Mel
Gibson says, "I want to show the humanity of Christ as well as
the divine aspect. It's a rendering that for me is very realistic
and as close as possible to what I perceive the truth to be."
(2004)
This
page was created on January 16, 2003
This page was last updated on
August 2, 2009
I do not know if it is true, but here are the reports:
"Variety reports a rumor that Mel Gibson may be involved with a group looking to engineer a takeover of The Walt Disney Co. These investors were said to be impressed with Gibson's acumen at making a success of The Passion of the Christ, which has grossed more than $580 million worldwide."
"Goodbye, Michael Eisner! Hello . . . Mel Gibson? A consortium of mysterious European investors has approached Gibson about a possible takeover of Disney now that Comcast has thrown in the towel, sources told PAGE SIX. "We were very impressed with the way Gibson handled 'The Passion of the Christ,' " one insider said." Sources here:
Jim Caviezel (Jesus in The Passion) talks about life after the passion
Without a doubt, life after "The Passion" has been very different for the soft-spoken actor who is married and now lives in California. "Being anonymous is becoming more rare. When you go into a restaurant, it's hard to sit down and enjoy your meal now," he said, adding quickly, "People, most of the time, are really gracious." More here: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/movies/171262_caviezel30.html
Mel Gibson #15 on Power List. But, Jesus is #100
THANKS TO the success of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," he is No. 10 on Premiere magazine's "Power List" (up from No. 15 last year and the only actor in the Top 10). Of even more significance, Mel's muse, Jesus, is No. 100 on the list - last, but certainly not least. The Son of God wasn't ranked at all last year. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/news/entertainment/050604_APent_power.html http://www.omnileonardo.com/premierelist02.html
PASSION OF THE CHRIST ON DVD
Here is the News release from Fox Home Entertainment:
Arriving On August 31, 2004, This Must-See Movie Instantly Became A Box Office Phenomenon, Grossing More Than $375 Million Nationwide, And Earning A Spot In The Top 10 Grossing Movies Of All Time
CENTURY CITY, CA - Focusing on the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth's life, the year's most talked about movie, The Passion Of The Christ, makes its highly anticipated DVD and VHS debut on August 31, 2004, it was announced today by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Icon Productions. Released in theaters on Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2004, the powerful Mel Gibson-helmed EPIC went on to gross more than $375 million at the box office - earning a spot in the top
10 grossing movies of all time. Starring Jim Caviezel in the critically-lauded role of Jesus Christ and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, The Passion Of The Christ DVD is presented with a maximum bit rate, 5.1 Dolby Digital and 5.1 DTS, offering viewers the highest quality picture and audio. The film, which was shot in Aramaic and Latin, is presented with English subtitles on VHS and English and Spanish subtitles on DVD. Priced to own, the DVD is available in Widescreen or Pan And Scan
for!
$29.98 and the VHS is $24.98.
Beginning June 1 at the film's website - www.thepassionofthechrist.com information will be available regarding bulk orders and high quality, visually stunning customized church sleeves and other downloads- encouraging church ministry participation. Additionally, the site will feature trailers, film synopses, cast biographies, and soundtrack background, among other information. For retailers from the Christian Booksellers Association
(CBA) the DVD/VHS will be distributed through Zondervan, a leading international Christian communications company.
Synopses
This depiction of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus opens with his betrayal by Judas, his condemnation by the Pharisees and his appearance before Pontius Pilate. Pilate defers to King Herod, but Herod returns Jesus. Pilate then asks the crowd to choose between Jesus and Barrabas. The crowd chooses Barrabas. Pilate washes his hands of the matter, and Jesus is forced to carry the cross through the streets to Golgotha where Roman soldiers crucify him. Although Jesus briefly fears that
God, his Father, has abandoned him, he regains his faith, proclaiming "Into Thy hands I commend my spirit." At the moment of his death, nature itself over-turns.
The Passion Of The Christ has a prebook date of August 4, 2004, a running time of 127 minutes and is rated "R" by the Motion Picture Association of America. It is closed captioned for the hearing impaired.
April 2004 News
"Passion" Rises, "Alamo" Falls
(Apr 11, 2004)
E! Online: A resurrection happened, and The Alamo was forgotten. As expected, the Easter weekend restored The Passion of the Christ to the top of the domestic box-office. Mel Gibson's brutal depiction of Jesus' Stages of the Cross earned an estimated $17 million and crucified the competition. More here
*****
Clergy credit Mel Gibson with reawakening Australia's passion for Easter
(April 11, 2004) SYDNEY (Australia): Mel Gibson has reawakened a passion for Easter in Australia, church leaders said Sunday.
Easter services at churches and cathedrals around the country were packed and clerics said Gibson's crucifixion epic ``The Passion of the Christ'' and the uncertain global situation were the reasons. The busy churches came just weeks after Pope John Paul II chided the nation for spending too much time watching sport and not enough in church. More here
*****
`Passion of the Christ' reclaims top box-office
(April 11,2004)
Associated Press: "The Passion" had been No. 1 its first three weekends, then fell back in the pack for the next three before claiming the top spot again.
"That's unprecedented. I've never seen that before. 'The Passion' is just rewriting box-office history," said Paul Dergarabedian, president of box-office tracker Exhibitor Relations. "This is a holy day, and this movie is tailor-made for a weekend like this. It's not just a movie. It's a religious experience for many people." More
here
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' Becomes Bootleg Sensation in Holy Land
(April 11, 2004)
By Michael Matza, The Philadelphia Inquirer Knight Ridder: Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ" has been box-office boffo worldwide. But in the Holy Land, where the biblical epic is set -- and where no distributor has picked it up for theatrical release -- it has become an underground sensation.
*****
Bootleg DVDs and videocassettes of Jesus' final hours and Crucifixion are selling briskly -- from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank and even in Israel, where the Aramaic dialog comes complete with Hebrew subtitles. More here
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' seen as catalyst of faith
(April 11, 2004)
The Amarillo Globe-News: A baby brought back from the dead. A murder confession. An apology. Which one is the miracle? All of them, said Jody Eldred, executive producer and director of "Changed Lives: Miracles of 'The Passion'." The one-hour television special focuses on people affected in large and small ways by Mel Gibson's controversial blockbuster, "The Passion of the Christ." More
here
*****
CAN CHRISTIANITY BE RESURRECTED?
(April 11, 2004)
Ian Boyne: MEL GIBSON'S The Passion of the Christ has created a sensation in religious film-making that is absolutely unprecedented and perhaps never to be repeated. No other movie in the history of Hollywood religious or secular has received as much pre-release hype and attracted as much wide-ranging discussion as The Passion of the Christ.
