So Martin Riggs does Jay-zus and it opens this month. The Christo-Fascist wackos are just in a dither about the movie which has now been revised more times that the 1600 Crew rationale for the war in Iraq. I wonder how many of the religio-knothead mouthbreathers realize that the movie is in Latin and Aramaic? For most of them English is a second language, their first being some bastardized southern-sounding redneck dialectical cross between a Georgia Cracker and a deranged Scotsman ("Yew shore got a purty mouth"). Those sub-titles could be a major stumbling block for the literarily-impaired crowd likely to cum together and see the movie.
It seems that in anticipation of the release of the film almost 1500 more copies have been ordered up by theatres for opening day. It will probably be a huge hit, since it features what can only be described I understand, as a pornographic display of violence that lasts 45 minutes as the celluloid Jesus is tortured. Well, since it has a "religious" theme, I guess that makes it far more wholesome than Janet Jackson's semi-exposed anatomy. Which of course will send all viewers of the half-time show to the Hairy Thunderers Abyss if they have not sent a check to the televangelist of their choice by now.
Hey, popcorn with extra grease, a supersized soda and a crucifixtion with dialog in a dead language, sounds like good, wholesome, family entertainment. Count me out.
posted by Jo Fish on 02.20.04 at 12:38 AM
Comments:
Churches are buying out whole screenings of it. My boss' church did so, but thing is, there are less people in the church than the screening room can hold. My boss has been on the phone desperately looking for people who want to buy tickets and says the church will even sell to people outside the church. Well, yeah, they're about to eat a whole lot of loss on that one. My thing is, it's going to do very well at the box office because of this, and I almost wonder if that's not the goal. They are just itching for a religiously based movie to be in the top ten so they can rub everyone's noses in it. See their reaction when "The Omega Code" sneezed on the top ten then promptly disappeared. You'd think it was the top grossing movie ever.
Most of the religious fanatics I know excuse the violence because, "It was in the bible. Jesus was beaten to a pulp. It says so." But, from what I can understand this movie takes it even farther than that. My thing is, Mel "I'm just spreading the love of Jesus, I swear!" Gibson has been an action star for years and years. He says he wanted it to be shocking, but I say that he knows how to get butts in the seats.
It's also quite funny that they are fighting tooth and nail to keep the media from seeing it before it's released. Smart business move, but still makes you wonder what they're so afraid of.
Mad Mel's mad dad was all over the cable tv news stations yesterday spouting his inimitable brand of holocaust-denying crap. Oh yeah. That's where I want my hard-earned movie dollars going.
posted by: Diane on 02.20.04 at 12:23 PM [permalink]
Being a Southern Christian of Scottish descent, I'll ignore the jibes about the redneck dialectical whatchamacall it.
Being an erstwhile religion reporter, I'll point out that Mel Gibson adheres to a particular, and particularly conservative, subse(c)t of Catholicism that was renounced by the Vatican almost 40 years ago. Among the many delicious ironies here, along with Gibson's Holocaust-denyin' dad, is the fact that many people in Gibson's target audience -- evangelical Protestants, particularly -- are believed by Gibson's cohort to be going to Hell for their beliefs.
Hee.
posted by: Lex on 02.20.04 at 01:29 PM [permalink]
I'm Catholic but most likely won't go see the movie because I cring every time Mel claims to be Catholic...he's actually not. He's part of a breakoff from the church. I wish he would claim to be something else (distances herself from Mel).
I find it a bit ironic that fundamentalist Christians are chomping at the bit to see a film made by an off-shoot Catholicism which believes all other denominations of Christianity are going to hell and written from a bible which they don't believe is the correct interpretation of the word of God.
Bolo Boffin has been commenting extensively on the film and he make a number of excellant points as to why this version is not very accurate, even to the language choice.
I'm having a hard time believing that a number of my neighbors are talking about taking their children at the request of their pastor.
The movie is rated R for a reason.
posted by: Bryan on 02.20.04 at 11:03 PM [permalink]
There was another movie about the crucifixtion back in the late 70's, wasn't there? I have a vague memory of having to go see one at the Empire Theater in Bay City, MI as part of a Catholic School group. That would date it as '78, '79 or '80. All that I remember about it is the blood and gore that made me feel faint until I covered my eyes. Oh and that the Empire is one of those huge old theaters that alone are a delight to see. I was more impressed by the theater than the movie.
This isn't religion -- or rather, it is, but a really sick subset of religion. What's being worshipped here is not Christ, but violence & torture. It's crucifixion porn. The people that are taking their kids are the same ones that preach those spare the rod verses from their bibles. So yeah -- they're taking their kids. And some serious damage is about to be done.
posted by: delagar on 02.23.04 at 05:47 PM [permalink]
THE PASSION, what good is it?
I have heard all the hype and the concerns that have been expressed about the anti-Semitism, the graphic violence and even the claims that it has "too much if a Catholic SPIN". The bottom line is this. Will it attract the non-believer or will it repulse them? Will it promote the Gospel or will it discolor it?
1) Anti- Semites do not need a movie to back their twisted ways. Some people simply hate. And guess what? Some, but not all are Christians!!
2) The small group of Jewish people, who cry “hatred” at everything, will always cry hatred no matter what. Some people find evil everywhere they look.
3) It was the Jews that said “His blood be on our heads, and the heads of our children”. So get over it!
4) It was the Christ that said “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”. So you Jew hating Christians . . . Get over it!! NOW!! Forgive!! God COMMANDED YOU TO LOVE your Jewish brothers!!
5) The truth is, Prophesy was fulfilled; Salvation was made available, so rejoice in God and LOVE EACH OTHER!!!
6) Gibson’s movie is NOT THE GOSPEL!! Don’t fool yourself into believing it is!! It’s only his interpretation of the Gospel.
7) The Passion has a HUGE CATHOLIC SPIN!! SO WHAT!!
8) The Passion was extremely violent!! Excessively Violent? Not one bit!! The Crucifixion of Jesus, The Christ, Yeshua or The Messiah was EXCESSIVLY Violent!!
9) You can look in the OLD TESTAMENT and find Love. You can also dig to find HATE if that’s your quest.
10) You can look in the NEW TESTAMENT and find Love. You can also dig to find HATE if that’s your quest.
In closing I’d like to say:
It’s better to adjust your morals and beliefs to fit within the Bible than to try to adjust the Bible to suit your Morals and Beliefs. If you Love, you’ll find love. If you hate, you’ll find hate. There will always be those that want to destroy every good work. There will also be those that want to promote every bad work. Since The Passion isn’t Gospel it is flawed, so what!! Rather than throw the baby out with the bathwater, try to find the good and look for ways to promote LOVE and thereby you will be promoting Jesus. Bottom line? People are talking . . . and this is good!!
God bless . . . . Rev. John
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18
posted by: Rev John E Swanger on 03.08.04 at 01:22 AM [permalink]
