The Passion

[Scott]

Mel Gibson is going to direct a film about the death of Jesus. I found an article that talks a little bit about the reaction he's gotten from some people about the topic.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=30497

 

[Blue-Lightning]

Yes, the movie is supposed to be very, very realistic.

You might be interested to also know that reporters have also been harrassing Gibson's 80-something year old father because of the film. You might can find something on it in the archives of Bill O'Reilly's articles.

Try http://www.foxnews.com or http://www.billoreily.com

BL

 

[Scott]

Here is some more info regarding the film.

The entire language of the film will be in Aramaic and Latin. Gibson is ardent about this point, "It will lend even more authenticity and realism to it." For those of you who haven't quite mastered the Aramaic language and assume there will be subtitles, here's the part that requires your faith -- no subtitles. In what could arguably be called either 'career suicide' or 'creative genius', Gibson has once again defied all Hollywood logic.

The obvious question is why? Why would Mel Gibson of all people make a movie about Jesus in a dead language that no one can understand or read? Unabashed, Gibson is confident with his decision. "Hopefully, I'll be able to transcend the language barriers with my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it'll be a monumental failure." And why does he feel so strongly about not using subtitles? "It would somehow spoil the effect that I want to achieve; it would alienate you and you'd be very aware that you were watching a film if you saw lettering coming up on the bottom of it … and I want to present it in a way that is completely real."

"The Passion" stars Jim Caviezel ("The Count of Monte Cristo", "Frequency", "The Thin Red Line") as Jesus, Romanian actress Maia Morgenstern ("Procust's Bed") as his mother Mary, and Italian beauty Monica Bellucci ("Matrix Reloaded", "Tears of the Sun") as Mary Magdalene.

Its interesting to see how people react to it. As far as actor choices, Caviezel has been excellent in his movies. The only questionable movie that comes to my mind is Angel Eyes and his (unmarried) involvement with Jennifer Lopez's character.

I am reminded of the casting for the "Greatest Story Ever Told" where they used Max von Sydow (he wasn't well known at the time) to play Jesus. (Max von Sydow is later known for his role in "The Exorcist") It was decided by the filmaker that audiences wouldn't accept anyone who gained an on-screen reputation for violent or comic portrayals.

I will reserve judgement of the film until I see it. I already know Gibson will do an accurate job with the graphic nature (i.e. Braveheart), I just hope he keeps it in line with scripture in all aspects (He has indicated that he will). He is said to be a devout catholic, I hope he is a catholic that believes the Bible is God inspired.

 

[Scott]

Here is a trailer of the movie. May take a moment to fully download.

http://www.themoviebox.net/trailers/thepassion/thepassion_tr_lo.htm

Med Res 7.1 seemed to work pretty quickly.

 

[Scott]

This link might not work now. It seems like as soon as you post it, it goes bad.

Try this, go to movies.com
Type "The Passion" into the search box
Click on the 1st listing (there will be 2 listings under 2004)
click on the words "first trailer"
choose Med Res 6.5mb

 

[irsaved2003]

Personally, I won't see this movie unless I can bring an unsaved person to see it. It is too graphic. I am going to side with what my sister told me. It is like seeing the one person that I love most in this world being murdered all over again. Think of your closest family member (i.e. wife girlfriend, child) then they get murdered. You grieve and go on. Then you go to a movie and watch what their final moments looked like in a bloody, lifelike recreation. Don't get me wrong, It seems like a great witnessing tool but not a movie to watch for fun.

 

[Scott]

Sometimes people just don't understand the full reality of Christ's crucifixion when they read the Word. I dare say that many people don't realize what He went through to die for our sins.

Here is a quote from an interview with Gibson. I think his response says it best.

Q: What about the violence? Won’t people find some of the more graphic scenes inappropriate?

Gibson: Some people might, but, hey, that’s the way it was. There is no gratuitous violence in this film. I don’t think anyone under 12 should go see it — unless they’re a very mature 12-year-old. It’s pretty heavy.

I think we have gotten too used to seeing pretty crucifixes on the wall and we forget what really happened. I mean, we know that Jesus was scourged, that he carried his cross, that he had nails put through his hands and feet, but we rarely think about what this means.

Growing up I didn’t realize what was involved in this. I didn’t realize how hard it was. The full horror of what Jesus suffered for our redemption didn’t really strike me. Understanding what he went through, even on a human level, makes me feel not only compassion, but also a debt: I want to repay him for the enormity of his sacrifice.

irsaved2003:

Think of your closest family member (i.e. wife girlfriend, child) then they get murdered. You grieve and go on.

