film from this date forward will be measured by the level of talent and emotional equity that Gibson invested in The Passion.
Being factually correct is wonderful, and admirable, but not entirely necessary. I don't hold myself out as a student of the Bible, much less a teacher.. My faith is personal. I know Race, that you are correct, but this is how my faith works for me.. and as long as my internal behavioral compass holds my actions, and my interactions with others in check, and leads me to try to live within the conditions of a decent man, in accordance to the commandments.. the details really don't get in my way..
Now raising kids, and cooking great food takes meticulous accuracy, and that indeed is were I draw the line.. :)
But this is a new emotion that my kids and I can't remember ever happening before.. Once was truly enough.. it took that much out of me..
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