*****
Christianity gains pop culture appeal
(April 11, 2004)
John Styll feels as though he and other evangelical Christians inhabit "an underground parallel universe" in which they shop, listen to music and go to the movies but are invisible to the rest of society.... More here
*****
It is Christianity's finest hour in terms of the communication of its central message of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ for the redemption of the world. The Christian church is not accustomed to this kind of positive attention from Hollywood. More Here
*****
'Passion of the Christ' sets a new record in Croatia
(April 8, 2004)
ZAGREB, Croatia -- Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ set a new record during its opening weekend as Croatia's most-watched movie, a film distribution company said. More here
*****
‘Passion of the Christ’ grosses P51M in five days (From Manila)
(April 8, 2004)
Reports reaching us say “The Passion of the Christ” grossed a whopping P51-million in its first five days of release in Metro Manila, Cebu and Pampanga theaters. This makes the movie the “biggest opening movie for the year 2004,” outgrossing all films ever released in the month of March. Its performance is now also recorded as “the biggest opening weekend for March.” More here
*****
Scandinavian Distributors appeal against Passion of the Christ age rating
(April 8, 2004)
Helsingin Sanomat:The Scandinavian film distributor Scanbox Entertainment Finland plans to appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court against the decision by the Finnish Board of Film Classification to place the controversial new Mel Gibson film Passion of the Christ in the age category K-18, which means that the film is recommended only for persons over 18 years of age. More here
*****
The Passion of the Christ takes Italy by Storm
(April 8, 2004)
ROME - Mel Gibson's controversial The Passion of the Christ has taken the country where it was filmed by storm after opening across Roman Catholic Italy just before Good Friday. The movie was shown on 700 screens around the country, about one third of the total, including cinemas in the southern town of Matera where much of it was filmed. In many cinemas, tickets sold out hours after going on sale.. More
here
*****
Thousands of Barbadians
(Apr 06 2004)
Thousands of Barbadians recently joined thousands more abroad to view Mel Gibson’s The Passion of The Christ. Many who had not darkened the door of a cinema for many a year went to see it. More here
*****
'Passion of the Christ' Critics (Too) Predictable
(April 1, 2004) by Matt C. Abbott: The critics of Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' are utterly predictable. Besides those Jewish leaders and commentators who have been accusing the film of promoting anti-Semitism (when, actually, their unjust accusations - not the movie itself - might foment the anti-Semitism they are so concerned about), the critics can be placed in the following categories: those who are anti-religion,
those who are anti-Christian (Catholic or Protestant), and those who are misguidedly liberal. More here
March 2004
INDONESIA: Catholics and non Catholics welcome “The Passion of the Christ”
(March 30, 2004)
Jakarta (AsiaNews/Ucan) – Catholic clergy and lay people in the Jakarta area who have viewed the by-now famous film directed by Mel Gibson, “The Passion of the Christ”, say that the film has been an asset to their Lenten reflections and has deepened their appreciation of Jesus’ sufferings. More here
*****
“The Passion of the Christ” stirs religious controversy in Kuwait
(March 30,2004)
A religious scholar in Kuwait issued a fatwa demanding the banning of the film “The Passion of the Christ”, by Mel Gibson from being screened in the Islamic world, in addition to prohibiting Muslims from watching it, saying anyone who has seen the movie must “repent”. More here
*****
Paris court refuses to ban Passion of the Christ
(March 29, 2004)
(AFP) - A demand that Mel Gibson's popular film, "The Passion of the Christ", be banned in France because of a perceived anti-Semitic theme was thrown out by a Paris court Monday. More here
*****
South Africa: The Passion of The Christ smashes local box office records
(March 29, 2004)
By Patrick Leeman: Mel Gibson's film about the last 12 hours of Jesus's life on Earth, The Passion of The Christ, has set a number of box office records since opening at outlets in Durban on Friday. More here
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' draws confession from murderer!
(March 27, 2004)
London: Dan Leach, 21, who murdered his pregnant girlfriend, Ashley Wilson, 19, confessed after watching Mel Gibson's film 'Passion Of The Christ'. According to The Sun, Leach walked into a police station and admitted that he had killed Ashley two months ago because he could not cope with the feeling of being a dad. More here
*****
Scots cinema-goers feel the passion of the Christ
(March 27, 2004)
FOR months before its release, it was dogged by controversy and its director accused of using gratuitous violence and anti-semitism. And yesterday, on the first full day of release in Scotland of Mel Gibson’s depiction of the last days of Christ, there were extreme reactions to the movie from cinema-goers. More here
*****
Women of The Passion of the Christ
(March 24, 2004)
Men's Wear Daily: "For a moment, lets set aside all of the excruciatingly poisonous anti-Christian rhetoric that has flooded newspapers and networks since Mel's movie first shone a bright light on the treacherous agenda of “interfaith” interlopers across America. For a moment, lets look at the beautifically inspiring women of The Passion of the Christ..." More here
*****
Egyptians sneaking 'Passion'
(March 24 2004)
Hollywood Reporter: "When Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ opens (in Egypt) next month, theater owners are anticipating record-breaking boxoffice even though many Egyptians already have seen the film on bootlegged cassettes or downloads from the Internet. Piracy is a tempting activity in a country where a $2 theater ticket is a luxury and strict censorship laws dictated by Al Azhar, the Supreme Muslim Authority, limit the number of Western films on Egyptian screens. Hassan
Saleh, a video editor in Cairo, recently saw Passion on a CD-ROM a friend had downloaded from the Internet. He and his friends, most of whom are artists and filmmakers in their 30s, shared the CD and said they loved the film. "We all know how this story ends," Saleh said. "But the beauty of it was the journey of Christ's last three days, the journey of suffering and tragedy. It was very impressive." More
here
*****
Passion of the Christ' community forum draws 400
(Mar 23, 2004)
The Herald-Sun: "Professor Richard Hays, a New Testament expert from Duke Divinity School, said he had spent 25 years trying to get people interested in the New Testament with nominal success, but that Mel Gibson had done it in one stroke. An interfaith community forum Monday night at Judea Reform Synagogue attracted about 400 people. And after three speakers gave their initial reaction to Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ, the crowd spent 45 minutes peppering them
with reactions and questions..." More here
*****
Gibson Likely To Become Top Celebrity Money-Earner
(March 23, 2004)
Studio Briefing reports " Although Mel Gibson fell off the "Forbes Celebrity 100" list last year, the success of his The Passion of the Christ will likely push him to the top of the list this year, as his $30-million investment is likely to net him between $300 million and $400 million out of a gross of around $1 billion." More here.
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' will be first M-18 film in Singapore
(March 23, 2004)
Singapore News: "Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" will be the first movie here to be screened under the new Mature-18 film category when it comes into effect next Monday..." More here
*****
'Passion of the Christ' knocked out of top box office spot by 'Dawn of the Dead'
(March 22, 2004)
Associated Press: "Audiences feasted on zombies as the fright flick ``Dawn of the Dead'' ruled the box office, debuting with $27.3 million and bumping The Passion of the Christ' from the top spot. More here
*****
Qatar is first Gulf Arab state to publicly screen Gibson's controversial film accused of encouraging anti-Semitism.
(March 22, 2004)
Middle East Online: Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" made its debut Sunday in Qatar, the first Gulf Arab state to publicly screen the controversial movie that has been accused of encouraging anti-Semitism. "We submitted 'The Passion of the Christ' to the censorship committee, which had no objection to its screening," in Qatar, said Abdul Rahman Mohsen, the director general of a private Qatari cinema company. More
here
*****
President Arafat: Passion of the Christ 'Impressive'
(March 21, 2004)
International Press Online: "The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat watched Mel Gibson's “The Passion of the Christ” on Saturday in his office in Ramallah City, after a his key advisor compared Jesus' pain during crucifixion to the suffering of Palestinians in the conflict with Israel." More here
*****
UAE cinemas set for 'Passion of the Christ'
(March 21, 2004)
"Smash-hit movie 'The Passion of the Christ' is to be screened in the UAE on March 31, said a report. Sources, quoted by the Gulf News, said the Ministry of Information and Culture had approved the screening of Mel Gibson's film in UAE cinemas..." More here
*****
Woman's view: A Very Beautiful Heart felt Review of the Passion
By Sister Joseph Andrew Bogdanowicz, OP
(March 15, 2004)
ZENIT: "For me, Jim Caviezel's portrayal of Christ elicited tears wrung from the heart which, I soon understood, was beating as one with Mother Mary's and with all the women portrayed in the film: Mary Magdalene, Veronica, Claudia, the weeping women." More here
*****
"Passion" Star Caviezel Has a Papal Audience
(March 15, 2004)
ZENIT: "John Paul II received Jim Caviezel, the actor who plays Jesus in the film "The Passion of the Christ," in private audience. Caviezel was accompanied by his wife and parents-in-law. Vatican sources told ZENIT that the Pope blessed Caviezel at the end of today's audience." More here
*****
Pirated DVDs of ‘The Passion of Christ’ Flood Jeddah
(March 15, 2004)
Arab News: "High quality DVDs of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ are selling like hotcakes in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the English-language." The publication said that bootleg copies of the movie are being "sold outside of supermarkets and out of the trunks of cars for about $8.00 apiece. One vendor said that he and his colleagues had underestimated the demand for the movie.." More
here
*****
Jewish actress, Maia Morgenstern, relishes 'Passion' role
(March 15, 2004)
Rachel Abramowitz, Los Angeles Times: "Over lunch, Morgenstern keeps fingering the large, gold Star of David that hangs from her neck. Morgenstern, who's Jewish, insists that it's not something she's purposefully wearing to promote the film during a rash of interviews.