Another thing to keep in mind is this. Like an Easter Sunday sermon, it doesn't end at the cross. The film is said to include the resurrection too. This I feel is very important, because the resurrection is the part of the film that makes a statement of faith. We don't grieve on and on, because we know death couldn't hold him.

With all the trash coming out of hollywood, this movie won't follow the pattern, this movie will have substance for both believers and unbelievers.

 

[irsaved2003]

I pretty much agree. But, still he is the one person I love most in this world and it would be VERY difficult to see his murder recreated even if in the movie he is raised from the dead. I think that it would be hard to recover, even for that ending. But it still would be awesome to see him rise from the dead though!

 

[Scott]

This article says the Resurrection is part of the film. Good thing!!! :angel:

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=33702

 

[Homeskillet]

Yeah, this is one movie I definitely won't miss...graphic, yes, but necessary I think.

I think if more people could understand what He truly went through for them, they would fall to their knees...so hopefully that is what this film will accomplish.

The trailer alone made me cry, but it also made me more thankful than ever that He is my God...and it makes me just wanna praise Him louder.

But, that's just me. :

 

[Scott]

I agree wholeheartedly. I haven't been to the movies in a while, but I'm pretty sure I'll go see this one. I'm really curious to see who comes out to see it.

 

[Intoxicated by Life]

Gibson was not a good choice to direct this film, not beause he isn't a good director, but because he ended up recreating many scenes from Braveheart, which he also directed, probably without thinking about it. The result is rather distracting as some of the shots are almost EXACTLY the same.

 

[Scott]

The result is rather distracting as some of the shots are almost EXACTLY the same.

Are you going by what you see in the movie trailer, or someones write up of this film?

Gibson is putting up his own money and he said making this movie has been something he's been thinking about for awhile. So naturally he would want to direct it to make sure it follows the Gospels.

 

[Ana'riel]

Jesus and what he went through for me is one of the only things that keeps me a Christian sometimes. Sure it's graphic but that means it's real.

 

[Intoxicated by Life]

I've actually seen the initial cut from the dailys and draft shots, with the missing pieces filled in with story boards.

One of the advantages to working for Hollywood is that you are privy to things about 6 months before they hit theater. I saw the full version of Two Towers 4 months before the theater release hit screens

Sufficeth to say you will see what I'm talking about when you see the movie.

 

[Scott]

Oh neat, what is your job in Hollywood? Do you work with specific for or with production companies or all them?

 

[Intoxicated by Life]

I work freelance, but I do more than 1/2 my work for Cho-zen Entertainment. I do computer graphics, mostly for Sci-Fi films and Television although I've been working on more childrens movies recently.

 

[Multitudes]

The one thing that I keep on hearing is that this movie may have trouble coming into mainstream release because many powerful Jewish politicians and socialites are afraid that this movie will cause an uprise in anti-semitism (sp??). Apparently, they are afraid that people will perceive the Jewish people are to blame for Jesus' death and use this to stir up their hatred for Jews. I've never understood why Jewish people are in denial of this fact...that they are the ones who all but sealed the door on Jesus. I'm not against Jewish people if you're wondering..in fact, I live in an area that has a strong Jewish population and have a few Jewish friends too . So to say the least, I've had these "arguements" with them before. This is a side story which I'm sure can be started on another thread. In regards to the movie, I for one will watch it. I recently went to a conference as a spiritual guide and one of the things I talked about was the "work on the cross." Many Christians have never reflected on the work that Christ did on the cross. I think we've all seen the Sunday school children's version (which i'm not against) but at some point, I think every Christian should come to terms with the work that Jesus did that isn't coated nicely, meaning leaving out the details. I studied in depth how the Romans crucified people in those days and there's no reason to believe they did it any different to Jesus. I hope that this movie will show a true depiction of what really happened. We think Christ was whipped and had scars and just bled...but if you study the "Roman empire's handbook on torture tactics", you'll see that when they flogged people (as the Bible says they did to Jesus), they would attach pieces of glasses or sharp metal to the ends of the whip so that when the person was being flogged, the metals and/or glass would literally tear into the skin of the person's back and rip it off, exposing the person's back muscles in some cases. This sounds gruesome but its the truth. And I think Christians will learn to appreciate their salvation and the work that Christ did for us on the cross if they don't already.

 

[Scott]

--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--x--

(Looks like barbed wire... )

~Bump~

 

[Scott]

Here is another new trailer for the movie.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/movies/trail...aylist.dll?id=1253885&sdm=web&qtw=480&qth=300