Gibson forges allies for controversial film

[CShine]

Marshaling his troops like one of the wounded warriors he has played in Hollywood blockbusters, Mel Gibson is drawing on allies from Mike Ilitch Jr. to Pope John Paul II to boost his upcoming film about Jesus' death. As the Feb. 25, Ash Wednesday, debut of "The Passion of the Christ" looms, Gibson is using his star power to forge an unlikely alliance of evangelical Protestants and conservative Catholics. Drawing on every technique from state-of-the-art Internet appeals to invitation-only previews that freeze out critics, Gibson's zealous supporters are undercutting the early criticism of his R-rated film.

Gibson and his staff refused requests this week to talk about the extraordinary coalition they are building. But there is a confident air in the Gibson camp that they appear close to drowning out the mainline church officials, interfaith leaders and university-based scholars who criticized his depiction of Jewish guilt in the death of Jesus.

"When they talk about this film, everybody is focusing on anti-Semitism, but it's really these alliances Gibson is forming that are amazing," University of Southern California historian Richard Wightman Fox said Friday. Fox said he was stunned by the emotional response of hundreds of Protestants and Catholics to a preview Thursday night at a Christian Booksellers Association convention in Indianapolis. Gibson's staff routinely bars secular, university-based scholars like Fox from screenings, but Fox was at the conference promoting his book on religious history, "Jesus in America."

The crowd's reaction to the film "was startling," Fox said. What's happening is that "these conservatives have been fighting liberalism in Christianity and the media for a long time. Now, this mega-powerful Hollywood star is asking for their help," Fox said. "It legitimizes their entire world view to hear this appeal from someone of Mel Gibson's stature."

http://www.freep.com/news/religion/mel7_20040207.htm

[still_one]

1. I find it interesting

I find it interesting that Gibson chose to focus on the death of Jesus', and not his life...

[regnaD kciN]

18. Because, according to those like Gibson...

...who follow the (screwed-up, IMHO) soteriology of Anselm of Canterbury, the only truly important part of Jesus's life was his death, since that was the "blood sacrifice" that abated God's wrath toward us because of the sin of Adam and Eve, and allowed us to receive forgiveness and salvation. As Gibson himself put it in an interview, "for sins to be forgiven, there had to be a blood sacrifice." Without that, Jesus's life on earth was relatively meaningless.

:crazy:

[genius]

2. I'm planning to see it. I think the complaints are ridiculous.

It happened 2000 years ago. Yeah, the Jews screwed up then. A lot of groups have messed up during the history of the world. Is every historical movie going to result in fear of prejudice?

[CShine]

3. No, they're not ridiculus. Far from it, they are well-placed.

Historically speaking, an increase in crimes against Jews has been a common occurence following the performances of passion plays. This has been well-documented for centuries, and it's why Jews are concerned again here.



Here are some links that talk about the phenomenon.

http://www.religionwriters.com/public/tips/012004/012004a.shtml

http://www.adl.org/Interfaith/passion_theology.asp

[IndianaGreen]

5. Actually, we Jews had nothing to do with it!

Jesus was tried by the Roman occupation governor, under Roman occupation laws, and found guilty of sedition, the one crime for which crucifixion was the standard Roman punishment.

Jesus was one among hundreds of thousands the Romans crucified during their history, including Spartacus, the leader of a slave rebellion.

[Mari333]

9. the "jews" screwed up?

I can see you are already perfectly happy condemning the jews BEFORE the movie.
nonetheless, there is no definitive proof a man named jesus even existed, so its all a moot point anyway.
This is a product. It will sell. People will see it. I dont care, I would rather watch Joseph Campbells tapes on Mythology.
My mother is Catholic..when I told her that many evangelical christians think she is going to hell for being Catholic, she said
"WELL they can kiss my butt!"
and shes 77

[NJ1DEM]

4. I support Him

Christ was a Jew, The Apostles were Jews, His Family was Jewish.
Only the shallow of mind would have a problem with this movie. I plan on seeing it with my Wife and my 14 year old Son.

"This is a movie about love, faith, hope and forgiveness," Gibson said. "He died for all mankind. He (Jesus) suffered for all of us. It's time to get back to that basic message. The world has gone nuts. We could all use a little more love, faith, hope and forgiveness."

Can't put it better than that.

Also;<http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=34722>
A Rabbi's point of view on the Passion and few other points.

[Mari333]

8. On the other hand

Gibson will make a mint off this movie as usual and many evangelical christians notoriously think Catholics are evil and the Pope is the anti christ...and many evangelical christians think if Jews arent converted they are all going to hell in a handbasket..
who can blame a jewish person for being concerned?
Besides, Gibsons father was a rabid anti semite who was a Holocaust denier..that says enough for me
Id rather see a movie comparing Jesus, Tammuz, Osiris, and a few other fertility gods of the ME and how much they are alike.
Mythology not taken as literal fact.

[Blitz]

12. "Gibson will make a mint off this movie"

You can't be serious. Yeah, millions are going to flock to see a movie in a dead language with no subtitles.

[Mari333]

15. Its already started

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2004/2/5/172341.shtml
Im sure there will be subtitles..the issue is, can the people who go see it read?

[Just Me]

10. Yup,...Jesus preached "secularism" and unity,...

,...anyone who "uses" him for something else, is everything that he fought against,...

[newyawker99]

16. Hi NJ1DEM!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Just Me]

6. He is having to overcome extreme pro-jewish sentiment,...

,...feeling threatened by secularism. I believe this is simply another over-reactive craze by those desperate for control and power. They simply cannot handle anything which has even the appearance of challenging their perspective. I see the reaction as desparate. After all,...what do we have in charge of this country, tearing it apart and threatening the rest of the civilized world,...a bunch of desperate people thirsting for control and power. They cannot "handle" secularism,...they are way too weak to take on such a notion because they are obsessed with controlling everything,...which they cannot do,...because they are control-freaks.

[Bridget Burke]

7. There's no such thing as bad publicity!

How many of Gibson's new allies have previously thought all those "Hollywood movie stars" should just shut up?

[Malva Zebrina]

11. since I do not believe that Jesus "died for all mankind" and find that

proposition quite preposterous, and also find Mel Gibson and grade B actor, acting in grade B films, quite inclined toward overacting as a matter of fact and not pleasant to watch, much less spend my money upon.

I have no interest whatsoever in seeing this Christian , most likely, overacted, overglitzed, extravaganza. It would be like watching Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs done in modern costume, perhaps Janet Jackson playing the part of Snow White with bared , pastied breast--the fairy tale - to me. I have no interest--but Mel Gibson apparently, is seeking to make a whole lot of money off of the appeal to the religious seeking.

Charlton Heston did the same thing a while ago and became the icon for Christianity films. Gibson apparently wants to be the modern Heston. Heston is now afflicted with Alzheimer disease. He will go down as a babbling, confused and wasted man.

[Blitz]

13. You didn't like Gibson's Hamlet?

I thought he was quite good in the role.

[NJ1DEM]

17. Thats quite a disdainful reply

to someones spiritual belief."quite preposterous" Hmmm, seeing how for the most part religious beliefs are based on principles that inspire decent behavior in individuals. I have to ask the Question,
Why the Denigration ? If you dont like Gibson thats fine, and mention that you do not share those spiritual beliefs. Wouldn't that have been a more polite way? Must you belittle someones faith because it doesn't match YOUR beliefs.

[Blitz]

14. A somewhat humorous trailer ... watch until the end

http://homepages.nyu.edu/~scs273/01.mov