Passion of the Christ

Yes -- lots of free pre-release publicity.

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Jimmy : Apply your learned GreeK???

 

I really try to stay out of theological debates, and religious denomination discussions because my take is no matter which doctrine we believe, we almost always see ours as the right way. But guess what, somebody has to be wrong, or maybe everybody is wrong.

Anyway, I have tickets to see the movie on Wednesday night, so I will try to let you all know what I think about.

 

Actual photos from the film

Since this thread is popular on here I thought you all would enjoy
this

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Jimmy : Apply your learned GreeK???

 

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Jimmy : Apply your learned GreeK???

Exactly. Paul is eggman and John is the walrus. Goo Goo A'Joob.

 

And as Juvenal lamented, the Orontes flows into the Tiber.

 

OK I saw the movie tonight

I saw the movie tonight. Some friends of ours from the big church in town got us tickets. The big church purchased 2 theaters for the evening, and then allowed their members to purchase tickets for themselves, family, and friends. So, that is how we got into the sold out theater.

The movie was very good, and was bible based. It was so true to the bible that you knew exactly what was going to happen next, and what each character was gong to say. It was very graphic, but realistic and not over the top IMO. The movie had its moments where it really got to you, but I think because of all violence that it lost a lot of the heart felt moments. I honestly felt going there that it would stir more emotion in me, but that may be a reflection on me.

My only complaint about the night was that the big church saw it as an opportunity. Before it started they passed around cards for people to fill out, and had prayer. Then they stopped the movie right before the end in the last scene, and the associate pastor started talking and basically gave an alter call. So, I am sure that they had to stop the film just a little early in order to have time to talk, but I think the film spoke for itself, and did not need to be followed up with a short sermon. Sometimes it is best to just be quiet. I was disappointed with not seeing the end, so I will probably go back just to see that. I like to leave when I see credits scrolling, but that is just me. My wife felt the same way about the ending, but she does not want to see it again because of the violence.

Scott (who attends a little church )

 

I have talked to a number of my congregants who have seen the movie. It sounds very gory, bloody, and violent.

I think I will pass on seeing it. Anyway, I have always thought the Christian church has focused too much on the death of Christ and not enough on His resurrection and the power, majesty, and glory of the Risen Saviour!

 

Though I missed the very end, the end is the resurrection. I thought the movie could have focused on the resurrection more, because that is the good news.

 

I saw the movie this evening. Very moving...very graphic. I agree that the message of suffering comes across in spite of the Latin/Aramaic. Every movie you see has poetic license and this should be remembered when viewing the film.

I enjoyed the film and it should provide fodder for discussions in families and churches.

Respectfully submitted,
Steven King

 

I saw the movie this evening. Very moving...very graphic. I agree that the message of suffering comes across in spite of the Latin/Aramaic. Every movie you see has poetic license and this should be remembered when viewing the film.

I enjoyed the film and it should provide fodder for discussions in families and churches.

Respectfully submitted,
Steven King

 

I saw the movie this evening. Very moving...very graphic. I agree that the message of suffering comes across in spite of the Latin/Aramaic. Every movie you see has poetic license and this should be remembered when viewing the film.

I enjoyed the film and it should provide fodder for discussions in families and churches.

Respectfully submitted,
Steven King

 

I apologize in advance for multiple postings...it was unintentional.

Steven King

 

Blasphemy

The gadfly that I am, I want to pose this question: Is there anything inherently blasphemous about someone portraying Jesus Christ (Jim Caviezel, e.g.) or God (George Burns, e.g.)?

 

Re: Blasphemy

I think that might be true ONLY if the true God does not have a sense of humor or otherwise appreciate his creation attempting to understand His nature through art and literature, and by extension - acting.

 

Re: Re: Blasphemy

 

Received this in an email today.

"Passion" Sets Record At Box Office
Special to The Washington Post
Monday, March 1, 2004; Page C01


Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" has earned an estimated $117,538,465 since its spectacular $23.5 million opening on Wednesday, setting a record as the most successful debut ever for a film released in February, normally a slack season at movie theaters.

Friday to Saturday earnings of $76,200,567 are the seventh best of all time. ("Spider Man's" $114.8 million in May 2002 is the best ever.)

The independent Newmarket release is "right up there" with mainstream studio hits like Warner Bros.' "Harry Potter" and "Matrix" franchises and Fox's "Star Wars" flicks, says Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations Inc., the company that tallies the grosses for the Hollywood distributors.

"To me it's the most unexpected box office hit I've ever known," he says of the film, which graphically depicts the last hours of Jesus Christ's life.

In the five-day statistics for a Wednesday opening, "The Passion" actually registered ahead of "Stars Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," which took in $105.6 over that period in May 1999. It was beaten only by New Line's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" which seized $124.1 million when it opened eleven weeks ago.

Bob Berney, president of Newmarket Films, says theater owners are telling him they are "just ecstatic...in awe of the business, not only the overall numbers, but looking at individual screens and showings they are just all very, very pleased."

The R-rated movie played at 3,043 theaters, averaging $25,041 for each site. Thursday was the weakest day, registering only $14.78 million, but by Friday business was again heavy with $22.8 million. Saturday was way above average with $32.84 million, and Sunday -- when Oscar day usually keeps movie audiences watching the small screen -- was estimated to be an excellent $20.54 million. (Additionally the movie had earned $3 million from Monday and Tuesday screenings, prior to its official opening.)

Terrell Falk, vice president of marketing and communication for Cinemark USA, the third-largest exhibition chain in North America with theaters in 33 states, said on Friday, "The response has been the same across the country, especially as far as church groups are concerned." She knew the movie would hold up through the weekend, Falk says. Extensive booking, especially for matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday, had come from those church groups that were the movie's target audience.

The movie is rated R because of its extreme violence. But that proved no impediment. The only other R-rated movie to open stronger was "Matrix Reloaded," which last May took in $91.77 million, for the second best Friday-to-Saturday opening.

Falk, who had visited a couple of theaters near her company headquarters in Plano, Tex., says audiences were not deterred by the film's rating or any of the other aspects that might have made it a hard sell -- the subtitles, the lack of star actors and no surprise ending. Berney says the film has performed just as well in urban areas like Manhattan and Detroit as in Bible Belt cities.

"I think when something is this big it's a broad demographic, a wide range of ages and ethnicity," he says.

Bruce Davey of Icon, Gibson's production company, says that though the launch to church groups has "obviously worked," the media attention and controversy hasn't hurt. "If you want to express an opinion you've got to see the movie," he says.

Davey predicts attendance won't drop as sharply as some might expect because the film has what all mammoth blockbusters need: repeat business. "From our Web site we are hearing from people that have been three and four times already...and not all the church groups have been yet, and the church bookings for the Easter weekend are very heavy. So I think that all bodes well from here on in."

The film is already the first released this year to pass the $100 million, considered a benchmark of a real hit.

 

I probably won't ever see it if it has as much graphic violence as has been said.

 

I have decided not to. A number of people tell me how violent and gory it is and when I tell them I will not see it, they tell me it's in the Bible and other movies have been just as bloody, violent, and gory.

My response is that reading about it is different from seeing it and other movies don't show my Saviour brutalized!

The Gospel account is good enough for me. I know He suffered, died, and resurrected. That's all I need to know.