The firmness behind 'The Passion'

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  • BigBadBrian
    TOASTMASTER GENERAL
    • Jan 2004
    • 10625

    The firmness behind 'The Passion'

    The firmness behind 'The Passion'
    Brent Bozell


    February 18


    The mass unveiling of Mel Gibson's cinematic vision of "The Passion of the Christ" on 2,000 screens -- a massive debut for a foreign-language film with subtitles -- has the entertainment elite a bit frightened. After all, how many decades have elapsed since Hollywood has been in any way associated with Christian orthodoxy?


    The one who is not frightened is Gibson. He is a man who has made his own brave and generous sacrifice, putting tens of millions of dollars and his own film career on the line for a daring and controversial cultural event. He is a man who can sit in front of Diane Sawyer as she looks like she's sucking on a lemon and honestly proclaim his humble Christian beliefs, to be a "fool for Christ" before the world. He has dared to make a film that focuses only on the last hours of Jesus, leaving the gentle preachings and healings that some like to imply are the whole of the New Testament behind, honing in just on the cruel and yet necessary crucifixion of the Christ.

    For many months, media outlets have promoted controversy over this film, suggesting it might be anti-Semitic, and even if it isn't anti-Semitic in intention, it could have an anti-Semitic effect. One might argue all this controversy has been good for the film, but that doesn't mean the entertainment press has been fair or accurate in its coverage of it. Our cultural elites are worried not about how the film is "anti," but how the film is "pro." They know how this film has the potential to light a fire under traditional Christianity in America and around the world.

    They are worried because millions of Americans are enthusiastic. As the media boomlet picks up this growing phenomenon, it seems to overflow with secular alienation and dread that some might be using this film to evangelize, that the filmmakers are "marketing Jesus." To the bad-taste specialists that dominate our culture, there is no dirtier word than "proselytize." That, to them, is a very "divisive" act. To the secularists, it is offensive to believe that one creed, one faith is absolutely correct, and therefore the others must be in error.

    But why is it not offensive to suggest, as Hollywood so often suggests, that all religions are basically fairy tales for creepy, superstitious people who need the "crutch" of faith to deal with the natural world? And why it is not offensive for Hollywood to serve the country as a sort of 24-hour Temptation Channel for exotic sex, filthy language and pornographic violence? The entertainment factories are proselytizers -- for the lowest in human behavior. They are evangelists -- for empty sensationalism.

    And isn't it odd now to see, in the wake of this powerful film, cultural critics trying to curdle its impact by suggesting that the movie, with its body count of one (not counting the Resurrection), is a gorefest? "Mel's 'Passion' for Gore 'Extreme,' He Admits," claimed the New York Daily News, mangling his words out of his ABC interview. He said he wanted people to be struck, shocked by the physical pain and suffering endured by Jesus to save each believer. The spectacle wasn't for blood-loving jollies, like the choreographed mass murder of a Quentin Tarantino film. It was intended for Christian inspiration.

    The Los Angeles Times wrote that Gibson made "one of the most brutally graphic and violent depictions in modern cinema" of the last hours of Jesus. But Hollywood has almost no depictions of Jesus in "modern cinema," other than Martin Scorsese's Jesus-trashing "The Last Temptation of Christ," and that's 16 years old. To show your children explicitly Christian films requires a walk through the oldies section: "Quo Vadis" (1951), "The Robe" (1953), "Ben-Hur" (1959), or "The Greatest Story Ever Told" (1965).

    Don't worry, film critics: It should be safe to assume that the crowds flocking to this R-rated movie will not be dragging their kids to see the pain inflicted in "The Passion." How wonderful it would be if Hollywood had such tender hearts for the well being of vulnerable children routinely sneaking into R-rated films with little resistance.

    The secular cultural elites have reason to be frightened. Millions of Americans will be dazzled in the multiplexes watching a cast of non-stars speak in non-English about what Hollywood has seen for eons as a non-story. The hubbub should send a powerful message to Hollywood: Our culture could use more of this kind of artistic vision and exploration, and less of your nihilistic nonsense. There might be a new fad in town.
    “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush
  • FORD
    ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

    • Jan 2004
    • 59141

    #2
    Brent Bozo is a much more effective spokesman for atheism than he is for Jesus Christ. Because he's such an arrogant asshole, who would possibly want to believe in the same God he does.

    Fortunately, some of us know better. We know that idiots like Bozo and his boss Pat Robertson don't speak for JC
    Eat Us And Smile

    Cenk For America 2024!!

