The Passion - looks interesting (Update)

[Gordon Moore]

The Passion

Directed by Mel Gibson

Starring:
Jim Caviezel as Jesus
Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene

The film depicts the last 12 hours of Christ, apparently following as close to the New Testament as possible.

The film has been declared both bloody and beautiful in the same breath. Of course the subject matter is carrying a lot of controversy but it sounds and looks like it may be an honest work...only time will tell.

They have yet to find a distributor and are 7 months from release.

It was filmed entirely in Latin and Aramaic (the languages of the time) and Icon Productions (Gibson's company) is on the fence about including sub-titles or not.... Although, there has apparently been a screening with sub-titles included.

Looks very interesting.... I hope it gets a release.

A trailer can be found here:

http://www.themoviebox.net/trailers/moviebox_trailers/passion_tr_page.htm

"A RONSTER!"

[efarstad]

I too can't wait for this one Gord...it has become controversial but anytime one says, reads, or heck portrays the life of Jesus Christ...it offends someone! So I'm not surprised...though it appears Mel has done a good job, I know he researched the heck out of this film, and it will get my $8 at the box office...I just better go catch up on my Latin and Aramaic! 8O

E





The Norwegian A/V Nut!
E-Cinema

[David Meek]

Mel was in Houston this weekend for an invitation-only test screening with a number of religious leaders. Evidently there's concern about an anti-Semitism message in the film - most especially from an early version of the screenplay. Each person to see the screening had to sign a serious non-disclosure statement before hand. The screening didn't allay all the Jewish leaders' fears but they didn't come out lambasting the film either. Leaders of several other faiths were quite positive in what little they could say. Time will tell. . . .

I don't think I'll attend unless they include sub-titles. Aramaic and Latin are wayyyyy beyond me.




David - HTGuide flunky
Our "Theater"
Our DVDs on DVD Tracker

[Gordon Moore]

according to JoBlo.com:
http://www.joblo.com/index.php?id=2732

In a move that was rumored over the past week, Newmarket Films has come aboard to distribute Mel Gibson's controversial film THE PASSION OF CHRIST in the US. Newmarket owns no part of the film in the deal and will simply release PASSION to theaters through their distribution division and retain a fee from Gibson's Icon Productions (who retains full rights to the film). This would, theoretically, keep Newmarket relatively free from the controversy the film is already sparking. Anti-defamation officials have decried the film saying it perpetuates the notion that Jews were responsible for killing Christ. Gibson has said he is not anti-Semetic in any way, simply trying to tell the story of the last days of Christ the way he believe the Bible says it happened. PASSION is currently scheduled for a February 25th release (Ash Wednesday) bumped up from a previous Easter date. The film will appear with subtitles (a move Gibson was trying to avoid) to assist audiences with the Latin and Aramaic dialogue. The film stars Jim Caviezel and Monica Bellucci.

I'm glad they're going with subtitles, as I think they would have not drawn the audience this movie might deserve. I think it would have been cool without subtitles because this movie might be more about emotion and personal interpretation(provided you are familiar enough with the source material). No subtitles will probably be a DVD option because Mel REALLY didn't want sub-titles.

Things are looking up! Ash Wednesday is an okay choice but I personally think there would have been more impact on Easter (theaters are open anyway).




"A RONSTER!"

[Bob]

I for one, was hoping this would be released as Mel originally wanted. All in the original languages, no sub-titles. I thought that it was pretty bold, and meant the visuals and acting really has to be top notch to tell the story.

As to the controversy (sp.?), it would be so easy to end. All Mel and religous leaders need to do is go on the talk show circuit and remind everybody that Jesus and his disciples were Jews, there were no Christians yet, he was killed under Roman law, and if you beleive in the whole biblical story, HE WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE, THAT WAS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS HE CAME TO DO, IT WAS GOD'S IDEA, NOT THE JEWS. They shout that a few times on talk shows and that's pretty much the end of that. Any fundamental Christians that don't like it need to talk to God, he did it, and according to Paul, he aint afraid to say it.

[Gordon Moore]

he was killed under Roman law

Yeah I suppose...but Pilate didn't want to deal with the whole mess so he turned the decision over to the people by saying "Which two do you want released?"

I guess that's where the "controversy" :roll: is coming from. The "crowd" is more allegory of mankind...that's what I've always thought. Certainly never "pinned" on any one belief.




"A RONSTER!"