Mel Gibson's "Passions" What do you guys think about it?

[dd74]

This movie, as you know, has received a lot of critical attention. In the news last night, it was suggested it might start "religious wars." I think that's taking thing quite far, but then no one I know in the industry has seen this film yet, so I'm sort of in the dark about it other than its controversial theme.

Nonetheless, I'd like to hear other people's opinion about this movie, or at least the idea of it.

Thanks.

[surflvr911sc]

Great idea, glorify the Christ Killers! tic

[Z-man]

I have not seen it just yet, but I'll post back my thoughts.

It is controversial, but I think it's good that Christian ideals are in the media.

-Zoltan.

[pwd72s]

I try not to...think about it, I mean. Nothing against this particular movie...it's just that not many of them are worth thinking about.

[dd74]

I don't know...up here in H'wood, it feels like a lot of people are on pins and needles about this movie. For better and for worse...

[CamB]

I expect to like it - I'm Catholic and the Pope liked it (that's a joke, not a very funny one).

As I think Gibson will do a good job of it (he has basically staked his directing career on it), I expect that people watching the movie will fall into three loose categories:

- believe in the message, love the movie, find it very moving
- treat the movie as a historical piece, enjoy the movie, find it moving
- hate the message, can't really get past that, and dislike the movie

If Gibson has done a crappy job, all bets are off!

[Decolliber]

Christians have been happily blaming Jews for everything thats wrong in the world for the past 2000 years, so Gibson is part of a fine tradition. Pope Pious XII ("Hitler's Pope") actively cooperated with the " final solution," so if the current Pope likes the movie, that confims my suspicions. Saw something yesterday about Gibson editing out some of the more offensive utterances in the movie. Whenever rich and famous people decide to try to use their wealth to push their religious beliefs on the rest of us, the result is usually quite repulsive.
I will try to remember the Mel Gibson of Mad Max, not the present day acolyte.
And no, I am not Jewish - baptised CofE.

[trj911]

I am looking forward to seeing it. If it can take a man away from thinking about himself, to realizing that Jesus really is God's son, I'm all for it!

[Decolliber]

Originally posted by trj911
Jesus really was God's son, I'm all for it!

Which God?

[joeclarke]

Christians have been happily blaming Jews for everything ....

Naw, as a baby boomer all I've ever been pummelled with in this vein is an endless reiteration of the holocaust (not in any way to minimize the significance of that event, heaven forbid). Putting Jewish accomplishments on a pedestle seems to be more in fashion in my circles these days.

Come on, every race, religion and any other pursuasion you can name has probably screwed-up once or twice along the way. Let's get over it and not be thin-skinned about somebody drafting a "historical piece" that possibly puts some group in a bad light.

Damn, the British have been getting hammered in thousands of pieces of film outa Hollywood for decades. They keep taking it on the chin without squeeking.

Let's use them as a role model, shall we?

[Decolliber]

Originally posted by joeclarke
Damn, the British have been getting hammered in thousands of pieces of film outa Hollywood for decades. They keep taking it on the chin without squeeking.
Let's use them as a role model, shall we?

Thats why I love watching "Zulu" over and over again ...

[joeclarke]

Thats why I love watching "Zulu" over and over again ...

...me too, I love that movie. Caine's real first.

From my perspective that particular movie makes the Brits look pretty good (even the louts stand up to be counted in the end), but I guess you could look at it in different ways.

[n8marx]

I, for one, am glad to see someone in Hollywood having the balls to make a movie about something other than horny teens shoving trumpets in each other's asses.

Can't wait to see it.

How is Gibson "pushing his beliefs on the rest of us"? If you don't want to see the movie, leave the $8 in your wallet and don't go.

[adamred]

The fact that the British have taken it on the chin for the past years in Hollywood is grossly different then a religious group. As Americans we take it on the chin all over the world everyday but we have our government and a#$ kickin armed forces to shove it up those terrorist b#$%ds butts all day long.

Who's preventing synogogues from being torched, jewish weddings from being bombed and school children from being terrorized in their community centers, NO ONE.

An empty headed hollywood religious fanatic who thinks he can tell "history" from a biased book written by christian elders is out for nothing but perpetuating inaccuracies and stereotypes. I for one will never watch one of his flicks again, and yes I am Jewish!

[surflvr911sc]

Born again Jewish?

[dd74]

As you may or may not know, Gibson is a heavily, heavily conservative Catholic. So conservative is he, that he does not recognize the new Vatican - complete with its "reforms." He is resolved to produce and have the world view this film, and would probably show it w/o the Pope's blessing - though there are some who say the Pope never even saw "Passions."

Additionally, Gibson's rumored edit of the movie's final print supposedly constituted little more than a few lines of dialogue. But Jewish groups still call the film biased and racist even with editing. The religious hostility within the film is embedded into the story - i.e. part of its theme.

[adamred]

Naw, Jewish, Jewish, something about this stuff just really ruffles my feathers....

I think for me its tied up in a general feeling that we as a society have chosen to place way too much importance on hollywood actors. Yes they entertain, yes I like movies and TV like everyone else but no their opinions on politics, religion, etc don't mean a darn thing to me and I can't stand the fact that their lives and opinions are forced on me and my kids everyday....its easy to say but really what difference does the Jackson's issues or Paris Hilton's tape or all of the other lead items in the news these days make when our boys are dying in Iraq or kids a getting blown up on Russian trains!

Rant over...

[surflvr911sc]

I was joking of course, and yes societies priorities are often screwed up to me too. Like it or not this is the direction mankind has taken and we are wrapped up in the middle of it. I always have control of my own actions and beliefs, that has to good enough when I can’t stand what I see in the world.

Religious hostility is embedded into history. I don’t think it possible to express one religious belief and not alienate the rest. Religious hostility will continue throughout the history of man. It really is a shame too, the core beliefs of many of them are so similar, right up to this story anyway.

I do look forward to seeing the film, I find theology interesting and this should make for a very interesting portrayal.

by CAMB
- believe in the message, love the movie, find it very moving
- treat the movie as a historical piece, enjoy the movie, find it moving
- hate the message, can't really get past that, and dislike the movie

I think you’re right here but we could probably come up w/ a few more categories. I don’t think I will be able to treat the movie as a historical piece but I think that I will enjoy the movie for what it is and find it moving. I think it‘s an incredible story whether you believe it or not.

[adamred]

Yeah I know you were joking, and I agree with your points, just so frustrating some days...On another sort of related subject and during this time of year....I've completely given up on awards shows, they make me physically sick a bunch of vapid empty headed fools patting each other on the back, as we say in our little tribe, OY VEY!

[dd74]

Empty headed? Vapid? Not really. There are some brilliant minds in H'wood. But they're the writers, directors and in some cases the actors.

"Monster" is a good example of this. I haven't seen it, but that movie evidentally is so spot on, it shakes you to the core.

One has to put Hollywood in context of what it's there for - to tell stories, and in most cases, you have to pick and choose from who you want your story told. Independent film is mostly very good, while big name studios put out fluffier stuff.

"Passions" by no means is ground breaking. About ten years ago, Miramax put out "Priest," which was about homosexuality in the Catholic church. The movie was intense . Talk about raw, edgy stuff and really well done. Well, guess who caught all the Vatican flack because of "Priest:" Disney, who owns Miramax.

"Passions" will be a success is my bet. Probably a very large success. Bad publicity is good publicity. And by many accounts, it is said Gibson is nuts-on accurate in the movie's portrayal.

Does that mean Hollywood damages society? Not exactly. Fact is fact. But it sure will give a lot of power to the industry when they want to do another movie like "Schindler's List" or "The Killing Fields."