The War Against Mel Gibson and "The Passion."

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maklavan:
Ah1 there’s the rub. should a man make that kind of profit out of the Passion of Christ? Judas only made 30 piesces of silver.
I am not into “The Passion” film as the Bible does it better, but the swooning fans of Gibson should be aware that he has founded his own cult church, that he totally rejects Vatican 2, and his theology is to the right of Ghenghis Khan.
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I wasnt getting at the fact that mel would be making money, I was getting at the fact that everything those awards look for:
-Most money made for a film
-Most viewed film
-Most viewed multiple times
-a hint of controversy
-etc
the way they define “greatness” is in those terms, the Passion blew out every other film on those grounds and yet they ignored it. Also its not like he is pocketing half a billion, yes he is pocketing a lot, but a lot is also going for expenses. Is it fair if a talentless nothing like ashton kucher gets all these movies that they shove down our throats for the last 6 months and give him nice sized paychecks for the worst acting and plot you have ever heard of?
At the heart of the matter its business, people got rich off the name of Jesus, but this situation was unique, the average viewer is used to the non-bloody version where few lashes, no humiliation and quick and painless death are what they are told by their pastors and the tv. Then comes Mel and this movie, this was what “really happend” (as far a movies go) during the Passion. There was a time when a movie was original, funny, good plot, etc, but good movies now are far and few between, when someone dares to show the Passion and istn the typical pg and watered down version I am all for it.
 
Hi there,

I watched the “Passion” last year at the beginning of Lent ( thought that was fitting ) and I bought the DVD. My husband was in RCIA last year when we watched it at the theatre, and the movie made him clear on his decision to beome a Catholic. He had been struggling before, wasn’t really sure if he wanted to become a Christian or not ( he was prior LDS )and ready to drop out of RCIA. He cried along side with me and knew that Jesus’ sufferings weren’t in vain. He converted and is now a happy Catholic. Maybe I give the movie too much credit, but the mormons kind of discouraged their members to watch it because it is “R” rated. Our parish encouraged us and even bought a whole show so we could all go together ( which we didn’t, but anyway…). So we went and look at the outcome. I know it’s very graphic and violent, but those were violent times and that’s probably exactly how they treated our Lord:( . I only wish that Mel Gibson had put just a little more emphasis on the actual resurrection, which is obviously the pinnacle of it all! All in all, all of his critics ought to be ashamed of themselves for attacking him and his family for defending his faith! I would love to see him make another not so hollywood movie about Fatima or other stories from the bible even. The good book is full of great stuff to educate the masses! I hope Mel finds more guidance from the Holy Spirit in his future endeavours!
rkberlin
 
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maklavan:
Ah1 there’s the rub. should a man make that kind of profit out of the Passion of Christ?
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The U.S.A. is a Capitalist society and as such, money is required to get anything done. Gibson is competing with the anti-Christian multi-billion dollar Hollywood. So the more money he makes, the better for Christians it is.
 
Rand Al'Thor:
i remember a great interview with mel gibson where they were talking about the jewish writer or reporter (i cant remember his name) that was printing a whole bunch of stuff about how bad the passion would be for jews and all that. the interviewer asked mel gibson what he wanted to say to that guy, and i’ll never forget what mel said. he looked right at the camera and said, “God bless you, ___”. that was great.
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Even Bill O’Reilly was starting to get angry at the Hollywood writers and elites for their attack on Gibson, but Mel never said one negative word about them.
 
Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion was amazing! As I watched the movie I already new the torture he endured. I have read many things. As a mother my heart ached when Mary His mother could not get to him.
I heard Gibson was going to do a movie on the Macabees.
I have also heard Tom Hanks is going to act in the movie The Da Vinci Code. Has anyone else heard this.
 
Namoi Ruth:
Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion was amazing! As I watched the movie I already new the torture he endured. I have read many things. As a mother my heart ached when Mary His mother could not get to him.
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Though I bought the DVD movie, I really can’t watch it again, I found it too emotionally painful (ain’t I such a wussy, when Christ actually had to physically go through it). Plus, just the thought of how any human could be tortured that way, it just really gave me a negative opinion of human nature. This type of torture still goes on in the world.
 
I watched the Passion twice during it’s theater run last year, a few days after it came out, and on Good Friday.

It had an impact on me both times, but more so the second time. I believe that the first time I saw it I had heard so much about it from the secular camp that I watched it almost as a film critic would.

We have the DVD, but haven’t watched it (yet).

Finally, I have some Baptist co-workers that were told “you shouldn’t see it because it is R-rated but if someone you know wanted to watch it you could go with them” (to evangalize and/or to water down any Catholic message?). It seems somewhat hypocritical. They say they are Christians, and worship Jesus and appreciate what he suffered and died for, but wont watch the film because it is “R-rated?”

News to them: Christ Suffered and Died an “R-rated” Passion, not a PG one!

This “can’t see an R-rated movie” cop-out is pathetic. I can understand not letting children see it (in its entirety) until they are ready (13-14 years old as an initial suggested age). But not adult Christians based on a cop-out.

SG257
 
I saw the Passion last year when it came out. It was incredible.

A couple of people (who didn’t see it) asked me how I could sit there & watch something so violent. I told them that if Jesus could do that for me, I figured the least I could do was to sit there & watch. I never got a comeback from any body…
 
I’ve had the DVD sitting here for months and STILL haven’t got up the nerve to watch it. I guess ya just have to be in a certain mood to put this movie on.
 