"I always wear it," she says in accented English. "Not on the stage, or on the set when I'm filming, depending on the character. Since my parents and my grandparents were forced to wear yellow Jewish stars on their clothes as a sign of racism and anti-Semitism during the Second World War." More here
*****
Gibson may do the Jewish Maccabbees next
Mark I. Pinsky
The Orlando Sentinel: "The first rumor flitting through the evangelical world is that the filmmaker intends to plow the profits from "The Passion" into a movie about the central characters of the holiday of Hanukkah, fighters called the Maccabees. Their story is told in sacred writings of the biblical period, although the two books of the same name are not officially a part of either testament...." More
here
*****
Great Interview with actor Jim Caviezel, who plays Jesus (March 15, 2004)
Northern Ireland: "It was a brutal shoot, Caviezel admits. He spent weeks near naked on a cross in bone-chilling weather, being hit by lightning and accidentally having his back gashed. Not to mention the sharp crown of thorns, dislocating a shoulder and a lung infection." More here
*****
'Passion' set to become top R-rated film (March 15, 2004) USA Today: "Few films hang on No. 1 for more than a week or two. Those that do are among the biggest movies ever. Passion's ticket sales fell just 40% from the previous weekend. And its religious theme is likely to play well in the four weeks before Easter April 11..." Read more
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' Having Unexpected Impact: Film and Surrounding Debate Might Be Lessening Hostility Toward Jews, Says Institute for Jewish & Community ResearchPoll
(March 15, 2004) http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/040315/sfm108_1.html
Among those who have seen the film or are familiar with it, most (83%) said the film had no impact on the extent to which they feel contemporary Jews are to blame, two percent said "The Passion" has made them more likely to hold Jews responsible, but nine percent said the film has made them less likely to hold today's Jews responsible. The rest did not know. Of the 146 respondents who had seen the film, 80% said the film had no impact, five percent said "The Passion"
has made them more likely to hold Jews responsible, and 12% percent said the film has made them less likely to hold today's Jews responsible.
*****
The Passion remained the top film for third weekend
(March 15, 2004)
Mens News Wear Daily: "The Passion of the Christ has pulled in a massive $264 million, moving it past some of the biggest hits of all time. The Passion moved ahead of the top-god flick Bruce Almighty which grossed $242.7 million last year, two Pixar films, Toy Story 2 ($245.8 million) and Monsters Inc. ($255.8 million), and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ($262 million). Next weekend it
should rise to become the top R Rated film, passing The Matrix Reloaded at $281.6 million. Estimating where the Passion is going to top out at is a dangerous game, but at this point I'm going to estimate a finish around $350-375 million, putting it just out of the top five films of all time." More here
*****
`Passion' book a good read for Tyndale House publisher
(March 15, 2004)
"It's unusual for a coffee table book. These types of books normally sell between 20,000 and 30,000 copies," said Dan Balow, executive director of Tyndale International Publishing Services. "By the end of this month, we'll have 525,000 in print." More here
*****
Man Arrested For Allegedly Selling Bootleg "Passion" DVDs
(March 15, 2004)
"Videos Reportedly Sold At Jockey Lot. When a movie such as "The Passion Of The Christ" brings in more than $250 million, it's only a matter of time before illegal copies begin to appear." More here
*****
Rooney stirs 'passion' in his viewers
Record response for calling Gibson a 'wacko'
(March 15, 2004)
Canada.com: "The 60 Minutes curmudgeon said Sunday he got 30,000 pieces of mail and e-mail in response to his Feb. 22 commentary, in which he called The Passion of the Christ filmmaker Mel Gibson a "wacko." It's the biggest viewer response ever to a segment on the CBS newsmagazine..." More here
Also, WCCO.com has a nice followup on Andy Rooney Here
*****
'Passion' will inspire other religious films (excellent reflection)
(March 15, 2004)
Michael Medved in USA Today: "Mel Gibson's unprecedented hit, The Passion of the Christ, already has changed Hollywood forever. Those industry insiders who deny the significance of the transformation are fooling only themselves." Read more
*****
FIRST-PERSON: The passion of hypocrisy (excellent reflection) (March 15, 2004)
Baptist press: For critics to slam The Passion for being too violent is disingenuous at best, and hypocritical at worst. I will point out that the “too violent” charge comes from the very community that lauded Quentin Tarantino’s gratuitously bloody “Kill Bill Vol. 1.”
"...For the avant-garde to reject The Passion on artistic grounds is hypocritical. Mel Gibson has done a serious treatment about a Christ who willingly embraces suffering. Could it be the subject matter of The Passion that has the artistic elite so queasy? More here
*****
Hollywood Rethinking Films of Faith After 'Passion'
(March 15, 2004) New York Times: "As the overwhelming success of "The Passion of the Christ" reverberates through Hollywood, producers and studio executives are asking whether the movie industry has been neglecting large segments of the American audience eager for more openly religious fare." More here
*****
Expected To Be Bigger Hit Than Oscar-Winning 'Return of the King' (March 15, 2004) Talon News: "Movie experts say the film will likely see a huge surge in popularity as the Easter holiday approaches, pushing box office totals into unprecedented territory for a film with a Christian theme and English subtitles." More here
*****
The Passion remained the top film on Friday
(March 13, 2004)
The new Columbia Pictures thriller, Secret Window, starring Johnny Depp and John Turturro, opened to $7.1 million on Friday in 3,018 theaters. The film is the first to come close to taking over the top spot from Mel Gibson's The Passion of The Christ, which was first again with $7.8 million from 3,221 theaters. The film has now collected an amazing $240.3 million in 17 days and has moved up to #34 on the all-time domestic blockbuster list.
*****
'The Passion of the Christ' to Undergo Tight Screening in Turkey (March 13, 2004) "Mel Gibson's movie, 'The Passion of the Christ', which was the target of many heated debates in the U.S., will open on April 9th in Turkey." Read more
*****
One passionate actor learns how to swing like a legend
(March 13, 2004)
"When the producers of Stroke of Genius, the upcoming movie about the life of Bobby Jones, set out to cast the lead role, they looked at actors who were good golfers -- Chris O'Donnell and Mark Wahlberg, to name a few. At the same time, they offered the supporting role of Walter Hagen to an actor named Jim Caviezel, who's starred in The Passion of the Christ, The Thin Red Line, and Frequency, among others."
Read more.
*****
$232,379,231!
(March 13, 2004) The figures are in. During it's second week (March 5-11) The Pasion of the Christ made an incredible $71,737,292 box office, bring the total cumulate to $232,379,231!
