In what may be a shocker to Hollywood, but I have predicted all along, Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ is set to be a blockbuster.
Here's the latest story from Variety magazine...
'Passion' poised for heavenly B.O.(Variety) The movie that couldn't find a distributor a year ago is now poised to become this year's first surprise hit.
Though not a single television ad has aired for "The Passion of the Christ" two weeks before its release, Mel Gibson (news)'s depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus is eclipsing mainstream Hollywood fare in audience interest.
Fostered by wide media coverage and a grassroots marketing campaign aimed at evangelical Christians, "Passion" is registering numbers on recent surveys by Nielsen NRG that suggest an opening in the $15 million-$30 million range.
The figures top those for pics whose heavy TV campaigns are well under way, such as Adam Sandler (news) laffer "50 First Dates," which opens Friday, and Warner Bros.' "Welcome to Mooseport," which will opens Feb. 27, two days post-"Passion."
Icon Prods. and its domestic distrib partner Newmarket Films won't start a TV ad campaign until later this week.
Not that they've needed one.
The film, and the controversy over whether it is anti-Semitic, has kept the media's attention on "Passion."
This week, star James Caviezel is on the cover of Newsweek in character as Jesus with the headline, "Who Really Killed Jesus?" Next Monday, ABC's "Primetime Live" devotes a full hour in sweeps to "Passion," including an interview of Gibson by Diane Sawyer.
"It's one of the most talked about films since the first 'Star Wars' prequel," said Exhibitor Relations prexy Paul Dergarabedian.
Click here for the whole story
I find this all VERY exciting. People are finally going to see a physical representation of the last day of Christ as it really was, treated with factual integrity and respect. How wonderful that Christ will become a topic of discussion in places where the Church has failed to stimulate interest. There will be many people who enter the theater to see a film and walk out with major questions about their lives and what place the resurrected Saviour has in their lives. I guarantee there will be those who avoid the film regardless of the quality.
I so appreciate Michael Medved, the orthodox Jewish movie critic. I highly recommend reading his piece on The Passion of Christ to bring common sense to the hysterical reactions of some in the Jewish community. Of course, I disagree with his comments that turn a blind eye to the veracity of Christ's account, but I support his words to the Jewish community, instructing them to back off the ridiculous claims that the film will inspire anti-semitism.
We are just a couple weeks away from the opening of the film. I hope to have to the opportunity to discuss it with many seekers.
Incidentally, due to the number of posts I have made on this topic, I decided to assign it a category. Complete coverage of The Passion of Christ
I plan to see the film, but I am very disappointed that Gibson has chosen in the past week to share his view that Protestants are condemned to hell.
I watched the movie trailer and initially wept. The musical score and images were very moving. But after watching it several times, something seemed very wrong, especially during the brief glimpses of Mary. I did some research and discovered some disturbing facts about Gibson's theology that evangelical leaders are overlooking or ignoring. Gibson, a Traditionalist Catholic, attended Mass each day during filming so he could be "squeaky clean." Huh? A Protestant writer asked him if someone outside the Catholic church could be saved, and he replied no. Yet in recent weeks Gibson has rallied the support of evangelicals as if we are all brothers. But Gibson is following another gospel. Some of his scenes are based on the visions of two Catholic nuns-mystics, St. Anne Catherine Emmerich and Mary of Agreda. Gibson said of Emmerich's visions of Christ, "She supplied me with stuff I never would have thought of." Mary of Agreda was given to trances and claimed she could leave her body and teach others in foreign lands. James Caviezel, the actor who plays Jesus, is a staunch Catholic who prays the Rosary to Mary every day. He prayed to St. Genesius and St. Anthony of Padua for help in his acting career. He also carried relics with him on the "Passion" set, a practice forbidden in Scripture. Caviezel told a Catholic publication that he believes the film was made by Mary for her Son. The Roman Catholic Church is Mystery Babylon and the great harlot, and anyone aligning themself with her will share in her judgment, according to Revelation. God says in His Word to come out of her My people.
It's very revealing that protestant fans of "The Passion of The Christ" are so willfully gullible. "But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you may well put with it."[New King James Version of the Holy Bible] - The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
Indeed, it is the modern Catholic church which preaches "another gospel".
