The Passion of the Christ
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| Thu, 02-26-2004 - 12:58am |
I knew it would be opening big, but I was surprised to find out this morning that one of the local 20-plexes was showing it to sold out crowds on every screen from 6:30 this morning to around 11:00 when their usual lineup started and The Passion only continued on a few screens.
I've been reading incredibly moving reactions to it like this one in National Review--
"THE PASSION IN HARLEM
I just got out of a screening at the Magic Johnson Theatres up at 123rd and Frederick Douglass in Harlem. The theatre was packed, with an audience that was about 85 percent black, and included many seniors (of course: daytime). The response to the film was just about universal: Loud applause at the end, and vocal endorsements of the movie as we exited. One sweet elderly lady, I’d say about 80 years old, was shaking her head on the way out, saying: “If you read the Bible, that’s exactly what happened.†Another woman, in her 30s, was brushing away tears. “It’s not the movie,†she said,†it’s the reality of the thing.†During the screening, the man I set next to—a guy in his 20s, tall, strong, and vigorous-looking, nobody’s wimp—gasped at some of the cruelties inflicted on Jesus. (When Jesus’ cross is turned over on its face so He can be nailed to it more securely, this man blurted out, “Oh, s***, that’s too much.â€) Before the movie started, there was a little film in which Magic Johnson explained the rules for his theatres: “No talking. . . . No hats or colors . . . . If you have a problem on the street, don’t bring it inside.†I couldn’t help thinking: There is a problem on the street, every street, and this movie is about the solution."
I wanted to see it this weekend, but now the local news is reporting that virtually every showing in Dallas through the weekend is already sold out, so now I have to wait til next Saturday.

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it obviously wasn't as "cut and dry" as the movie portrays - Gibson should and could have acknowledged this.
it was before the crucifixion and before the trial befoe Pilate.
Renee
And since most popular and critically acclaimed movies today (which typically are aimed at those same children) have enough gratuitous violence and sex to choke a horse, then I don't understand what the uproar is really about? Violence has always been a part of the human experience, no matter what the century...we're just more sophisticated/hypocritical about it now.
To finally see what Christ went through is awe inspiring. To hear it is horrific but to see it and realize this was not some sugar coated action on Christ's part is beautiful. I would and am still numb from the movie and feeling completely unworthy of His sacrifice. He is truly the Lamb.
That's how I feel.
I will respectfully disagree that you need to be an alter boy to understand the extreme weight of what He did for us. As a Christian I was in so much pain that my Savior sacrifice Himself for me that is was at first painful but so wonderful that He loves me so much to die for me.
I applaude and pray for Mel Gibson for his faith, courage, and leading to do a film that is Bibical and accurate in how Christ the Savior died for each one of us so that we may have eternal life.
I only wish that I can get in contact with him to let him know that this Christian has prayed for him and continues to do so.
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