Mel Gibson's The Passion, sparking concern from the ADL.

In his present condition, I doubt that he is very perceptive of any film he views.

The controversy is just what Mel likely wants. Of course, over the Christmas holiday, just about every religious epic was shown including the very fine "Jesus of Nazareth" which includes a very touching, beautifully filmed Crucifixion (there aren't many films depicting the Birth of Christ which seems strange as that is the bigger holiday!) Is Christs early life that boring? The compilers of the Bible left out most of the still existing gnostic text describing Christ's early life.

The film seems aimed at showing how disgusting the Crucifixion was and how we should all be shamed by the reality of it, and all become better people. I frankly have always believe that many those who make these films have delusions of grandeur and need to seek psychiatric help. Motion pictures by their very nature advocate and worship idols.

"Jesus Christ Bloody Superstar"

Reuters via Yahoo News

I wonder why Mel didn't get it into a few theaters in NY and LA in time for Oscar consideration...

I suppose he's hoping for a miracle -- taking up 2000 screens with a film that is in a foreign language with no sub-titles. There will be those who will respond to the controversy and go see it for the curiosity. Those who need this sort of thing to facilitate being inspired by the Gospels are wanting indeed.

According to the NY Times, church groups are buying tickets by the thousands. My guess is that this phenomenon will only help Gibson's cause for a while, but we shall see...

Buying tickets by the thousands? Gee, that means at $9.00 a ticket, that's could be a box office of maybe what any independent film would bring in on the first weekend. As Mel has produced and directed the film based on his beliefs (his own words) then he should only care if it pleases those of like mind, not that it makes money. Could making money qualify it for the status of the money changers in the temple? Jesus may come back just to knock over a few movie projectors.

Interesting theological questions, Lightwizard! My guess is that the motives may be a bit more prosaic. I suspect that after all the controversy, the true believers want to show their support for Mel and his movie...

But are they fundamentalist Catholics -- are the Protestants going to the movie theater in droves?

To answer your question, LW, this is an email that I received from a non-Catholic Christian acquaintance. Of course, being an email, I can't vouch for its validity. apologies to everyone for the length.

If you haven't heard about Mel Gibson's "The Passion Of The Christ" movie
that's coming out Feb 25, 2004, you should read on. If you have, you should
read on. Below are 2 emails, one from Christine Nockels and one from Lisa
Bevill (both Christian recording artists) who attended a private screening
of the movie in TN. Please read both of these and then seriously consider
getting some advanced tickets to this thing. Also, forward this to family,
friends, and church friends that may be interested in hearing about his
movie. It's important that we all try to go see the movie within the first
two weeks to let Hollywood know that we support this type of work.
--------------------------------------------------


Hello friends and family, Nathan and I wanted to share with you that we were
able to attend a private screening of the new Mel Gibson film titled "The
Passion Of The Christ" this past Monday night. We unexpectedly got on the
list to go and view it at First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. Neither
of us were really prepared for what we viewed. It's really hard to find the
words to tell you how life-changing this film was for both of us.


First of all, Nathan and I felt completely out of place. We got in somehow
through Don Donahue (thankyou Don) but most of the crowd was the Country
Music Industry...artists, radio and press. Ricky Scaggs sort of hosted the
event.


This movie changed our lives forever. The room was full of the sound of
weeping and loud sobbing, including our own. I told Nathan on the way home
that I only wish that I would have seen it as a young teen.


It is so fitting that the whole movie begins with a black screen with the
text of Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities , the chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
and by His stripes we are healed".


I've attached an e-mail below from Lisa Bevill who attended the viewing as
well. She very beautifully describes the experience of viewing the film and
then getting to have a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself.
(PLEASE take time to read it because she goes into great detail about the Q
& A time that we had with Mel...it was so cool.)


The room was silent as the movie ended and even as Mel walked down the isle
of the chapel people remained completely stunned by the film. After he was
formally introduced, everyone stood and applauded him loudly. He so
graciously answered each question, and was very candid with us. It was very
apparent, though there was a huge absence of "christian lingo" coming from
his mouth (breath of fresh air...thank you) that he has a deep relationship
with God, he believes that Jesus is the Messiah, and that he's coming back
to get his people.


Mel and his small band of believers around him are asking the church to take
on a "grass roots" approach to this film. They are asking us to tell
everyone we know about it... They are wanting artists to show the DVD
trailer at concerts, to do pre-sales on tickets through churches and FOR
EVERYONE TO GO SEE IT OPENING WEEK! It really does matter that you go the
first 2 weeks of opening which is FEB.25TH. It is so important!! THIS MOVIE
IS LIFE-CHANGING AND I PROMISE YOU IT IS ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THIS
MOVIE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.


