Mel Gibson is currently directing a movie (called “Passion”) about the last 12 hours of Jesus’ life. All of the dialogue in the movie will be spoken entirely in Aramaic and Latin, with no subtitles. A lot of distributers and theater chains are worried about this and believe that the film will be commercially unviable. Gibson (a devout Catholic) is making what he considers to be a very personal expression of his own faith. What do you think? Would you go see this movie? Would it bother you if you couldn’t understand it? (remember, there will be no subtitles) Personally, I think it’s a very exciting and ballsy idea, but am I in the minority?
(BTW Gibson is NOT playing Jesus. Christ is being played by a guy named Jim Caviezel. I don’t know anything about him except that he was in “The Count of Monte Christo” no too long ago)
I’m wondering how he will put up the English as the bad guys, this time. 
Hmmm…I dunno - will it have any car chases?
I had a thread about this in Cafe Society a while back.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=136516&highlight=Gibson+Latin
I’ve got no problem with it, and would definitely go to see it. I am a little dubious about the quality of the language, however. I don’t know Aramaic, but if the Latin is as poor as I am guessing it will be, I’ll be asking for my denarii back.
Well, I might go see it. I’m kinda freaked since I don’t know Latin or Aramaic.
I guess Ill have a decent enough idea though, since I’ve heard the recount of said events many times…
That’s what I think too, Bandit. I think most people are familiar enough with the story that they’re not going to be all that lost. I think this could give the movie a real verisimilitude if it’s done right.
I admire Gibson as a director, and I think it’ll be interesting at least. I’ll likely go and see it, in the same spirit as I saw Scorcese’s Last Temptation of Christ.
The dedication to authenticity increases my estimation of it.
I think it’s a very gutsy idea, and I’m looking forward to seeing it.
** Bandit** is right. We all know the story so no one should have a problem following it. Also, any movie about Christ will probably have enough controversy surrounding it to make it commercially viable.
The only problem I see is this:
I’m all for people expressing their faith. And I’m all for artists expressing anything. The problem is, I just can’t respect Mel Gibson as an artist. I think he not only over-directs, but that depends a little too heavily on cliche slow-motion shots.
I think it’s a neat idea. Whether or not it will be done in a way that I consider to be ‘really good’ or not–I dunno. I’ll probably go see it.