Passion of the Christ: Blackballed?

[TMA_1]

The Passion of the Christ came out extremely early for the year, and I will give you guys the fact that it is so extremely rare for films early in the year to win any awards, or be nominated for awards with all the big ceremonies.

Still though, The Passion of the Christ was ah uge film, and mind you that there were some film reviewers with some intellectual honesty that said it was extremely well shot, well scored, well written, and well acted.

Frankly it was lacking docternally, and I thought it had some cliche directing moments by mel gibson, but seriously it deserves to be seen as one of the best films of the year.

Ebert, a film reviewer that I highly respect and actually listen to, said the same thing. He praised this movie, and not because he is a christian, because he is not by any stretch.lol man he is kinda the opposite. But still he understood waht good film was.

Many of the awards ceremonies are not nominating this film. I have talked with my friend Robbie about this, who knows more about film than anybody. I can guarintee he knows more than anybody on this website, and some of you seem to have a good chunk of film knowledge. Let me put it this way, he has one of only three copies in washington state of Gorgio Maroder's Metropolis (great film). He has bought hundreds of DVDs and has an extensive collection. He is moving in a fewm onths down to hollywood to work under ridley scott as a page. This is absolute truth.

The thing is, I asked him honestly. "Was THe Passion blackballed because of its glaring promotion of christianity?" he simply responded with a "yes".

what do you guys think of this? I think it is damn shallow, and it makes me really sad.

[Mahdi]

I think it is due to its promotion of Christianity, but in a different way then you are implying. 

The Oscars hate controversy.  They pick the same safe movies every year. 

The PAssion is all about controversy. 

Therefore the Academy didn't select it.

But, as I said in the other thread, all award shows are a joke.

[Acriku]

I know a couple Christians who didn't like the movie because instead of focusing on Jesus' message, it focused intensely on the pain and suffering that he went through in the last days of his life. I'm sure they're not alone. You have opponents and proponents on both sides.

[exatreide]

I seen it, its basicly a two hour smut tourture film, with good camera work.

[GUNWOUNDS]

I know a couple Christians who didn't like the movie because instead of focusing on Jesus' message, it focused intensely on the pain and suffering that he went through in the last days of his life. I'm sure they're not alone. You have opponents and proponents on both sides.

The pain and suffering and death, etc, etc are a central part of the story, IMO.

[Anathema]

I personally liked the Passion, while I'm not a christian. So it's possible, but not common. My parents hated it and so did most of my friends. But that just depends on how you view christianity, if you go to the Passion with an extremely negative view of the bible you're not likely to enjoy this movie.

[Acriku]

The pain and suffering and death, etc, etc are a central part of the story, IMO.  Sure .. Jeus movies in the past have showed more of him giving teachings and such,  but i think it was good for christians  for once to see what their savior had to go through.

I remember when Jesus was carrying his crossbeam and Mary ran up to him and before the guards pulled her away he stopped and said "Look Mother, I make all things new again."   I kinda teared up at that.  The movie didnt preach alot but there were some brief but powerful moments that got his message across.

The same pain and suffering and death that thousands of others that were persecuted by Roman legions went through, no doubt. Christ's pain and suffering was not the worst ever experienced on Earth, nor was it experienced alone. So I don't see how it's much of a central part of the story, unless you're referring to the fact that he went through it for his message, etc, as opposed to those who went through it for stealing, killing, etc. Although, there's bound to be plenty of people persecuted by obscure Roman law that would seem just as unjust as Christ being put through it. I haven't seen the movie myself, so I can't say anything bad or good about it. I wouldn't doubt that its dramatic sequences would bring tears to those who have emotional connections to the story and characters.

[GUNWOUNDS]

So I don't see how it's much of a central part of the story, unless you're referring to the fact that he went through it for his message, etc, as opposed to those who went through it for stealing, killing, etc.

[Acriku]

There you go you answered your own question.  Also it wasnt just a message.  The death and resurrection of Christ redeemed the world and allows everyone to live in a current state of Grace......that is more than just a message.... that is a reality that every Christian should be aware of.  Also this isnt a contest of who can take the most pain... (although many say that no man could have survived what jesus went through).... this is a story about how something so holy came from heaven and allowed itself to become a sacrificial lamb.  I know its a hard concept to grasp but when you figure it out its pretty intense.  At the end of the movie when the shroud was torn in half it symbolized how God and Man did not have to be seperated by the Old Testament Law anymore and that we regained the ability to have a personal relationship as Adam once did instead of the impersonal entity that God was in the Old Testament.  God could have been perfectly right in flooding the earth once more and ending this castastrophe once and for all.... yet he decided to sacrifice himself to allow for grace and redemption.  That in itself is so huge that Christians usually are in awe when they think about it and most non-believers are baffled.

I figured I did answer my own question, but wanted you to clarify, which it seems you did.

I know Acriku will start talking about how God is all powerful and so he can do anything and so eveything is meaningless to him.....  I think perhaps that is why God has physical/spiritual rules... for the very purpose of making sure that everything has meaning and consequences.  You throw a rock up in the air and it will fall down on your head due to gravity.... consequences... i am sure there are spiritual consequences for spiritual actions as well.  Therefore i believe that God's omnipotence and omniscience does not render everything meaningless.

I know you don't like people putting words in your mouth, so try not to do it to me. Anyway, a lot of people may like how the movie was made, I may even like it. Hell I loved Jesus Christ Superstar, and I love every Mel Gibson film. But the actual story behind it is so confusing, even to Christians, with the Trinity, the sacrifice of God's son, how he could have a son, etc. Perhaps a thread in PRP is necessary to continue this discussion to try and remove this confusion, or at least try?

[TMA_1]

the bible says that christ suffered the worst torture ever inflicted by any man. Now if you dont believe in the bible as absolute truth, than sure I can udnerstand where you are coming form, but it makes sense from a chrsitian perspective.

Christ couldnt die, he had to willingly give up his soul and spirit. So those that tortured him, tortured him much longer than others because he simply wouldnt give out, this is why it says in the bible if translated that you could see his ribcage, that you could see the meat and inner flesh. That he was so battered that he didnt look human anymore.

Ebert said it perfectly. THis movie was SUPPOSED to show the suffering of christ. THis is very important because it shows how much love a man could have to suffer so greatly for his own people.

To people who understand this, it is a movie that is indeed horrible to see, but is very important.

I saw it once, and dont plan on watching it again. IT did fulfill its mission though, and that is exactly what the mission of the film was for. So I dont see why people complain that it didnt show more of what christs last days were like, because the point was this shows the PASSION (i.e. suffering) of christ. that simple really.

[GUNWOUNDS]

that simple really.

true.. the movie had a point/mission and was even stated in the title... and it was fulfilled.

[TMA_1]

yeah... to all you mods out there, do you think this thread should be moved to prp? It seems like this could cross into those boundaries, should have expected that, heh :)