I probably won’t see it. I’m not religious, but would be happy to see a film with religious themes if I thought it was going to be good. Nor am I concerned at the violence. If a story requires violence to tell it, then include the violence. I’m sure this story does require violence - I understand they treated criminals (or those whom they considered criminals) pretty harshly in those days. But I have no more desire to see this film than I do to see a video of Mel Gibson wanking; both amount to the same thing.
He’s not a wonderful filmmaker. The entire film is Gibson setting his private belief on the silver screen. I have no interest in someone’s personal vanities unless I believe it will be a good work of art. I don’t believe this film will be a good work of art. It might appeal to those who like to see their own beliefs reenforced on screen, but I don’t have a spiritual connection to the central character, so I doubt it would mean much to me, beyond “people are being pretty mean to that Jesus guy.”
I’m an atheist who wants to see it for several reasons.
I like gory movies. ‘Ichi the Killer’ is one of my favorites. Roger Ebert says this is the most violent movie he has ever seen and it should have got an NC-17 for violence, so that makes me want to see it.
I like period pieces. Apparently a lot of work was put into giving the movie an accurate look and it had a fairly large budget, so I’d like to check it out.
Since it’s so controversial, I’d like to have seen it so I can give educated comments on it when it is discussed.
I like audience-watching during dramatic, scary, or gross movies, and I think this one is going to have some interesting audiences.
I like offending religious people. A few well timed laughs or ‘That’s gotta hurt!’ will probably come from my general direction.
I dislike Mel Gibson and what he stands for, and want to rip him off. I will probably buy a ticket for the most ‘morally bankrupt’ and/or blasphemous movie playing and then sneak into ‘Passion’.
I wasn’t originally planning on it, but a friend invited me to go along with her church group, for free. Since they’re already buying the tickets, it’s not my $8.50 going to Mel’s pocket. It’s mostly out of a voyeuristic desire to see just how violent it really is. I just hope they don’t try to convert me or something.
For the record, I consider myself fairly observant Conservative Jewish. Other Jewish friends of mine have gone as well, and they all said they don’t consider it anti-Semitic at all.
I was raised in a fundamentalist Christian household (Church of Christ), went to church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night, and I’ve been an atheist since I was 12. I didn’t like Lethal Weapon or Braveheart, but I did like Mad Max and The Road Warrior (I mean let’s put this in perspective–the guy’s an action star, not freakin’ Wells). Simply put, I’ve had my fill of Jesus. I have less than no interest.
Atheist/agnostic here. I will definitely go see The Passion, and I average about one trip to the movies every 18 months (the last one I saw in a theater was A Beautiful Mind).
The Passion a much-discussed film about one of the most influential events in world history. The fact that I don’t believe in the divinity of the guy they crucified doesn’t change that.
Atheist here. I’ll see it eventually just because it is the “it” movie to see, and as Betty Bowers says, “As a Baptist, I don’t often find myself promoting R-rated films, but I’m proud that I live in a country where witnessing two hours of bloody, barbarous torture in gloating detail is considered indicia of religious piety, whereas a mere second gazing upon a woman’s breast is cause for outraged apoplexy.”
However, the Dawn of the Dead remake is much higher on my list.
Not everyone in the audience is necessarily religious; many will simply want to see a well-made drama about a quasi-historical event of great historical importance. Injecting unwanted commentary into a film interrupts an experience they paid good money for. If you want to MSTK the movie, wait for the DVD.
Christian, Orthodox, and I’ve no interest in seeing it. I can stay at home and read the Book, (again) after all. There won’t be anything of value to me in the movie that won’t already be in Gospel. I second the opinion that fixation on the “passion” without reference to the Resurrection feels odd. Theologically, the physical suffering that went along with the “Passion” is rather minor in my Church, so trying to get us laity to seriously get deeply into the matter could even be seen as a distraction away from what we’re supposed to be attending to. The “Passion” without the Resurrection and Ascension–that would have been like Jackson only making Fellowship of the Ring and going no further. I highly doubt that Gibson will do a Resurrection and Acts film.
I also am not a fan of lurid movies. I already know what blood looks like. I’ve already seen people get injured. I’ve been the recipient of injury inflicted with intent by other people. I don’t need to go out and pay money to see more of that.
Christian, Orthodox, and I’ve no interest in seeing it. I can stay at home and read the Book, (again) after all. There won’t be anything of value to me in the movie that won’t already be in Gospel. I second the opinion that fixation on the “passion” without reference to the Resurrection feels odd. Theologically, the physical suffering that went along with the “Passion” is rather minor in my Church, so trying to get us laity to seriously get deeply into the matter could even be seen as a distraction away from what we’re supposed to be attending to. The “Passion” without the Resurrection and Ascension–that would have been like Jackson only making Fellowship of the Ring and going no further. I highly doubt that Gibson will do a Resurrection and Acts film.
I also am not a fan of lurid movies. I already know what blood looks like. I’ve already seen people get injured. I’ve been the recipient of injury inflicted with intent by other people. I don’t need to go out and pay money to see more of that.
Is the violence that much more gory than other movies like Kill Bill, Saving Private Ryan?
Does it portray one race as being evil more than say Schindler’s List and germans, Pearl Harbor and Japanese, or Blackhawk Down and the Somalians?
What about the rampant drug use in movies and the glorification of drug use in Movies and TV shows? Why isn’t there a huge outrage over That 70s show use of 'Pot"?
What is it about this one particular movie that causes such an outrage among the critics?.. Is it only because it is about Jesus?
What if the movie was about how the Braveheart was tortured and murdered ? What if the movie was changed so that Nazis germans killed Jesus?..
Would there be a huge uproar among the critics?
I really like creative works based on spiritual works (I’m only familiar with the Bible, though). There’s just something clever about The Divine Comedy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Dogma, and Apocamon. I’d like to read Left Behind too, because even if it’s as bad as people say it is, I’d like that aspect of it.
The only religious sect that I’m aware of in my extended family tree is Christianity, though I was not raised as a Christian (aside from the Christmas traditions in my younger years) and I do not consider myself one. If he indeed existed, I think Jesus was a great guy, but no more the “Son of God” than the next guy.
I would like to see the film, and plan on doing so. Why? Because I’m a movie buff…because I like to be able to have informed conversations with a wide variety of folks (including Christians), and this is certainly a hot topic…because I’m interested in the historical period, regardless of the validity of the story being told in it.
I figure I’ll go see it-- I’m writting my diss right now on paintings of the Passion in the 15th c and things like Good Friday drama, Passion plays, and other devotional stuff, so I’m kind of interested-- it sounds very “old school” (like 15th c) in spirit and I’d like to see how it measures up to the gore, violence, and jew-baiting of the “good” old days.
My 14-year-old son’s Ancient Civ teacher is offering extra credit to go see this movie.
I’m not sure he can handle it (he had nightmares over Freddy, and I don’t know how he saw the Nightmare movies, since we don’t watch them) and I don’t particularly want to take him to see it, but he could use the extra credit. I’m waiting on further information from the teacher before I decide.
Oh, and what’s up with $8.50 for a ticket? Can’t you go see a matinee?
I was raised Jewish but I tend more towards agnosticism (I am still very much culturally and ethnically Jewish). My dad (who is Jewish) and I went to see it last night. Though I don’t believe in organized religion I feel that it is a fundamentally important aspect of society, and it does interest me very much.