*****
Mel Gibson in line for "Lethal Weapon 5"!
(March 12, 2004)
"According to a report in IMDb, the 'Passion Of The Christ' filmmaker is reportedly in talks with director Richard Donner, who is persuading Gibson to reprise his role as renegade cop Martin Riggs." Read more
*****
The Vatican and the Catholic League Speak up in support (March 12, 2004)
From: www.catholicleague.com "Joaquín Navarro-Valls, the Director of the Holy See's Press Office, said yesterday that 'The Passion of the Christ' was 'a cinematographic transcription of the Gospels. If it were anti-Semitic, the Gospels would also be so.' He added that the pope would have criticized the movie if it were bigoted against Jews, but, he declared, there is 'nothing anti-Semitic about it.' The Vatican spokesman made his comments in reply to Riccardo Di Segni, chief rabbi
of Rome, who had asked the Vatican to formally condemn the Mel Gibson movie.
"Catholic League president William Donohue was pleased:
"This will now settle the issue for most Catholics-the movie is not anti-Semitic. Naturally, there will always be some, most especially dissident theologians, nuns and priests, who will reject the Vatican's understanding of the film. But then again they have a long track record of rejecting lots of things the Vatican says. It would be a mistake for the millions of Catholics who have embraced this movie to allow the dissidents
to distract them from the beauty of the film.
"For some Jews, this may not sit too well. That would be unfortunate, because the last thing Catholics want is bad relations with Jews. Those Jews who find the movie problematic should be treated with respect. Given what has happened to Jews throughout history, including at the hands of many Christians, it is not surprising that many Jews today would be wary of any movie that deals with the death of Jesus. But an honest
dialogue between Catholics and Jews cannot proceed if Catholics-convinced the movie is a spiritual exercise absent anti-Semitism-are to pretend there isn't an honest disagreement about the movie.
"At the end of the day, however, disagreements between Catholics and Jews need not take on any greater significance than the ordinary family quarrel. It is up to the major players on both sides to see to it that our common friendship transcends any discord about this matter." www.catholicleague.com
*****
Legal action urged against Mel Gibson film
(March 12 2004)
"A Jewish advocacy group has asked the US Justice Department to 'utilise civil, criminal and federal hate crime laws' against Mel Gibson's film The Passion of the Christ." Read more
*****
PASSION AT DAYTONA 500
(March 12, 2004)
"At this year's Daytona 500, Whoopi Goldberg dropped the green signal flag, Ben Affleck drove the pace car, LeAnn Rimes sang the national anthem and actor James Caviezel , who plays Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ," spent time in the pit of Bobby Labonte , whose car advertised the film." Read more
*****
Now number 39 all-time champ
(March 12, 2004)
Despite the arrival of three new films last weekend, the Passion of the Christ fell just 36% in its second weekend, pulling in another $53.2 million to bring its 12-day gross to $213.9 million. As of Wednesday, March 10, Passion's score increased to $228.1 million, and it ranked No. 39 among all-time domestic boxoffice grossers. If this momentum continues over the weekend, a 35%-40% decline would see
the film pick up another $35 million. For a total box office of $265 million. In the process, it will surpass My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which has held the record as the most successful independent film ever.
*****
Appealing to many non-religious teens and college students.
(March 11, 2004)
"The movie, widely characterized as gory, is bringing in young men who usually flock to slasher-type films. "I think there's a lot of searching in the younger people's minds," said Michael Boerner of Mission Media, "They want to know what it's all about. When they go to the movie, it's full of violence, it's tough, it's uneasy to watch, but this is the same generation that's been raised on some very extreme things." Read
more
*****
BOX OFFICE CHAMP IN 3RD WEEKEND? (March 11, 2004) The Passion of the Christ will probaly continue as box office champ for a third week in a row. Although daily numbers have slacked off a bit -- from the $7-9 million range last week to $4-5 million this week. Box office is expect to be $32 million. Johnny Depp's Secret Window is expected to bring in $30 million this first weekend. The Passion should be one of the top 25 highest-grossing films of all time
by Sunday.
*****
Philippine bishops endorse Gibson film 'Passion of the Christ'
(March 11, 2004)
"Church leaders in the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines say they are endorsing the Mel Gibson film "The Passion of the Christ", dismissing criticism that it was anti-Semitic." Read more
*****
A Hindu Looks At The Passion Of The Christ (March 11, 2004)
"Last Friday, I saw two reports, one conducted by the National Review Board for the Protection of Children and Young People regarding the sexual abuse of minors by pedophile priests, and the other a study by the John Jay College of Criminal Justice that said 4,392 priests sexually abused 10,667 children from 1950 to 2000.
"Suddenly the movie, The Passion of the Christ, assumed a fresh meaning in my mind. I saw it as an allegory about the abuse of the innocent by the powerful and corrupt. I began to see that the High Priest Caiaphas' loudest outburst against Jesus as no different from the loudest silence of the Vatican when it knew or should have known what its priesthood was doing to the innocent. Instead of seeing Jesus on the Cross, I
saw thousands of abused American children on the Cross, while the Church made plea bargains and financial settlements with victims..." Read more
*****
Debney to conduct 'The Passion Of The Christ' on Jay Leno
(March 10, 2004)
"Film composer John Debney has been invited to conduct a choir performing music from his The Passion Of The Christ score on the most popular late night US TV talk show, 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno, on 11th March." Read more
*****
Gibson takes time out (March 9, 2004)
Mel Gibson is taking a much needed time out. Location unknown.
*****
Is Caviel in danger of assination? (March 8, 2004)
"A furious mob has already screamed 'anti-Semite' slogans and hurled a bucket of lamb's blood at the Oscar-winning actor and director Gibson in a New York street." Read more
"James Caviezel, who plays Jesus in Mel Gibson's blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," has reportedly been assigned a security detail to protect him." Story here.
*****
The Passion of the Christ" Gets Elementary School Teacher Suspended (March 6 2004)
"Ronald Anthony has been suspended with pay from his teaching position at the Malcolm X Elementary in Washington D.C. Anthony showed his 6th grade students excerpts from the R-rated Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ", during social studies." Read more
*****
Mel Gibson sues over pirating of "The Passion"
(March 6, 2004)
"Hollywood star Mel Gibson's company has sued a movie post-production film where workers allegedly made pirate copies of his hit movie "The Passion of the Christ," court documents showed Friday."Read more
*****
A SOCALIST POINT OF VIEW (March 5, 2004)
Why has The Passion of the Christ evoked such a popular response in America? By David Walsh. "The Passion of the Christ is a reprehensible work. Those who praise the film, or downplay its reactionary character, or remain silent for fear of drawing fire from the fundamentalist right, serve political reaction themselves.
"However, the film, artistically and intellectually negligible, has provoked a response that points far beyond itself and its director. Whatever the immediate fate of Gibson’s work, its reception underscores, above all, the increasingly unstable social and moral state of American capitalist society, inexorably coming face to face with its own peculiar Passion." Rear
more
FEB 25 2004
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST OPENS TODAY ON 4,600 SCREENS -Up from 4000 just a week ago.
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OPENING DAY UPDATES
By David Bruce
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The Passion of the Christ opens today on an incredible 4,600 screens in 3,000 theaters today. This puts it on par with openings for major Hollywood blockbusters. It is already being called the must-see movie of the year. The number of advanced ticket sales was the largest in Hollywood history.
