The Passion of the Christ

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Registered: 07-25-2003
The Passion of the Christ
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Thu, 02-26-2004 - 12:58am
Has anyone been able to see it yet?

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.”) 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.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 4:04pm
Mel is not a first time filmmaker. He has won an oscar for his work in Braveheart as director. This was something more to him thus why he financed 25 mil to make it and 25 mil to distribute. He felt so strongly about this as a Christian that money was not an option.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 4:07pm
I must respectfully disagree. The death of Christ was very violent as was foretold in the Old Testment and the New. His death was to mirror the lamb sacrifice which was not by any means nice and clean. I am as first and foremost a believer to finally see and understand the great thing my Savior did for me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 4:15pm
Stacy,

As a Southern Baptist by where I worship and a Christian by faith, I have to say that you are sadly mistaken on your statement about Catholicism and this movie.

As for the unimportance of His death compared to His resserction, I will disgree with wholeheartedly. He HAD to die in such a manner. If there was no death there would be no VICTORY. If there was no death there would not be forgiveness. Remember that when Christ died it was a death covered in the worlds past, present, and future sins. He who is prefect became sinful and descended to Hell and beat death at Hell's own door so that He may rise again in total forgiveness. I would encourage you to go into the Old Testment and read or reread God's precepts on the lamb sacrifices, which is the blood atonement before Christ, and the significance it has. Christ is the lamb and thus His death mirrored such.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 4:19pm
I am amazed by those statements. I am not sure on where you worship but I as a Protestant have always been taught how His death and His rising again are hand in hand completely and utterly important together. Also, Mary for that matter both Mary's were there the day He died and the scriptures point to it in all 4 of the Gospels.
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Registered: 03-01-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 4:55pm
I cannot wait to see this movie!! Unfortunately I have to as I just gave birth last week!! It amazes me how no one wants to get invloved in religion until someone makes a movie or writes a book that tells the story from their own perspective or interpretation.Then it seems everyone is suddenly a Theologian.Unreal!!Can we remember that it is a movie?? Mel is not saying that this is bar-none the bottom-line absolute way that everything happened in that time in history.For crying out loud people.....grow up and lighten up some. Grab a bog of popcorn and relax or go see something else. But stop trying to tell everyone else what to see or think or believe!!WOW!! Sorry about that....chalk it up to hormones!! If you see it please let us know how it is.....like I said I cannot wait!!
Avatar for katmandoo2001
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 5:11pm
This is what's so confusing to me personally. Braveheart was a critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning movie about another real person in history, William Wallace, who also died a very gruesome death. The movie was VERY graphic and portrayed the English as evil and barbaric in their treatment of the Scotts. Where were the protestors and critics when that movie came out? And what makes THIS movie such a lightening rod for so many? I think we already know why. I think Christ and His message is just as controversial today as he was 2000 years ago and HE wouldn't have it any other way.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 5:20pm
This is one of the best movies ever made. I grew up watching the 10 Commandments with Charleston Heston and remember thinking that it looked to fake even though it was 'based' on a true story. The amount of research that went into making Passions surpasses every expectation I had. I don't want to say too much about the movie if you have never seen it, but hearing all about it will not take away any effect when you watch it. I am proud that a Christian movie is now going to go down in history with Titanic and Matrix Reloaded as one of the top grossing films in a week-end and it's only been open for 5 days. Please go see this movie, the only thing it will do is change your life for the better. Thank you for reading.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 5:36pm
I agree with you. I also think it is rather laughable that there is amovie as gory as Kill Bill and it is hailed as a classic and yet they totally "slam" this movie which depicts a reality.

Amen Amen and Amen

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-07-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 5:42pm
AMEN and AMEN
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Mon, 03-01-2004 - 5:44pm
Dear Katmandoo2001,

That's what I keep telling my husband. People are conversing non-stop over this movie because it is NOT fiction. It happened, and it matters....that's what has everyone in an uproar.

Nancy

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