As I filed into my seat ahead of Lauren I noticed a couple of teenagers playing on their Game Boy Advances. As I sat down I noticed a couple playing a bowling video game on a phone. Behind us a rather large couple settled down with a couple of extra large pops, some nachos and a big bowl of popcorn. I can only assume the pop was not diet. Yup, it was a good day to watch the violent death of Christ.
Earlier today I talked with a friend whose wife did not want to go see the movie in the theaters, rather preferring to wait for the video so she could walk away if she became too upset. My friend, an avid geek, wondered if there was a torrent link available. I pointed out the irony in illegally downloading Mel Gibson’s The Passion, which is a controversial depiction of the last 12 hours of Christ’s life on earth. He laughed. I sighed.
I’m surely not an avid Christian, but I find the thought of thousands of Christians herding into their local megaplex with their hands filled with treats to watch a violent portrayal of crucifixion more than a little disturbing. As a friend of mine said on AIM today, “I find it ironic that instead of congregating at churchs, we now congregate at the movie theater.” Me too.
So what was the movie like? It was horrifically violent. I would not recommend letting children in to see this movie. I turned my head more than once. Gibson created an absolute masterpiece of cinematics. The picture is beautiful in detail, depiction and realism. The plight of Christ, those who damn him and his followers is powefully portrayed. I highly recommend seeing it, but do not go expecting an uplifting story.
I just wanted to make a quick comment about your statement about finding it “ironic that instead of congregating at churchs, we now congregate at the movie theater.” If you had some kind of facts to back up that statement, I’d value your argument a lit
First off – as you can clearly read – it was a quote from a friend. A cynical quote about everyone turning to the movie theater as a religious avenue. (I find it even more cynical and ironic considering the differences Hollywood and churches have had thro
Hi Lauren,
He quoted me 🙂
If you look at the numbers, more people go to the movies than go to church. I’m not going to pull some fake numbers out of my butt here, but do a little investigating yourself and you’ll see that I’m right. I’ve had a
All I asked for was proof. Trust me, I don’t have any facts of my own to prove that it’s not true, but to say that after one movie people are turing to the movies as a “religious avenue” might be a stretch.
Hey gang, whay say you about those who avoid both places entirely? I can’t stand going to the movies, because of those idiots that Joe observed talking on their phones, etc. And churches have never been a place I look forward to visiting.
What I d
ok, a little retroactive on all this… too busy to keep up regularly… BUT, in any event….. If I’ve said it once in the past few weeks, I’ve said it a thousand times. It is the crucifixion… it is bound to be bloody, horrific, awful, and not easy on the eyes. I wish everyone would stop being surprised at this fact. It never ceases to amaze me that people find this movie TOO damn graphic. Damn. It wasn’t intended to romanticize the situation. It’s the CRUCIFIXION… Not your lovely little trip to the megaplex.
I want to go see the movie, but I’m thinking I will want to see it alone, and without anything except perhaps a water – certainly nothing to eat. I think it’s good that this movie was made as it is bringing Christ’s life out into the ‘mainstream’. The only way I hear Christ’s name these days is as a swear, so it’s about time people might start using it properly. I love Jesus. I wish Him a happy birthday every year at Christmas and thank Him for giving His life for our sake.