As a movie, this appeals to me. As a statement (in whatever way), it makes me want to vomit, especially considering it's Mel Gibson making it. The concept of religion escapes me - I honestly don't understand it?
I just cannot stand Mel Gibson so much that it would be hard for me to watch this and not think about that. Plus, Monica Belucci as Mary Magdalene? I'm guessing most peasants from BC-era Jerusalem weren't quite that hot.
I found the Sunday Chronicle's opinion piece on this movie was great, I wish I could find it and post it.
I'm not much of a fan of the revisionist historians (who don't seem to have much of a case, imo), but I don't think it is relevant here anyway. The movie could not possibly put any more blame on the Jews than the gospels do. And, if it is supposed to be a movie-rendition of the gospels, it would be a travesty to take it out. I don't think it is anti-Semitic to have it there; in fact, removing it seems to be much the same in theme as denying the Holocaust. That's not the only complaint I've thought silly. Some folks are complaining about the violence and blood in it. Again: hello, it is in the Bible. It's like censoring the Old Testament because of all the sex in it. If you're a Christian and complaining that the content of the Bible is inappropriate, you need to re-examine your faith. I really don't see how you can do a movie about the suffering of Christ without showing a little suffering. But, there is a complaint my wife has pointed out that I have not seen publically published. From watching the trailer, everyone seems to be unduly white. The Roman Centurions look like they are from England and the Jews look like they are from Italy. You can dismiss it in a movie made in the '50s, but I don't really understand it from a modern movie. Maybe the trailer gave me a false impression, but that's about I have for them.
I'm glad someone else said it. I can't stand Mel Gibson. He and Sylvester Stallone are the Kings of Pain. If someone is gonna get tortured to death, Mel is your guy. he's what, 5'2? throw another shrimp on the barbie
Reading this thread makes me want to see this movie even more. I mean really, can you see people caring enough to debate like this over The Fast And The Furious II? I'm going to go see the movie, then form my opinion.
My understanding is also that Gibson is not on speaking terms with his father and that though they both oppose Vatican II, they don't really see eye-to-eye about the Jews. And, the Jews' responsibility for Jesus' death is a complicated thing. The gospels are pretty explicit in saying that the agency of Jesus' death falls to the Jews and it portrays them as a bloodthirsty mob too. But, the crucifixion is the vehicle for mankind's redemption, so Jesus' mission could not have been fulfilled without it. So, in a way, the responsibility falls on God and, overall, it doesn't seem like a bad thing in the first place. And, as MadMax already pointed out, it wouldn't have been necessary if it weren't for the sins of believers, so, in a contorted way, blame falls to the Christian for whom Christ was paying in the first place. Of course, if you're going to be an anti-Semite to begin with, you can take a simple-minded approach, forget that Jesus came intending to be crucified, and blame Jews for killing your God. But, your theology would fall beyond the realm of what could be called Christian in the first place since it denies the depravity of man and redemption through the cross. Not that anti-Semites ever needed an excuse to be anti-Semites.
Actually it wasn't that he claimed to be the Son of God, since in a Christian masculine sense, we're all sons of God. What got under the Jews skin was that he claimed to be the Son of Man. I forget why that they thought it was more blasphemous then being saying Son of God, but yeah that's why
Okay, if you were God and you sent your one begotten son to blah blah blah, wouldn't you make sure he was always surrounded by hot chicks? And even if you didn't, if you were Jesus himself and could turn water into wine and so forth, wouldn't you at least turn your ugly peasant friends into shiny happy people? But what on earth could ever make you not like Mel Gibson to that extent?
Why HATE Mel Gibson?? Braveheart is one of the greatest films ever made. I also loved Road Warrior. He was awesome as Hamlet. Then again The Patriot and all those annoying Lethal Weapon movies suxed! I think this movie should be as violent as the suffering was. IF you can't handle the truth, then don't handle a bible. BTW - I'm Jewish and even though I don't BELIEVE Jesus is my Messiah, I do believe he exhisted and was a great profit. I believe the New Testament is an interesting novel..story if you will. I will see the movie based on that alone. And I'm not afraid of some cross burning in my front yard or so Nazi knocking down my door!!!