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jeffreedy789:
wow. lot of bitterness in that post.

…
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Not bitterness, sadness. How can a man be so obsessed with violence and degredation that he only spend s 30 seconds dealing with the essential message of the Passion story: Jesus rose again! He is alive! he is glorious! Stop wallowing in Jansenist self-pity and recognise the glory of the Risen Lord! if Gibson makes a film on the Resurrection, then I will be first in the queue.
 
I didn’t see the movie in the theater but bought the DVD when it came out.

It was real hard for me to watch the movie the 2nd time but now I just fast forward thru the most violent scene’s.

Yes , I also wish that more time was spent showing the resurrection.
I’m hoping that Gibson will make a follow up movie.

Fatima movie would be great, I have found now when I pray the rosary the images of the movie come to mind when I recall the mystries.

Gibson attends a Latin traditional church. Great… I hope he visits my church.
 
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maklavan:
Not bitterness, sadness. How can a man be so obsessed with violence and degredation that he only spend s 30 seconds dealing with the essential message of the Passion story: Jesus rose again! He is alive! he is glorious! Stop wallowing in Jansenist self-pity and recognise the glory of the Risen Lord! if Gibson makes a film on the Resurrection, then I will be first in the queue.
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You cannot separate the Passion from the Resurrection because they are intimately entwined. Many have abandoned the Passion of Jesus in favor of a “feel good” Gospel that fails to recognize the price that was paid for our salvation.

Mel Gibson wasn’t trying to make a movie about the entire Gospel, he was trying to remind us of the terrible price of our sins. If it doesn’t move you, then fine. But don’t try to spoil it for those who have been deeply moved by the film. For me, it was a turning point and I have had a deep desire to grow close to the Lord ever since I saw the first trailer in October 2003. I simply cannot stand by and let someone minimize that experience without comment.
 
I too think that the purpose of the movie was not to show to resurrection, but to show what Jesus went through for us. And I honestly don’t see how anyone could miss that message.
 
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JimO:
You cannot separate the Passion from the Resurrection because they are intimately entwined. Many have abandoned the Passion of Jesus in favor of a “feel good” Gospel that fails to recognize the price that was paid for our salvation.

Mel Gibson wasn’t trying to make a movie about the entire Gospel, he was trying to remind us of the terrible price of our sins. If it doesn’t move you, then fine. But don’t try to spoil it for those who have been deeply moved by the film. For me, it was a turning point and I have had a deep desire to grow close to the Lord ever since I saw the first trailer in October 2003. I simply cannot stand by and let someone minimize that experience without comment.
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So right on JimO couldn’t agree more.
:amen:
 
Not bitterness, sadness. How can a man be so obsessed with violence and degredation that he only spend s 30 seconds dealing with the essential message of the Passion story: Jesus rose again! He is alive! he is glorious! Stop wallowing in Jansenist self-pity and recognise the glory of the Risen Lord! if Gibson makes a film on the Resurrection, then I will be first in the queue.
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this is a huge part of the problem of the modern age. we want the resurrection without the crucifixion. we want to live forever, without dying to ourselves daily. we want to inherit eternal life, but we don’t want to take up our crosses and follow Him.

to see the passion of our lord (which, incidentally, the ‘stages of the cross’ portray, without emphasis on the resurrection, in alost every catholic church) and to call it jansenist self pity is to grossly misunderstand what the gospel and the resurrection mean.

perhaps gibson was ‘obsessed with violence and degradation’ because that’s what His Lord suffered for us. and to that suffering we are invited to relate in OUR sufferings. when i saw Christ suffer and bleed and die (which was much less violent than i was expecting), it touched me on a very deep and visceral level - He did this for me, and so that i can have eternal life - so that i can have HIM.

the movie is called ‘the passion’. not ‘the life of Christ’ or ‘His final week’ or ‘the resurrection.’ with a title like that, one might expect to see the passion.
 
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jeffreedy789:
this is a huge part of the problem of the modern age. we want the resurrection without the crucifixion. we want to live forever, without dying to ourselves daily. we want to inherit eternal life, but we don’t want to take up our crosses and follow Him.

to see the passion of our lord (which, incidentally, the ‘stages of the cross’ portray, without emphasis on the resurrection, in alost every catholic church) and to call it jansenist self pity is to grossly misunderstand what the gospel and the resurrection mean.

perhaps gibson was ‘obsessed with violence and degradation’ because that’s what His Lord suffered for us. and to that suffering we are invited to relate in OUR sufferings. when i saw Christ suffer and bleed and die (which was much less violent than i was expecting), it touched me on a very deep and visceral level - He did this for me, and so that i can have eternal life - so that i can have HIM.

the movie is called ‘the passion’. not ‘the life of Christ’ or ‘His final week’ or ‘the resurrection.’ with a title like that, one might expect to see the passion.
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excellently put.

there is also the fact that the passion gospel reading at mass doesnt spend any time at all on the resurrection either. it is the passion.
 
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stargazer257:
Finally, I have some Baptist co-workers that were told "you shouldn’t see it because it is R-rated
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I have posted this before, but one of the best comebacks to that line is what Mel said himself. It was when he was on the tonight show, Jay Leno said how great a movie it was and then turned to Mel and said to him “did it have to be rated R?”
Mel replied “the Bible is rated R”.
 
“The Passion of The Christ” is one of the best movies ever!!!
 
The true incarnation of Jesus Christ into the world of cinema were the movies Mulholland Drive and Dogville, taken together .
 
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