I fell in love with Jesus on Monday night. Either for the first time, or all
over again. It is so amazing that the same King who endured that cross and
was broken for me, lives inside of me! I am in Him and He is in me. I cannot
wait until Noah and Elliana are young teens so that we can let them view
this movie.


Please pray for Mel Gibson. Pray for protection for he and his family. Pray
that God would pour back on him 100 fold what he spent on this movie so that
MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS CAN BE MADE! He spoke about the major warfare that has
been going on over this movie. He also told us about several miracles and
conversions that happened throughout the making of this film.
(Lisa tells about these in the letter below) So amazing...


Anyway, we just wanted you to know about this so that you can have a huge
part in the success of this film! Lisa gives out the website info as well
below. You can put a link to it on your website and you can also request
promotional materials from their website as well.


Blessings to all of you in the name of our Lord! Christy and Nathan Nockels
(E-mail from Lisa is below)


-------------------------------------------
Hey friends and family, Last night I attended a private screening of Mel
Gibson's movie ...12/8/2003, at Ricky Skaggs' church in Hendersonville. I
attended with Bonnie and Brent King. There were about 200 people in
attendance.


Well,....let me just say that I am speechless, moved beyond words and
sobered by what I saw last night. I'm sure many of you will be receiving
emails from some of your friends who were there as well...and you'll
probably be bombarded with their own personal stories..


There were many country artists as well as Christian artists there, along
side some radio and press folks. The movie was in a rough cut version...but
still I thought a very finished state,...special effects had not been added
yet, nor was the music complete....still it brought uncontrollable weeping
from everyone.. I couldn't stop crying through the whole movie. And when the
movie was over, there was complete silence in the church.. I wanted the
story to go on and on...for another two hours.... I think the movie was
about 2 hours long. It got started late, like around 7:30, and the next time
I looked at my watch it was 10:30... so I actually don't even remember.
There was a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself, so who cared
what time it was. Every moment of the movie was
captivating,..breathtaking....still there are no words.


The beating and suffering of Christ was almost unbearable to watch. The
scenes with flashbacks of Jesus when he was a little boy and a scene of his
mother running to comfort him and then cradling him in her arms after he had
fallen down about the age of 4 or 5.....was interlaced with scenes of him
falling to the ground carrying his own cross, so bloody and
unrecognizable...and then her holding him in her arms after he had been
taken down from the cross. Her face then stared into the camera while she
was holding him...and you could just imagine the things she was thinking.
Every parent who was seated near me ... fell apart.


The nails being hammered into his hands was the most real thing I had ever
seen. One scene of Jesus and the interaction with his mother...just reminded
me of every 20-year old man/child and mom relationship. Where she's trying
to get him to come to eat...and has to remind him to wash his hands before
eating...she brings water to wash his hands..and after washing, he gently
splashes water on his mother..but then wraps his arms around her and kisses
her on the cheek....and takes off running to the food.. I don't know..it
just reminded me of something my 15 year old Cody would do to me..... And
the thought of one of my boys going through that, just made me want to die
inside...


Anyway... I could go on and on....but I truly have no words....as you can
tell by the book i'm writing here....haa There was a question and answer
period last night with Mel himself. We had heard rumors that he's been
showing up to these screenings. I got brave enough to put my hand up and ask
a question about the miracles that we had heard about, on the set. And he
began to talk about so many I couldn't really keep track. I remember hearing
about one of the actors being hit by lightning twice yet walking away from
it..with only smoking fingertips, healings , conversions on the set,..but I
especially remember him talking about a Two-year old child's, hearing and
sight being restored...and he said...you know you can't fake that when
you're two. So we know it was real.


He was asked about Spiritual warfare on the set...and he just laughingly
said..."Oh yeah..just being in Italy alone was enough warfare,..but he said
it was intense.


He said that the bad press surrounding the movie..is just a few small
pressure groups that are causing all the noise. But seem to have the loudest
mouths. And that became the reason for having these small private
screenings..is to get the word out and to start a grass roots campaign into
a swell. WOW....that sounds familiar. We all get the chance to be Christ's
disciples all over again, in a fresh new way...