Good Road Warrior Braveheart Mad Max Stinkers All Lethal Weapons Conspiracy Theory Man with no face Forever Young That terrible movie with Robert Downey Jr flying in Southeast Asia Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome
that movie with Robert Druggy Jr would be Air America and I hope you just overlooked Mad Max and you're not lumping it in with that god-awful Beyond Thunderdome because the first two Mad Max movies are good. and I dont agree with the Lethal Weapon assesment, the first one was pretty good imo.
Friends have you heard? The Passion is not the only Mel Gibson project in the works. Get ready for: MAD MAX: FURY ROAD coming out in 2004. We Were Soliders was pretty good along with Signs!!! Here are all his movies!!! ## Mad Max: Fury Road (2004) (pre-production) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky # Singing Detective, The (2003) .... Dr. Gibbon # Signs (2002) .... Graham Hess # We Were Soldiers (2002) .... Lt. Col. Hal Moore ... aka Wir waren Helden (2002) (Germany) # What Women Want (2000) .... Nick Marshall # Patriot, The (2000) .... Benjamin Martin ... aka Patriot, Der (2000) (Germany) # Chicken Run (2000) (voice) .... Rocky ... aka C:R-1 (2000) (USA: promotional abbreviation) # Million Dollar Hotel, The (2000) .... Detective Skinner # Payback (1999) .... Porter # Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) .... Martin Riggs ... aka Lethal 4 (1998) (USA: promotional abbreviation) # FairyTale: A True Story (1997) (uncredited) .... Frances' Father ... aka Fairy Tale (1997) ... aka Illumination (1997) # Conspiracy Theory (1997) .... Jerry Fletcher # Fathers' Day (1997) (uncredited) .... Scott the Body Piercer # Ransom (1996) .... Tom Mullen # Pocahontas (1995) (voice) .... John Smith # Braveheart (1995) .... William Wallace # Maverick (1994) .... Bret Maverick, Jr. # Chili Con Carne Club, The (1993) # Man Without a Face, The (1993) .... Justin McLeod # Forever Young (1992) .... Capt. Daniel McCormick # Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) .... Martin Riggs # Hamlet (1990) .... Hamlet # Air America (1990) .... Gene Ryack # Bird on a Wire (1990) .... Rick Jarmin # Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) .... Martin Riggs # Tequila Sunrise (1988) .... Dale 'Mac' McKussic # Lethal Weapon (1987) .... Sergeant Martin Riggs # Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky ... aka Mad Max 3 (1985) # Mrs. Soffel (1984) .... Ed Biddle # River, The (1984) .... Tom Garvey # Bounty, The (1984) .... Fletcher Christian Master's Mate # Year of Living Dangerously, The (1982) .... Guy Hamilton # Attack Force Z (1982) .... Captain P.G. Kelly ... aka Z Men, The (1982) ... aka Z-tzu te kung tui (1982) (Taiwan) # Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky ... aka Mad Max 2 (1981) (short title) ... aka Road Warrior, The (1982) (USA) # "Punishment" (1981) TV Series .... Rick Monroe # Gallipoli (1981) .... Frank Dunne # Chain Reaction, The (1980) (uncredited) .... Bearded mechanic ... aka Nuclear Run (1980) # Tim (1979) .... Tim # Mad Max (1979) .... 'Mad' Max Rockatansky # Summer City (1977) .... Scollop ... aka Coast of Terror (1977) # I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977) (uncredited) .... Baseball Player # "Sullivans, The" (1976) TV Series .... Ray Henderson
Heh...I almost forgot about a couple of those movies. I liked Tequila Sunrise and Maverick also. Havent seen Signs yet, even tho I own it. Is it any good?
