Box Office Mojo - 'Passion' Plays On: $64.6M in Three Days

Mel Gibson is going to be living Phat after this movie.

 

as if he wasn't already?
but it's nice to know that he's profited so well off of his deity's murder.
of course he'll probably funnel most of the money to his personal church so he won't have to pay income tax.

 

would it qualify for foreign language?

 

I think the category is foreign films as opposed to foreign language films.

 

It's not so much 1959 anymore, though. Religious epics were more common in the 1950s.

 

The category is "foreign language film", but the films are nominated by country. The rules specifically state that the film has to be produced outside the United States and have a predominately non-English language track.

Personally, I think one of the biggest things going against The Passion for the Academy Awards is the fact that it came out in February. These days, it's rare to see a picture released before May get many nominations and most of the films in competition are those released late in the year.

 

outlaw --seriously...is that necessary?? i mean very clearly you do not understand what Mel sees in the Gospels if you've made that statement.

B-Bob -- I don't think it will get Oscar nominations...I can't really articulate why, yet...i'm not sure what specific nomination it would get...and I think the subject matter has been so controversial that the academy may steer clear of it. i hope i'm wrong...but frankly, i really don't care what the academy does with it.

 

We went opening weekend and I remember the line being around the entire theater.

 

I will be seeing it again...this time with my wife...I couldn't wait to see it when it came out and we'll go see it together this weekend...I'm not sure about repeat visits, as its a really powerful, depressing movie...

 

I didn't go opening weekend in 1977, so I didn't see such lines, but we went like the 2nd weekend and there was no line.

Now, I recall going to Return of the Jedi on opening day in 1983, and there was definitely a big line then.

Sometimes, though, you just miss the line. I wandered up to the theater about fifteen minutes before showtime for Episode I for the first showing on opening day and got a ticket. There was no line at all at that theater that day. But I know there were big lines at other theaters (and there may have been a line there before I got there, but everyone was inside by the time I bought my ticket, though obviously the line wasn't long enough to sell out the theater).

 

This is a VERY offensive post. If this subject makes you that bitter and upset, why in the world do you feel compelled to read the thread and make such an inane and asinine comment?

I have been trying very hard of late to not respond to threads that I have serious problems with like homosexuality. I am not saying that I have been able to do it 100% of the time, but at least I am trying to apply that old saying, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

Yet, I have seen several offensive comments from you regarding this topic in the last month or so. It would be nice if you would treat the "Passion" like I treat homosexuality and not comment on it. But I am sure that is asking too much out of you.

 

The thread was started here. There's no reason why outlaw can't post his opinions about it.

Now, if it was in the Hangout, I'd agree with you.

 

Well, of course, you are right that he has a right to post his opinions about it; however, we all know how he feels about it. It is like reading a DaDakota thread/post after a Rockets loss. We get the message already!

And if this subject causes him to post something with that much venom in it, then that can't be healthy. Move on and go to something else that gives you enjoyment and quit focusing on stuff that brings out that much anger. I guess that is what I really needed to say. Obviously, not everyone is going to be like me (thank God!) but I think you will agree with me that it can't be good to be that upset over anything.

 

what is so offensive about it? it's true isn't it? he is making a huge profit and he does own a church and churches don't pay income tax.

who's asking you not to comment on homosexuality? this is D&D, say whatever you want about it. you have in the past and i did not complain or ask you to shut up about it. i guess when it's an issue that is important to you then the rules change.

really Manny, if i offend you so much then ignore list me.

 

Does Mel Gibson have a history of funneling his money into his personal church in an effort to avoid income taxes?

 

well i did say probably

 

Uh, nice try there. But it was in your tone and the meaning behind your message. Sorry, but I am trying to have a better relationship with God and I didn't appreciate what you said. It is like Max said, how do you know what is really behind Mel Gibson's intentions. Are you God? No, so let's leave that between Mel and the Lord.

It could be that Gibson is very deeply committed to his faith (I know that you will find that hard to believe but hey it is a possibility) and what you mentioned is something that is true but was like a 10th order reason for him to do this project.