Thousands have already poured into theaters all around the USA. In Los Angeles people watched the midnight showing of "The Passion" at the ArcLight Cinemas -very few film ever open at midnight. An estimated 6,000 people filled all 20 auditoriums at a Cinemark theater in this Dallas suburb to watch the film at the midnight opening this morning. In Plano Texas, businessman Arch Bonnema reserved the entire Cinemark Tinseltown
20 theater, spending $42,000 of his own money on tickets for todays opening.
Plans are in the works to distribute the film in Europe and the UK beginning in March and April.
The DVD is already in the planning stage. Mel Gibson does not in vision any extra scenes or extras in it at this time however.
Looking forward to future network broadcast, Gibson wants it shown without commercial interruptions.
Gibson is hinting at producing other Biblical stories. He is quoted as saying, "There are good stories in that book -- it's worth looking into them."
************************* WHAT VARIOUS CRITICS ARE SAYING
*************************
The critic are mixed 50/50. Roger Ebert gave it his highest rating, four stars. Art Rooney on "60 Minutes" said God had spoken to him, saying, "I wish you'd tell your viewers that both Pat Robertson and Mel Gibson strike me as wackos." Rooney upset thousands of viewers. CBS said Monday it received its heaviest audience response to a report since Rooney's commentaries on the Iraq war last spring.
"I was moved by the depth of feeling, by the skill of the actors and technicians, by their desire to see this project through no matter what."
-- Roger Ebert, CHICAGO SUN-TIMES
"In dramatizing the torment of Jesus' last 12 hours, [Gibson] has made a serious, handsome, excruciating film that radiates total commitment. Few mainstream directors have poured so much of themselves into so uncompromising a production. Whatever the ultimate verdict on Gibson's Passion, it's hard not to admire Gibson's passion."
-- Richard Corliss, TIME MAGAZINE
"Despite controversies swirling around the movie, one cannot deny that Gibson has made a stunning film, beautifully photographed in contrasting dark and golden hues by Caleb Deschanel."
-- Claudia Puig, USA TODAY
"Controversy aside, it is dramatically intense, skillfully constructed and often harrowing, in ways that should have an impact on people of any or no particular faith."
-- Chris Vognar, DALLAS MORNING NEWS
"...numerous factors distinguish this film from previous screen portraits of Jesus Christ -- the striking use of Aramaic and "street" Latin, its concentration on the final 12 hours of the subject's life, its vigorous style and complete abandonment of Sunday School niceties..."
Todd McCarthy, DAILY VAIETY
"Passion is the closest we've come to a must-see movie this year, but the real question is: How many audience members will have the stomach to actually satisfy their curiosity?"
-- Lou Lumenick, NEW YOUR POST
"Using ancient languages, vivid images and visceral violence, Gibson has brought new life to one of civilization's oldest narratives."
-- Jack Garner, ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE
"A preeminently important cinematic expression of faith — probably one of the most important religious films of all time."
-- Steven D. Greydanus, DECENT FILMS GUIDE
"An unquestionable work of conviction that should outlast the controversy and trigger constructive dialogue for years to come."
-- Sean O'Connell, FILMCRITIC.COM
"The Passion doesn't suffer from the airless, pious airs that drag down most biblical dramas: It has a muscular, pounding energy and lyrical, almost gothic beauty."
-- Rene Rodriguez, MIAMI HERALD
"A powerful, wrenching experience that makes all previous films on the subject, from The King of Kings (1927) to Jesus Christ Superstar (1973), look like Sunday School pageants, and it's not for the squeamish or the immature."
-- Jim Lane, SACRAMENTO NEWS & REVIEW
The film itself is quite beautiful. Gibson's desire to have a full-motion Caravaggio (an Italian painter who's use of shadow and light was his trademark) was ambitious, and successful in many scenes... It's a magnificent illustration of John 3:16 (For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son...)
-- John Venable, SUPERCALA.COM
************************* HOW TO ORDER TICKETS FOR POTC
*************************
So many have asked about advanced ticket sells
Here is the toll free number 888-699-7044 (in the USA)
Order any amount from one ticket to several thousand
Long lines, and sell outs are anticipated, so act quickly
************************* FREE POTC PROMOTIONAL MATERIAL
*************************
Individuals may receive as many fan kits as you would like for only the cost of shipping. Each kit includes posters, mini-posters, buck slips, postcards and door hangers http://www.passionmaterials.com/
Order quickly, mailing takes time. This material is intend for helping you promote the film to your community.
************************* HOW TO BOOK AN ENTIRE THEATER FOR POTC
*************************
1. Call your local theater, and ask if they are going to show POTC
2. Speak to the manager, see if available on Feb 25 2004 -if so, buy it out immediately. Most large theaters seat about 250 (at $10 each it would be $2500, however listen for the rent price before offering, you may be able to rent for under $1000)
3. If they refer you to corporate offices be prepared for premium pricing
Example: In my town admission is $6.75 after 6pm. However, if I buy through the corporate office the price is $10+1.50 handling fee (not the best deal). So on the first day I can get tickets locally, I will buy out the house of 240 seats at $6.75 each at the local theater. Children and seniors are less at 4.75. There is a little risk to this, in that, someone could rent the house before I do through the corporate office.
************************* HOW TO SEND MEL GIBSON A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT
*************************
Mel Gibson and the crew at Icon Productions have endured many trials to bring this film to mainstream audiences. You can use the email address below to send any feedback, testimony or encouragement that you wish to share with Mel Gibson and Icon Productions. Please limit your note to 1000 characters or less. mailto:david@hollywoodjesus.com?subject=Please_forward_to_Mel_Gibson
Please include your name, your email, and location, or your note will not be forwarded to Mel (I will screen for bogus notes)
************************* HOW DO I GET POTC TO COME TO MY TOWN IF ITS NOT SCHEDULED TO COME
*************************
This is tricky. As I understand it, and according to an confidential source at ICON, the best way to get the picture to your town is to guarantee 25,000 ticket sells. You need to get your local theater manager on board (they can contact ICON) and then rally the enough support from churches and other groups in your area to get the film. When ordering tickets from 888-699-7044 ICON will know the location and there is a possibility they will make the picture available to
your town during its first run. The problem is that there are only 2000 prints. Once they are all booked, that's it. So, you need to act quickly.
************************* HOW TO EMAIL THE TRAILER TO FRIENDS
*************************
Go to this web address http://www.thepassion.tv/
And you will be able to send it to a friends Cell Phone
Or, to a friend's e-mail address
You can enter up to three different email addresses at one time.
When the emails are sent you may send three more to as many people as you want.
News: February 12, 2004
1. Mel Gibson to appear with Diane Sawyer
2. Daily Variety Predicts "Heavenly Opening"
3. Tickets are Being Sold by the 1000s -The World Turned Upside Down.
4. Churches Can Run TV Ads for Passion
5. The ADL may be an Unintentional Promoter of the Passion!
************************* MEL GIBSON INTERVIEWED BY DIANE SAWYER ABC TV DEVOTES A FULL HOUR TO THE PASSION DURING SWEEPS WEEK
*************************
In an exclusive "Primetime" interview with ABC News' Diane Sawyer, actor and filmmaker Mel Gibson will discuss the controversy surrounding his new film, "The Passion of the Christ." Gibson's latest directorial effort, which chronicles the last twelve hours in the life of Jesus Christ, has sparked intense debate even before its release. The special edition of "PRIMETIME" airs MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 16 (10:00-11:00pm ET) on the ABC Television Network
(Feb 10, 2004 front page) Variety reports : "The movie that couldn't find a distributor a year ago is now poised to become this year's first surprise hit.
"Though not a single television ad has aired ...two weeks before its release... (it) is eclipsing mainstream Hollywood fare in audience interest.
