Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of Christ"

[Jenya]

I get to screen the final Master Print of The Passion Of Christ this Sunday. The movie is ready to be shipped to theaters on Monday (our company is finished duplicating the film). I can't wait to see it. I don't want to spoil it for anybody, but I'll give a sneak review on it Sunday evening.

[Brian]

I want to see that movie, even though the US version won't have subtitles. I remember reading that Mel Gibson wanted the character's performances speak for themselves. However, if it is deemed necessary, subtitles might be added later on. I think it makes the film seem more genuine to not have the characters speaking English because I doubt anyone back then spoke any of it.

[Pavan]

Interview with Mel on the movie and other things, in a special hour long special hosted by Diane Sawyer:

A Special Edition Of Primetime "Mel Gibson: The Passion of Christ" (Working Title) will air on Monday, February 16, 2004 in the 10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT on ABC.

[Brad Russ]

Originally posted by pavanbadal
Interview with Mel on the movie and other things, in a special hour long special hosted by Diane Sawyer:

A Special Edition Of Primetime "Mel Gibson: The Passion of Christ" (Working Title) will air on Monday, February 16, 2004 in the 10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT on ABC.

Thanks for the info! I will most definitely be watching! Iv'e been looking for information on upcoming Mel Gibson interviews in regards to this movie for months now, but have been unable to find any. Seems as if he has been laying low these last 8 months or so through all the controversy, and criticism this film has been receiving. It'll be interesting to see what his response to all the controversy will be.

[~*Hannah_Lee*~]

I'm really looking forward to this. Mel has put a lot of emphasis on accurately portraying this story, which is something rarely seen in movies based on true stories today.

[david&maddie4ever]

Looking forward to it!

Aren't there a bunch of Jewish people who are dead-set against this movie? I thought I heard that they felt they are not being portrayed accurately.

~Lauren

[Brian]

A lot of Jewish people are slamming the film because they claim it blames them for Christs' death and that they are portrayed in a bad light.

[webuster]

Are subtitles definitely not being used on US prints? I love it that Mel Gibson has put so much hard work into making a work of art, and telling the story accurately- but I think it'd be a mistake not to have subtitles.

[Jenya]

Well sorry it took a day for my review, but here it goes:

The Passion Of The Christ is a masterpiece, but it is very controversial. Much of the story blames the Jewish people for his crucifixion- which is why there is so much debate on it. But on the other hand, Pope John Paul II claims this film is very accurate. James Caviezel does a great job as Mr. Christ (I'd sooner use that term than Jesus Christ- it's more polite ), and there is even a Satan character, played by Rosalinda Celentano.

This film is very graphic due to the violence portrayed leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus.

The cinematography is dark, but remarkable, and the costumes that were used are really cool.

Anyway, I don't want to give out any more details. This film is highly recommended- it's not for young kids at all. The film rating is 18+ here in Canada ("R" in the United States).

I think everybody will like it- which ever religion you practice.

[Jenya]

Originally posted by pavanbadal
Interview with Mel on the movie and other things, in a special hour long special hosted by Diane Sawyer:

A Special Edition Of Primetime "Mel Gibson: The Passion of Christ" (Working Title) will air on Monday, February 16, 2004 in the 10:00 - 11:00 PM ET/PT on ABC.

Thanks for the info, Pav.

By the way-- Early reports from my company are telling me that the DVD/Video production of this movie will start sometime in May, and DVD/Video duplication will most likely begin sometime in August.

There is no set release date for the DVD/Video just yet, but I hear it may be in stores as early as October.

[Rhiannon]

Mel Gibson is such a great actor. I am excited about seeing this!

[Jenya]

Is The Passion Of Christ Anti-Semitic?


By:Robert Novak
Townhall.com

November 03, 2003



WASHINGTON -- When a private viewing of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" was completed at a Washington hotel 10 days ago, my wife and I along with a dozen other invited guests were emotionally frozen into several minutes of silence. The question is whether public presentation of the film four months hence shall be welcomed by tumultuous demonstrations outside the theaters.

Hollywood actor Gibson, who spent over $25 million of personal funds to produce "The Passion," has finally found a distributor to begin its showing Feb. 25 -- Ash Wednesday. A campaign by some Jewish leaders to radically edit the film or, alternatively, prevent its exhibition appears to have failed. This opens the door to religious conflict if the critics turn their criticism into public protest.