Oh and I am sure that if I started saying things about homosexuals the way you have been talking about this movie, then you would be offended as much as I was with your post.

Rules changing? I had something offensive written at first but I edited it out because I really don't know why you came up with that. Maybe I brought up a valid point of why you would comment on something that obviously upsets you and you really don't know what else to say? I really don't know.

But hey, it serves no purpose getting into a pissing match with you, outlaw. You and I have vastly different views on things and I doubt we will ever see eye to eye on anything other than the Rockets. And I don't believe in an ignore list - even people like you I feel should be heard; however, it grows tiresome when it is the same thing over and over aka the DaDakota effect.

One thing you have to remember is that the Bible was divinely inspired and written by ordinary men, not by God. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying homosexuality is not a sin but it is no worse in God's eyes as lusting after another woman, marrying someone after divorcing but not due to an affair (bet you didn't know that was forbidden), etc.

Remember Jesus dined with sinners including homosexuals. Instead of belittling Him, why don't you remember that and take your wrath on those who do one of the things He asked not to do and that was judging others.

 

I don't believe outlaw should be getting grief. Perhaps it is his choice of words concerning the death of a deity -- that was a bit rough. But what he said was pretty factual.

Shady said Mel is going to get rich (or live Phat , whatever, I think I'm translating it correctly) off of this movie.

This is true, no? Profiting so immensely from a religious message is a tricky topic. He could have made a public television movie, or a cut-rate DVD, or shown it at free screenings, or at a reduced rate to cover his production costs and pay the actors, right? He could have made this an art-house movie (which is more appropriate, since it is by all meaningful reports an NC-17 movie in terms of violence). And he didn't have to sell big silver nails that you can hang around your neck, or "The Passion" coffee mugs, right? (Just like the one Jesus drank from at the Starbucks in Jerusalem, joked a local editorial).

Look, I don't think money is why Mel did this, and I don't really care how he markets his movie. But it doesn't look good when a movie supposedly about the ultimate spiritual meaning of a religion is making huge box office returns hand-in-hand with a commerical marketing campaign. That doesn't feel right to a lot of people. (At least I haven't heard any product placement... "hey, did you see that hammer! It said Haliburton on it!")

You know, outlaw, like NO other person on this BBS, has amazed me with his tolerance and patience in threads where I've literally seen people call him a doomed sinner, someone who chose to burn in hell, basically a subhuman freak. You name it. If you want to talk "venom," read through those threads. His understanding and kindness in there deserves note.

I've not heard him criticize Jesus at all here, so what's the fuss? Last I checked, Mel is not the second coming (far from).

edit: Manny, it's not fair to tell us all to leave something "between Mel and the Lord." Mel did not pray in a closet. He's decided on major studio release and selling coffee mugs with the name of the Lord's Son on them. This is a *movie*, and people can talk about it if they can talk about why any movie gets made.

 

B-Bob,

It just bothers me that there is going to be such cynical attitudes on why Mel Gibson did this project. Why is it so hard to believe that he really did this because of his deeply committed faith?

And I disagree about what you said on outlaw not criticizing Jesus. He did that in an indirect way. Mel could have very well been inspired by the Holy Spirit to do this project. If you believe in the Trinity, you know that God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all considered one being. Lambasting Gibson for doing this when he along with everybody else have no idea the real reason for him doing this project is offensive to me. Sorry if that makes me a weirdo or the second coming of Pat Robertson, that is just the way I feel.

And I challenge you or anyone else to find a time where I told outlaw that he was going to hell for being a homosexual. Maybe he thinks or others think that disapproving of a lifestyle means that I am judging him. If that is the case, I apologize because it was not intended that way.

And with this post, I am bowing out of this argument. I have let my feelings be known and it is best to step out now instead of letting things possibly escalate here.

Once again, I apologize outlaw if you felt that I had or have been judging you.

 

i meant that you have said offensive things in the past but i never told you to shut up like you have with me here.

yes i did know. see my last post in the marriage amendment thread.

Where did I belittle Jesus? I belittled Mel Gibson, which is not the same thing despite what some may believe.