"...industry execs anticipate a big opening... One exec predicted, 'I personally think it's going to do $100 million-plus. ..On another lot, an exec said, 'The picture is going to open huge.'"
************************* TICKETS ARE BEING SOLD BY THE THOSANDS
The World has Turned Upside Down.
*************************
Just 10 years ago -no cineplex chain would have marketed directly to Christians (let alone at premium prices) And further, conservative Christians did not go to R-Rated movies. Mel Gibson's film changes everything. Churches and other groups are buying tickets by the hundreds and thousands. Some groups are renting the whole theater!
The opening weekend of the R-rated Passion will be bolstered by unusual pre-sales. Just last week, online ticket seller Fandango reported that "Passion" tickets accounted for 43% of all its sales.
Cinemark is proclaiming: "Don't miss this extraordinary opportunity for outreach in your community." And for that evangelistic outreach they are offering: "Rentals, tickets, and discount concession packages."
see: http://www.cinemark.com/assets/011304home/passionwebpage.htm
I believe this is the first time in history that secular corporations have proclaimed the merits of Evangelism!
************************* LOCAL CHURCHES CAN RUN TV ADS FOR THE PASSION
*************************
Faith Highway is offering unique 30 second television Passion commercials as an outreach tool for local churches. The Standard version contains a 3 line graphic tag, and is priced at $795 for the usage license. The national average price for cable air time is $15-35 per spot because the average cable market coverage is between 30,000 and 70,000 homes! Call 1-888-OUTREACH for more information or visit their web site at http://www.passioncommercial.com/.
************************* THE ADL MAY BE AN UNINTENTIONAL PROMOTER OF THE PASSION
*************************
Abraham Foxman, executive director of the B'nai B'rith Anti-Defamation League, may be one of the biggest unintended promoters of the film. His heavily publicized charges that the film may fuel anti Semitic feelings has kept the media focus on the Passion.
"It's one of the most talked about films since the first 'Star Wars' prequel," said Exhibitor Relations president Paul Dergarabedian to Variety. "The anti-Semitism debate has probably helped the pic... Controversy is a double-edged sword. It can either boost your chances or derail you," Dergarabedian added. With "Passion," "People are intrigued. I've never seen all these pieces of the puzzle
come together before."
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE US CATHOLIC BISHOPS? January 21, 2004
All Mel Gibson is trying to do is present the wonderful love that God demonstrated through the Passion of The Christ. Why does
the US Conference of Catholic Bishops generate such resistance? And why do they do it in such a public manner? Isn’t Mel
Gibson their brother in Christ? I just don’t get it. Read on...
*************************
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THE US CATHOLIC BISHOPS?
*************************
Did the pope declare The Passion of the Christ “It is as it was”?
In a news story copyrighted by the US Catholic Bishops, The Catholic News Service reports that it “spoke with two informed Vatican officials close to the pope who, while confirming details of the papal viewing, strongly denied that the pope had expressed
any judgment about the film.”
In other words, a full month after the National Catholic Reporter's Vatican correspondent, John L. Allen Jr. reported that the pope said that the film “Was as it was” –the US Catholic Bishops’ News Service releases a story denying that this is so.
This seems to fit into a pattern of abuse history by the US Catholic Bishops toward Mel Gibson and others. Why did it take so long to deny the pope’s declaration? In view of all the publicity that has gone out since the “pope’s statement” (first reported by the Wall Street Journal back in December) I must say that this kind of delayed response only serves to hurt the film, and further
victimize Gibson.
Additionally, I am wondering what is wrong with the Vatican itself. Why didn’t the Vatican put the matter to rest weeks ago? As the Catholic News Service states, “(the) phantom papal quote about Mel Gibson's new movie has thrown a spotlight on a growing problem at the Vatican.”
It seems “official” statements being made by representatives of the Vatican may, at times, be bogus. The Catholic News Service reports, “When Vatican officials speak, things are not what they appear to be… Particularly in recent months, it seems that Vatican officials are not always working from the same script. On issues as diverse as events in Iraq and the morality of condom use, the universal
church seems to be speaking with more than one voice.”
So, can anyone believe anything coming out of the Vatican these days, if even the CNS is questioning credibility of Vatican sources?
To have taken so long for the pope's longtime personal secretary, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz to put the record right is irresponsible. Alan Nierob, a spokesman for Gibson, among others, raised the question of Dziwisz's timing.
Nierobm further stated that there "was no reason to believe" Archbishop Dziwicz's denial. Again, how can anyone trust any statement coming out of the Vatican. Additionally, Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan wonders, "If the pope had never said the words McEveety says he said, why wouldn't they have come down on him like a ton of bricks right
away?" To which, Tim Ruttten of the LA Times says “Good Question.”
And now to add insult to injury, Father Richard P. McBrien, the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at Notre Dame and a leading American scholar of the papacy, adds insult to injury be stating to the press, "The promoters of this film tried to pull a fast one and got caught."
This issue resonates with the child abuse scandal, in which the Vatican was slow to respond. And worse -the US Catholic Bishops created a public relations nightmare through their inept handling of priests involved in child sex cases -which further victimized the already violated children. Both the Vatican and the US Bishops come across as having more interest their own institutional agendas than on children and filmmakers.
Their latest victim is Mel Gibson. Don’t they realize that they are feeding into a huge public backlash against their institution?
The US News and World Report (Dec. 22, 2003) in an article “Jesus in America” cites increasing public distrust of institutional religion for the huge popularity of Dan Brown’s book, The DaVinci Code (4.2 million in print):
“The Code owes part of its popularity to impeccable timing. Published at a moment when doubts about the institutional integrity were running high, the book confirms the readers’ worst suspicions.”
Richard Fox, author of Jesus in America, states
“Brown is riding the wave of revulsion against corruption in the Catholic Church… Really the book is in many ways about how bad the church is.”
I feel just awful in regards to what the institutional church is doing to Mel Gibson. In spite of what the US Catholis Bishops have said, I do not feel, even after reflection, that Mel has done anything to damage Jewish-Christian relationships. Rather, I believe that the US Bishops are the source –I view them as rock throwing Christians. The following is a recounting of the Institutional
attack on Mel Gibson by the US Bishops:
Here is the news item that came out last summer
Catholic Bishops Apologize to Mel Gibson
16 June 2003 (WENN)
Mel Gibson has received an apology from the United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops after members lashed out at his plans to make a film about the last 12 hours of Christ's life. The high clergy were skeptical about The Passion, which Gibson is directing in Italy, but a spokesman for the Conference admits members were wrong to be critical of a film that has yet to be completed. Conference heads have agreed to return all unauthorized copies of the script they had obtained to Gibson.
The apology has prompted Gibson's first comments on the furor, which led to religious leaders calling his ambitious project - which will feature the ancient language of Aramaic without subtitles - anti-Catholic and anti-Semitic. He says, "To be certain, neither I nor my film is anti-Semitic. It's a movie meant to inspire, not to offend. My intention in bringing it to the screen is to create a lasting work of art and engender serious thought among audiences of diverse faith backgrounds
who have varying familiarity with this story. This is a movie about faith, hope, love and forgiveness - something sorely needed in these turbulent times." Criticism was leveled at Gibson and his production company, Icon, in March when demands by the Conference of Catholic Bishops to view what was considered a controversial script were ignored.
The bishops then said that they would reserve their own comments until they had seen the film itself, and tried to distant their responsibility by saying:
“We understood from the outset of our review of the script that our report did not represent an official statement of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops, nor was it ever represented as such.”