I have read many articles regarding the movie The Passion of the Christ, and quite frankly, I do not understand the fervor. #1 Mel Gibson is a Catholic. At this time of year, he is doing what Catholics all over the world are doing. He is reflecting on the death of Christ. Catholics meditate on this by celebrating The Stations of The Cross. We start at the Sentencing and progress thru the falls, the help by Simon, Veronica washing his face, etc. It is something we do every Lent. That Mel Gibson has made a movie depicting these stations is not to denigrate or segregate anyone, merely a celebration of our religion and beliefs. If others take offense, then why do they not target the Stations as we say them at Church? #2 That "Hollywood" and the liberal (let's not offend anyone) media take offense to the violence is ludicrous. There was nothing nice about the Crucifixion of our Lord, NOTHING pretty about it. These same people would have us watch sexually graphic exhibitions at the Super bowl and have no qualms whatsoever about giving us slasher movies. Their sheer gaped mouth reactions are laughable. As to the movie being anti-Semitic. That is for the Jews to decide, not the media. In most Catholic churches today we have groups that are "Jews for Christ". Would anyone consider them anti-Semitic? That we may all learn something from this movie, or perhaps be moved by it is beyond the critics scope of reasoning.That the passion of one man cannot be portrayed without criticism is also ridiculous. Gays and Lesbians, anarchists, dissenters of any religion at all can do what they like and then tell us �If you don�t like it, don�t watch it�. I have one message. IF YOU DON�T LIKE IT, DON�T WATCH IT!
Joel Comm,
The Passion of the Christ is a very Catholic
movie. Why do you bother to bang on Catholics about not having the gospel right,
and then go on to use the flick to build up
your "benevolent dictatorship"?
You guys know absolutely nothing about
the gifts of the Spirit as experienced by
Catholic Mystics. Tongues, prophecy,
gifts of visions�tell me Peter didn't see
some repulsive ham hocks in that net �
gifts of prayer (meditation), gifts of healing,
working of miracles, bilocation, being in the
body or out, caught up to the third Heaven,
being transported to another country and then
speaking to the inhabitants as they hear it in their
own language. These things have happened
throughout history. Yet a lot of non-Catholics
just love to claim that the Modern Catholic Church
preaches another gospel.
What's with the Star Wars advertisment on this blog?
All New Age junk. There is no Christ figure in that
movie. Just New Age goo�happy, happy.
If you haven't experienced the gifts of the spirit,
and if you don't receive them because you think
it's not scriptural, then, I truly wonder about you.
It all amounts to cafeteria-style religion. Sterile, too.
Good luck connecting the dots. Don't leave out
the ever-popular, "Unless you eat my flesh and
drink my blood, you'll have no life in you."
Catholics always knew the value of Christ's Passion.
That's why we have the cross with the body of Christ.
The cross without Christ is communism.
Anyone can run to the open tomb. Bypassing
Calvary is a blinding error. The blood of Jesus
isn't cheap.
Michele Peruzzi
Joel Comm,
The Passion of the Christ is a very Catholic
movie. Why do you bother to bang on Catholics about not having the gospel right,
and then go on to use the flick to build up
your "benevolent dictatorship"?
You guys know absolutely nothing about
the gifts of the Spirit as experienced by
Catholic Mystics. Tongues, prophecy,
gifts of visions�tell me Peter didn't see
some repulsive ham hocks in that net �
gifts of prayer (meditation), gifts of healing,
working of miracles, bilocation, being in the
body or out, caught up to the third Heaven,
being transported to another country and then
speaking to the inhabitants as they hear it in their
own language. These things have happened
throughout history. Yet a lot of non-Catholics
just love to claim that the Modern Catholic Church
preaches another gospel.
What's with the Star Wars advertisment on this blog?
All New Age junk. There is no Christ figure in that
movie. Just New Age goo�happy, happy.
If you haven't experienced the gifts of the spirit,
and if you don't receive them because you think
it's not scriptural, then, I truly wonder about you.
It all amounts to cafeteria-style religion. Sterile, too.
Good luck connecting the dots. Don't leave out
the ever-popular, "Unless you eat my flesh and
drink my blood, you'll have no life in you."
Catholics always knew the value of Christ's Passion.
That's why we have the cross with the body of Christ.
The cross without Christ is communism.
Anyone can run to the open tomb. Bypassing
Calvary is a blinding error. The blood of Jesus
isn't cheap.
Michele Peruzzi
Passion of Christ,
I think the marketing has gone to far on this. It is a succeful money making scheme, with lots of people getting rich off of Christianity. That is wrong and I think Jesus himself would disagree with this just as he was eranged when he seen what the synagoge was doing. I feel the only money collected should cover the complete cost of the movie and perhaps a reinvestment in other Bible related movies with the remainder of profits turned over to charity. I also propose that Mel should put this movie on the internet and allow free downloadable distribution. This would really rally up the true Christian spirit as well as a good tool for Christian propagation.
peace