    Justice Democrats


    "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

    Comment

    • Seshmeister
      ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

      • Oct 2003
      • 35441

      #3
      It's funny how Mel Gibson took a real person from history, William Wallace, is inaccurate all over the place and gets a 'Best Film' oscar yet make a film about someone who there is no proof even existed and the shit hits the fan...

      Comment

      • BigBadBrian
        TOASTMASTER GENERAL
        • Jan 2004
        • 10625

        #4
        Originally posted by Seshmeister
        It's funny how Mel Gibson took a real person from history, William Wallace, is inaccurate all over the place.....
        Exactly. He left out that William Wallace was gay.


        Uhu uhu uhu hu hu hu uhu :p
        “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush

        Comment

        • Seshmeister
          ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

          • Oct 2003
          • 35441

          #5
          We moved house recently.

          The Seshmistress went along to the local church on Sunday for the first time and the minister stood up and said 'Blessed are the cheesemakers'. 'If anyone has a problem with Life of Brian then they need to lighten up.'

          I like the sound of the guy...

          Cheers!

          Comment

          • BigBadBrian
            TOASTMASTER GENERAL
            • Jan 2004
            • 10625

            #6
            Originally posted by Seshmeister
            We moved house recently.

            Shit!! I'll bet it was heavy, huh? ...........
            “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush

            Comment

            • Seshmeister
              ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

              • Oct 2003
              • 35441

              #7
              You're on fire tonight BBB...

              Comment

              • Pink Spider
                Sniper
                • Jan 2004
                • 867

                #8
                Who cares?

                When's Mad Max 4 coming out?

                Comment

                • FORD
                  ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

                  • Jan 2004
                  • 59141

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Pink Spider
                  Who cares?

                  When's Mad Max 4 coming out?
                  You probably won't want to see it. I've seen a draft of the script, and it appears that Max and the Road Warriors have become evangelists with a "convert or die" platform. Sort of a futuristic Crusades.
                  Eat Us And Smile

                  Cenk For America 2024!!

                  Justice Democrats


                  "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

                  Comment

                  • Ally_Kat
                    ROTH ARMY SUPREME
                    • Jan 2004
                    • 7612

                    #10
                    R-rating and that's got to be because of the crucifixion part. When I first heard about it, I wasn't too interested because I had the whole crucifixion part of Jesus shoved down my throat in elementary school. Now I want to see wtf the big deal is. He's whipped, there's a crown of thorns, I think he gets kicked around a lil bit, maybe a stone or two thrown, carries a heavy cross, nailed in, got the sword slicing his side, vinegar on the sponge-thing. Nothing new.

                    Hopefully this will be more interesting than the one they showed on broadcast around Easter when I was growing up.
                    Roth Army Militia

                    Comment

                    • Seshmeister
                      ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

                      • Oct 2003
                      • 35441

                      #11
                      Which leads to the question - why do the Jews always cry foul?

                      Surely there should be people claiming it's anti Italian?

                      Cheers!

                      Comment

                      • FORD
                        ROTH ARMY MODERATOR

                        • Jan 2004
                        • 59141

                        #12
                        Originally posted by BigBadBrian
                        Exactly. He left out that William Wallace was gay.

                        You're only saying that because he wore a skirt and liked to blow bagpipes.
                        Eat Us And Smile

                        Cenk For America 2024!!

                        Justice Democrats


                        "If the American people had ever known the truth about what we (the BCE) have done to this nation, we would be chased down in the streets and lynched." - Poppy Bush, 1992

                        Comment

                        • BigBadBrian
                          TOASTMASTER GENERAL
                          • Jan 2004
                          • 10625

                          #13
                          Originally posted by FORD
                          You're only saying that because he wore a skirt and liked to blow bagpipes.
                          That's where the Hollywood part comes in, I believe. I've read that the Scots didn't have kilts until the 1600 or 1700's, well after William Wallace's time. Don't know how correct that is.
                          “If bullshit was currency, Joe Biden would be a billionaire.” - George W. Bush

                          Comment

                          • Dr. Love
                            ROTH ARMY SUPREME
                            • Jan 2004
                            • 7833

                            #14
                            I tell you ... I fuckin' hated that Rob Roy movie. Fuckin' lame.
                            I've got the cure you're thinkin' of.

                            http://i.imgur.com/jBw4fCu.gif

                            Comment

                            • Seshmeister
                              ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

                              • Oct 2003
                              • 35441

                              #15
                              The face paint was bullshit too. And the fact that the English Queen would have had to have been pregnant for 7 years to have Wallaces kid.

                              Worst of all was the opening titles setting the scene which are just completely wrong.

                              I still loved the film I'm just saying Mel isn't famous for his accuracy.

                              The Patriot was full of nonsense too.

                              Chers!

                              Comment

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