I won’t comment about the absurdity of the comment itself. But, why did the Bishops apologize and "return all unauthorized copies of the script they had obtained to Gibson" if such distance really existed?
I do not get it? I totally do not understand the US Conference of Catholic Bishops? Why did the US Bishops make their apology only after Mel Gibson threaten to sue? Why have they not come out with their review of Mel Gibson's film now that it is complete and available for their screening? They said they would. What are they waiting for? Hundreds of other respected religious leaders have, Billy
Graham included, viewed it and issued opinions!
The only thing the US Conference of Bishops seem intent on is crucifying Mel Gibson.
In just one of several screenings about 800 pastors and leaders attended June 26 at the city's New Life Church. Question: Why haven't the US Catholic Bishops attended such screenings for religious leaders and released an official statement? They sure were quick on the trigger when they read stolen scripts. What is going on?
Where are they in this wonderful opportunity for the kingdom? With the recent child abuse mishandlings by the US Bishops (Bishop Law etc) still fresh in the mind of the public -what could they be thinking? Are they mishandling this one too? There is something horribly wrong here, in my mind. Can anybody help my misgivings with the US Bishops?
Perhaps the US Bishops could learn from everyday type Catholics what it means to support a brother. Here is a letter of support to Mel from a newly confirmed Catholic:
Mr. Gibson, I am a new Catholic, confirmed last Easter at the tender age of 55. I thank you for your commitment to face down all the opposition you have faced to bring the Lord's story to the world anew. The excitement, anticipation, and as to be expected... the controversy...are building. But when was He not controversial? In this modern day where film can reach into every community, His story will reach
across the globe. Thank you,
I am open to your response
Perhaps I am missing something
Perhaps I am totally off base
If I am, help me out.
I welcome all comments
2003 NEWS
• Dec. 01 2003 - Billy Graham comes to the rescue defends Gibson film on Christ, says he was 'moved to tears' "The film is faithful to the Bible's teaching that we are all responsible for Jesus' death, because we all have sinned," the 85-year-old evangelist said. "It is our sins that caused his death, not any particular group."
Billy Graham said: "I doubt if there has been a more graphic and moving presentation of Jesus' death and resurrection, which Christians believe are the most important events in human history."
• Dec 5, 2003 - John Paul II, who even with the challenges of his current illness has more good sense than many of his cardinals, knew of the controversy surrounding Mr. Gibson's film, and wanted to see it. Producer Steve McEveety, who had flown to Rome uninvited to show the film to as many Vatican officials as he could, gave the DVD to Msgr. Dziwisz on Friday, Dec. 5.
The monsignor and the pope watched it together. Mr. McEveety said of John Paul. "He's pretty well booked. But he really wanted to see it."
• Dec 27, 2003 - Pope John Paul views Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of The Christ" and was moved by it. The Pope declared "It is as it was." (A month later, USCCB later said this was not true)
• Oct 22-2003 -The name of the film has been changed from "The Passion" to "The Passion of The Christ."
• Oct 22-2003 - Mel Gibson has decided to distribute it through his own company, Icon Entertainment, in association with art-house distributors Newmarket Films which has distributed such independent film hits as Memento in the past. Major studios shy away from controversial films.
• Oct 22-2003 - The Los Angeles Times reports that Gibson is looking to debut the film on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2004.
• Oct 22-2003 - Gibson has put $20 million dollars of his own money into this $25 million dollar production.
• Oct 22-2003 - Christians have only themselves to blame for the controversy surrounding the release of this film. In 1988, when misdirected Christians protested Universal Studio's "The Last Temptation of Christ," it had the effect of closing the doors to any future major Hollywood studio production of films about Jesus. More recently, in regards to "Passion" misdirected
U.S. Catholic Bishops released a public statement accusing Mel Gibson of anti semitism. They had not seen the film, and based their opinion on an unofficial and stolen script. They later apologized and returned the stolen property. Since then the Vatican has praised it. But the cat was out of the bag and it isn't going back. When will the Church stop their stupid moralistic rock throwing. As Jesus said "You reap what you sow." It makes me weep when I see Christians throwing
stones.
• Oct 22-2003 - Now the Anti Defamation League (ADL) is raising concerns. ADL director Abraham Foxman states, "We are deeply concerned that the film, if released in its present form, could fuel the hatred, bigotry and anti-Semitism that many responsible churches have worked hard to repudiate."
• Oct 22-2003 - Rock throwing "christians" are only throwing fuel into the fire. The ADL reports receiving racist hate mail after condemning the film which adds gravity to their concerns regarding the film. An example of an actual rock throwing "christian" hate mail is: "Whether you like it or not, the Jews of the time were instrumental in Jesus' death. We don't need
anymore revisionist history. Didn't the Holocaust teach you anything?" Such hate makes me cry. I beg Christians to put down their rocks. Please love and respect others. To hate Jews is to also hate Jesus, who was Jewish.
• Oct 22-2003 - Gibson, has made attempts at bridge building by inviting the ADL and other groups to screenings of the film in an attempt to defuse criticism. Bridge building! Wow! What a great idea. Sure beats throwing stones.
INTERVIEW WITH MEL GIBSON
Christ's Agony as You've Never Seen It ROME, MARCH 6, 2003 (Zenit.org, used by permission)
Oscar winning actor-director Mel Gibson has been working on a film on the passion of Christ at the Cinecittà studios in Rome. The movie focuses on the last 12 hours of Christ's life and stars Jim Caviezel ("The Thin Red Line," "Angel Eyes," "The Count of Monte Cristo") as Jesus. Gibson granted the following exclusive interview to ZENIT.
News Story:
Q: What made you decide to do this project?
Gibson: It's been slowly coming on for about 10 or 12 years now. I'm a pretty old guy, but if you go back 12 years I was 35. That's when I started to investigate the roots of my faith. I had always believed in God, that he existed, and I was brought up to believe in a certain way.
But in my middle years, I kind of drifted, and other things took center stage. At that point, I realized I needed something more if I was going to survive. A closer investigation of the Gospels, of the story, of the whole piece, was demanded of me.
That's when the idea started to percolate inside my head. I began to see it realistically, re-creating it in my own mind so that it would make sense for me, so I could relate to it. That's what I want to put on the screen.
Q: So many movies about the life of Christ have already been made. Why make another one?
Gibson: I don't think other films have tapped into the real force of this story. I mean, have you seen any of the others? They are either inaccurate in their history, or they suffer from bad music or bad hair. This film will show the passion of Jesus Christ just the way it happened. It's like traveling back in time and watching the events unfold exactly as they occurred.
Q: How can you be sure that your version is so accurate?
Gibson: We've done the research. I'm telling the story as the Bible tells it. I think the story, as it really happened, speaks for itself. The Gospel is a complete script, and that's what we're filming.
Q: This seems like a switch from the usual Mel Gibson productions. Your specialty is action, adventure and romance. What made you decide to do a religious film?
Gibson: I'm doing what I've always done: telling stories I think are important in the language I speak best: film. I think most great stories are hero stories. People want to reach out and grab at something higher, and
vicariously live through heroism, and lift their spirit that way.
There is no greater hero story than this one - about the greatest love one can have, which is to lay down one's life for someone. The Passion is the biggest adventure story of all time. I think it's the biggest love-story of all time; God becoming man and men killing God - if that's not action, nothing is.
Q: Who will want to see a film like this?
Gibson: I think everyone will. The story has inspired art, culture, behavior, governments, kingdoms, countries - it has influenced the world in more ways than you can imagine. It's a pivotal event in history that has made us what we are today. Believers and nonbelievers alike, we have all been affected by it.