That is not because of the content of "The Passion." As a journalist who has actually seen what the producers call "a rough cut" of the movie and not just read about it, I can report it is free of the anti-Semitism that its detractors claim. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and its allies began attacking the movie on the basis of reading a shooting script without having actually seen the film. The ADL carries a heavy burden in stirring religious strife about a piece of entertainment that, apart from its artistic value, is of deep religious significance for believing Christians.

The agitation peaked in early August when New York State Assemblyman Dov Hikind told a rally: "This film is dangerous for Jews all over the world. I am concerned that it would lead to violence against Jews." Hikind had not viewed the film. After an ADL representative viewed a rough cut, longtime ADL director Abraham Foxman on Aug. 11 declared the movie "will fuel hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism." Foxman called on Gibson to change his film so that it would be "free of any anti-Semitic message." This renews the 200-year-old dispute over the Jewish role in the crucifixion of Christ, the source of past Jewish persecution.

"The Passion" depicts in two hours the last 12 hours of Jesus Christ's life. To watch him beaten, scourged and crucified so graphically is a shattering experience for believing Christians and surely for many non-Christians as well. It makes previous movie versions of the crucifixion look like Hollywood fluff. Gibson wants to avoid an "R" rating, but violence is not what bothers Abe Foxman.

Foxman and other critics complain that the Jewish high priest Caiphas and a Jewish mob are demanding Christ's execution, but that is straight from the Gospels. Father C. John McCloskey, director of the Catholic Information Center in Washington, told me: "If you find the Scriptures anti-Semitic, you'll find this film anti-Semitic."

Complaints by liberal Bible scholars that "The Passion" is not faithful to Scripture are rejected by the Vatican. Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, who heads the Congregation for the Clergy, called the film "a triumph of art and faith," adding: "Mel Gibson not only closely follows the narrative of the Gospels, giving the viewer a new appreciation for those biblical passages, but his artistic choices also make the film faithful to the meaning of the Gospels."

As for inciting anti-Semitism, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos contended "the film does nothing of the sort." This Vatican official is denying that Gibson violates the 1965 papal document Nostra Aetate, which states: "What happened in (Christ's) passion cannot be charged against all the Jews, without distinction, then alive, nor against the Jews of today."

No such libel is committed by "The Passion," where the mob's Jewish identity is not specified. In the film, the high priest's men who seize Christ are easily surpassed in brutality by sadistic Roman soldiers. The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, is depicted as a weak, calculating politician who orders the execution. As a Catholic convert, I was taught we are all sinners who share in guilt for the crucifixion.

At the heart of the dispute over "The Passion" is freedom of expression. Liberals who defended the right to exhibit Martin Scorsese's "The Last Temptation of Christ," which deeply offended orthodox Christians, now demand censorship of "The Passion of Christ." As a result, Abe Foxman and his allies have risked stirring religious tensions over a work of art.

[I am Him]

Will Jesus be portrayed as a boring robot with no personality and a monotone voice like he is in every other film?

[webuster]

Will Jesus be portrayed as a boring robot with no personality and a monotone voice like he is in every other film?

That's what I hate too about religious films. Jesus is way too calm, and talks like he's patronising everyone, and sounds spaced out.

Also, I hate it when organizations get involved with censoring films or any form of art. If this film was being made by some obscure little guy in New Jersey with a $250 video camera with his friends in the garage- they wouldn't care. It's because this film is getting so much attention, it's big-budget, mel gibson etc. Besides, I think people are smarter these days- everyone is always reminded of the holocaust, few people would ever run out and start an anti-semitic hate parade because of a film.

[dlemond]

These protest groups are full of such BS and drama you'd think they were the ones in need of attention.

You know, the Italians are part of the crucifixtion and I think that can start some ant-Italian sentiment too. So let's ban the film and the Bible. I'm going on a coast to coast quest to every hotel and confiscating Bibles from their rooms.

Ridiculous people.

It's like saying a movie about Hitler is going to stir up anti-German sentiment. And that was in the last 60 years and the Germans killed millions of Jews.

The ADL is more like the "Look at me-League"
Go get a hobby.