Ricky Skaggs asked the final question of the night to Mel.....about how we
can pray for him, help him, spread the word etc. He said that "prayer was
the most powerful thing. And not to pray for all our enemies to have warts
grow on their faces, (laughter), but to pray for our warring angels to fight
against satan's angels, because the people don't know any better, they are
clueless...and they are just being used by satan."

It was mentioned to everyone in the crowd who were artists, press folks,
radio..and such..anyone who had a website...to get on a mailing list and
sign up. That they would be sending links, so that everyone could put it on
their websites,...there would be movie trailers that artists could take on
tour with them, show at concerts....any type of promo material on product
tables etc.


They passed out a poster flyer last night as we left...and the official
website address is:

http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com <http://www.thepassionofthechrist.com/>



This is the address they have on all promo materials for the movie.


It was a little easier to see the trailer on this site....as it was equipped
for all computers video capabilities. You can go to this website and
register to find out more info on how to help. This other site that is
listed will just give you more info on press stuff and more press on the
miracles that happened.

http://www.passion-movie.com <http://www.passion-movie.com/> (fan site)


The movie comes out February 25, 2004.. Ash Wednesday...in theaters
nationwide. And the movie's official title is The Passion of the Christ. Mel
said that he spent 35 million of his own money to make this movie.


Mel,.. I have to say is a man of the word! He knows the Bible..and is a
sold-out believer. He said that this movie has been his passion for the past
12 years....just 3 years ago did the Lord begin to give him landmark signs
that now was the time to start filming the movie. He mentioned some of
them...but one that stuck in my mind, was him saying that some random little
old lady in France I think...came up to him and said something to him that
nobody could've known, I don't know what she said to him..but he said the
signs to get started on it, were unmistakable.


Ok....well...I know that I am changed...and I pray that what I saw will be
etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to never forget the price you
paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, or complain....shut my mouth
Lord. And help us all to remember,...we are not home yet...that heaven
awaits all of us who believe in Him....and that we all have a part to play,
a heart to share, a burden to carry...and a story of love and hope to
spread....


Thank you for the cross LORD! Make it a point to take your entire family to
this movie!!!! I love you all....and have a blessed Christmas holiday if I
don't see or talk to any of you before then...

Lisa B.



THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE...
I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD!

Yup, there you have it. It seems a reasonable way to market a film, however. Michael Moore did the same for his Bowling. I just don't care for this film. But some will love it, no doubt. I'll stay away, thank you.

I wanted to see it (for some reason Jesus movies move me just like the gospels do) but you say that it is in a different language with no subtitles? What's the point of that?

Obviously Mel doesn't know what Tom DeLay does...Jesus spoke English.

Watched the trailer at the site. I hope their Latin and Aramaic accuracy is better than their costuming and sets. So many mistakes. I doubt a first century Palestinian peasant woman would have dressed in the habit of a 19th century nun. I also seem to recall reading that free women in first century Palestine wore their hair un covered, while hetaera were required to cover their hair. If this is the case, is he implying that rumours that Jesus was the son of a Roman centurian by a prostitute (so wonderfully utilized by the Pythons in "The Life of Brian") are, in fact, correct? Hmmm...so much for orthodoxy.

Recent Email I got:

Does this have anything to do with the movie Jesus getting struck by lighting?

Hobitbob -- I have heard there are many historical inaccuracies in the film. The Gospel itself is filled with history that doesn't hold up to scrutiny -- after all, it was written 80 years plus after the actual events and wouldn't even be admitted into any court as viable evidence.

Perhaps fittingly for a production that licensed a jeweler to sell $12.99 nail necklaces (what's next? crown-of-thorns prom tiaras?), "The Passion" has the cartoonish violence of a Sergio Leone Western. You might even call it a spaghetti crucifixion, "A Fistful of Nails."

Writing in The New Republic, Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor, scorns it as "a repulsive, masochistic fantasy, a sacred snuff film" that uses "classically anti-Semitic images."

I went with a Jewish pal, who tried to stay sanguine. "The Jews may have killed Jesus," he said. "But they also gave us `Easter Parade.' "

Maureen Dowd

If you view the trailers at the movie's web site, there are sub-titles. So I imagine the movie will have them.

Passion of the Christ - Web Site

Also regarding the historical inaccuracies....this movie is simply entertainment! And so why all the hub-bub about the religious aspects? Well...controversy means the movie is in the spotlight, which means more publicity, which generally translates into more revenue for a movie. That's my take on it. It's a movie....it isn't the second coming of Christ.

Caprice- It would be great if everyone percieved the movie in the way that you have. My concern is that it will not be the case.