So many people are searching for meaning in life, asking themselves a lot of questions. They'll come looking for answers. Some will find them, some won't.
Q: So this film isn't only for Christians?
Gibson: "Gandhi" was a blockbuster hit, but it wasn't just for Hindus. This film is for everyone. For believers and nonbelievers, Jesus Christ is undoubtedly one of the most important historical figures of all time. Name one person who has had a greater impact on the course of history.
Q: But if this film is focused on bringing the Gospels to life, won't it be offensive to non-Christians? For example, the role of the Jewish leaders in Jesus' death. If you depict that, won't it be offensive?
Gibson: This isn't a story about Jews vs. Christians. Jesus himself was a Jew, his mother was a Jew, and so were his Twelve Apostles. It's true that, as the Bible says, "He came unto his own and his own received him not"; I can't hide that.
But that doesn't mean that the sins of the past were any worse than the sins of the present. Christ paid the price for all our sins.
The struggle between good and evil, and the overwhelming power of love go beyond race and culture. This film is about faith, hope, love and forgiveness. These are things that the world could use more of, particularly in these turbulent times. This film is meant to inspire, not to offend.
Q: Even so, some people are going to think that you just want to "push your beliefs on others." Is that true?
Gibson: I didn't invent this story. I do happen to believe it. It's something that just gets inside of you and has to come out. I'm just trying to tell it well, better than it's ever been told before. When you're dealing with non-fiction, a director's responsibility is to make it as accurate as possible. Open-minded people will appreciate it for what it is.
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.
Q: What about the language barrier? You're filming in two dead languages - Latin and Aramaic - and you're not planning to use subtitles. Won't that be a turnoff?
Gibson: Caravaggio's paintings don't have subtitles, but people get the message. The Nutcracker Ballet doesn't have subtitles, but people get the message. I think that the image will overcome the language barrier. That's my hope.
I'm just trying to be as real as possible. There is something kind of startling about watching it in the original languages. The reality comes out and hits you. Full-contact. I know we are only re-creating, but we are doing the best we can to simulate an experience of really being there.
And I think it's almost counterproductive to say some of these things in a modern language. It makes you want to stand up and shout out the next line, like when you hear "To be or not to be" and you instinctively say to yourself, "That is the question."
But if you hear the words spoken as they were spoken at the time, it can kind of stun you. I've seen that happen when we're working. It gets a clarity to it through the acting, through the nuances of the characters, the movement of the camera - it's the movement, it's the timing, it's everything. All of a sudden it's very, very clear to me. That's when I cut and move on.
Q: When you finish this project, will it be a letdown to go back to less sublime subject matter?
Gibson: No, it will be a relief to do something that's a little lighter. There is a tremendous burden of responsibility in this one, not to sell anything short. I just hope I can do justice to the story. You can't please everybody, but then again, that's not my goal.
NEWS
Bullucci interview: Listen to the interview with Monica Bellucci who plays Mary Magdalene in Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ. Great insights.
RealAudio
From the BBCi
From the Fox News O'Reilly No Spin Zone
JANUARY 15, 2003:
O'REILLY: (In the"Personal Story" segment): The actor Mel Gibson has been in Italy for months shooting a controversial film that graphically depicts the execution of Jesus. The movie is being financed by Gibson's production company. It's being shot in Aramaic and Latin, the languages used at the time.
Mr. Gibson is a religious man and believes there are some in the media who want to discredit him personally because he's making a pro-Christian film. And, indeed, THE FACTOR has learned that there is a print reporter trying to dig up nasty personal dirt on Gibson. And the guy has even approached his 85-year-old father under questionable circumstances. And, in the interest of full disclosure, Mel Gibson's production
company has optioned my novel, "Those Who Trespass." So, I do have a working relationship with him. But I believe this situation is troubling.
I spoke with Mel Gibson yesterday from Rome.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
O'REILLY: Mr. Gibson, I understand the movie you're shooting right now about the death of Jesus of Nazareth is pretty graphic, pretty explicit.
MEL GIBSON, ACTOR/DIRECTOR: It is, yes. I've never seen a rendering that equals this for reality. It's usually either -- the versions I've seen either suffer from bad hair, inaccurate history, or not just being real. And somehow, because of that, I think I think you're distanced from them somehow. They're more like fairy tales. And this actually happened. It occurred. I'm exploring it this way, I think, to show the extent of
the sacrifice willingly taken.
O'REILLY: You're going to make it in Aramaic and Latin, all right, so that no one is going to even understand what's said. The images are going to be explicit and powerful. What is the point?
GIBSON: Well, the point is that I think you can transcend language with the message through image. And I'm very happy with what we're getting.
O'REILLY: Is it going to upset some people to see the person they believe is God brutalized in this manner?
GIBSON: Well, I think anybody that is in the know about Jesus as God and they believe in that realize that he was brutalized and that I'm exploring it this way, I think, to show the extent of the sacrifice willingly taken. But I don't think people -- I think it's going to be hard to take, but I don't necessarily know that people are going to be upset by it.
O'REILLY: Is it going to upset any Jewish people?
GIBSON: It may. It's not meant to.
I think it's meant to just tell the truth. I want to be as truthful as possible. But, when you look at the reasons behind why Christ came, why he was crucified, he died for all mankind and he suffered for all mankind, so that, really, anybody who transgresses has to look at their own part or look at their own culpability.
It's time to sort of get back to a basic message, the message that was given. At this time, the world has gone nuts, I think. And this film speaks -- well, Christ spoke of faith, hope, love and forgiveness. And these are things I think we need to be reminded of again. He forgave as he was tortured and killed. And we could do with a little of that behavior.
I mentioned what I was going to do to Night Shyamalan. And he thought: "Oh, great. You have the ultimate opportunity to make the perfect anti-date movie."
And I said: "No, no, that's not true at all. I think I refer to it as the career-killer film." And I was only half joking at the time. But it's interesting that, when you do touch this subject, it does have a lot of enemies. And there are people sent. I've seen it happening. Since I've been in Rome here, for example, I know that there are people sent from reputable publications who -- they go about, while you're busy
over here, they start digging into your private life and sort of getting into your banking affairs and any charities you might be involved in.
And then they start bothering your friends and your business associates and harassing your family, including my 85-year-old father. And I find it -- it's a little spooky.
O'REILLY: We have heard that there is a reporter trying to dig up dirt on you, and who has bothered your 85-year-old father, trying to get provocative statements from him, and trying to portray you as a fanatic and perhaps a bigot, that this guy is operating right now. He's trying to dig up dirt on Mel Gibson.
And do you believe it's because you're making this movie about Jesus?
GIBSON: I think it is, yes. I think he's been sent. So, that's the way it is. You got to deal with these things. I'm a big boy and I can take care of myself. And you can say what you like about me. I'm a public person, I suppose, although I don't ever remember signing the paper that I said I had no rights to privacy. But you can pick on me. But if you start picking on my family when I'm out of town, get ready.
O'REILLY: But I'm surprised that someone would go after somebody as well-liked as you are and as powerful as you are. And you really believe it's because you're making this movie about Jesus?
GIBSON: Yes, I think so. Yes, I think there's a lot of things that don't want it to happen.
But, hey, as I said before, it's a film that speaks about faith, hope, love, and forgiveness. That's the basic message. And that's what we need to get back to, I think. And if everybody practiced a little more of that, there would be a lot less friction in the world.
O'REILLY: So, if this guy writes something terrible about you and your father and family, you are going to forgive him?
GIBSON: Yes. You've got to. I already did. But it's just perplexing.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
O'REILLY: All right, there it is. And we'll let you know if anything gets in print.
