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Mel Gibson is doing a controversial Jesus Film

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Mel Gibson is doing a controversial Jesus Film

Old 01-17-03, 11:01 AM
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Mel Gibson is doing a controversial Jesus Film

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/ar...TICLE_ID=30497

I'm not sure if this has already been discussed, but I just saw this. I'm thinking that the kiddies won't want to see this one, if it stands true to what he wants to accomplish. It will probably be graphic and true to the bible, which when taken literally, is quite graphic. Flogging wasn't anything like whipping. The "whip" had peices of bone on the end that would basically tear up your skin. I think this is going to be a great biblical movie.
Old 01-17-03, 11:08 AM
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I also heard he hired a linguist that spoke Aramaic(?) to give the dialogue more authenticity in some scenes.

edit: I wrote the above post before I read the article which pretty much mentions the same thing.

Last edited by Kal-El; 01-17-03 at 11:12 AM.
Old 01-17-03, 11:18 AM
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Yes... Aramaic and Latin languages will be used in the film for the purpose of authenticity. I love Mel as a director. He difinitly has passion in the movies he directs. No pun intended.
Old 01-17-03, 11:20 AM
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I haven't got time to read the article but I heard a while back that Gibson wants the movie dialogue to be completely in Aramaic, no English whatsoever. The reason being that the visuals of the film would be compelling enough without an understandable language. I think I read that in a Hotdog Movie mag a few months ago.
Old 01-17-03, 11:23 AM
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I think his all dead languages stunt is silly.
Old 01-17-03, 11:24 AM
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This movie from Mel Gibson does seem very interesting, and I am looking to forward to seeing how Gibson going to pull this off being done in those languages.
Old 01-17-03, 11:36 AM
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Can't wait! Talk about "art".
Old 01-17-03, 11:52 AM
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Is Gibson directing this or just producing? Doubt he is playing Jesus.
Old 01-17-03, 11:57 AM
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I don't know. My first impression after reading that article is one of great apprehension. It all sounds like exploitation. "Look at us! We're using 'authentic' language." "We've got all the gore and bloodshed that YOU couldn't see before!" "Poor Mel is being hounded by unseen forces! This film is THAT controversial!"

But, whatever. The proof is in the pudding. We'll see.
Old 01-17-03, 12:05 PM
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Originally posted by Dr. DVD
Is Gibson directing this or just producing? Doubt he is playing Jesus.
He has his face painted blue, wears a skirt, and shouts "freeeeedommmm" when he's crucified.

P.S Credit for this goes to minifig of the Otters Clan.
Old 01-17-03, 01:14 PM
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This film is only controversial because its true to the Bible, and that's a big no-no in Hollywood, yet put on a stage production where Jesus is a flamer and that's great!
Old 01-17-03, 01:17 PM
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Gibson is directing and producing, and Jim Caviezel is playing Jesus.
Old 01-17-03, 01:19 PM
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Some more Jesus fun...

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=264053
Old 01-17-03, 01:37 PM
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Originally posted by lesterlong
This film is only controversial because its true to the Bible, and that's a big no-no in Hollywood, yet put on a stage production where Jesus is a flamer and that's great!
The film is controversial because no two Christian sects will ever agree *what* is true to the Bible. I notice that the thread about this movie in the Other forum has evolved into a debate about the proper details of the crucifixion: what shape of the cross should be, where the nails were driven, what is done and said, etc...

As for your sideswipe at the play Corpus Christi--something several people have done in discussing this movie: Just like Last Temptation of Christ, just like Jesus Christ Superstar, the play Corpus Christi is called anti-religious by people who misunderstand it--willfully or otherwise. If you find it offensive or blasphemous, fine, but it is a work of serious reverence and religious intent.

I expect Mel's movie to be very interesting... I don't think the lack of English dialog will be any hindrance... Film visuals are far more important than dialog anyway, and he's a very savvy director, telling a tale we already know... If Gibson announced he was making it as silent movie I'd have no problems believing he could pull it off... I expect it to be a very brutal and haunting retelling... (And very Catholic in undertone...)

Last edited by adamblast; 01-17-03 at 01:57 PM.
Old 01-18-03, 11:20 AM
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I don't understand what the religious intent of portraying Jesus as a gay man was. Because it is obviously not biblical. I'm guessing maybe something to do with the fact that Jesus wouldn't have persecuted gay people but would have loved them. That is true however, he was obviously not a homosexual. anyway, I'm interested and anticipating this film. I just hope that it does a good job of portraying Jesus and christians in a good light.
Old 01-18-03, 07:17 PM
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Originally posted by adamblast

I expect Mel's movie to be very interesting... I don't think the lack of English dialog will be any hindrance... Film visuals are far more important than dialog anyway, and he's a very savvy director, telling a tale we already know... If Gibson announced he was making it as silent movie I'd have no problems believing he could pull it off... I expect it to be a very brutal and haunting retelling... (And very Catholic in undertone...)
My thoughts exactly - well said, but one thing (and I don't mean to sound stupid), what do you mean by "very Catholic in undertone"? From a Catholic perspective? That's sort of the way I understand it, but I just want to be straight by what you meant. Thanks
Old 01-18-03, 09:00 PM
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I can't imagine there being a better movie about Christ (or a more controversial one, for that matter) than Scorsese's "Last Temptation."
Old 01-18-03, 09:30 PM
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Originally posted by bahist17
My thoughts exactly - well said, but one thing (and I don't mean to sound stupid), what do you mean by "very Catholic in undertone"? From a Catholic perspective? That's sort of the way I understand it, but I just want to be straight by what you meant. Thanks
Probably from a Catholic perspective, tying in with the Catholic church. The Catholic church was the first Christian church, with one of the disciples being the first "pope." The church, today, is probably nothing like it was 2000 years ago, though.

It wouldn't make sense to do a realistic story about Jesus from a Baptist, Protestant, or Mormon perspective. It wouldn't be as realistic, any more.

However, the basic Catholic beliefs are theoretically the closest to Jesus's teachings as Catholics didn't break away from anything, unless you consider forming a Christian church breaking away from Judaism.
Old 01-18-03, 09:38 PM
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Originally posted by xDareDevilx
I don't understand what the religious intent of portraying Jesus as a gay man was. Because it is obviously not biblical. I'm guessing maybe something to do with the fact that Jesus wouldn't have persecuted gay people but would have loved them. That is true however, he was obviously not a homosexual. anyway, I'm interested and anticipating this film. I just hope that it does a good job of portraying Jesus and christians in a good light.
If you want to be Biblical, then Jesus was not homosexual, but neither was he heterosexual. He was asexual, since by Jewish law, since he never married, he should never have had sex.

That said, given he was "fully man" (that's Biblical), I wonder how often he masturbated? I doubt that would get into any film I know of at the moment.

Before anyone flames me, I don't know of any law/sin against masturbation, unless someone finds something about "spilling seed" in Leviticus or something...

Since this IS in Movie Talk, let me get back to the subject:

I really am looking forward to this movie, because I think Mel Gibson takes his duties seriously.
Old 01-18-03, 10:21 PM
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bahist17: Yes, I was merely referring to Mel's reputation as a very devout Catholic. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, to misappropriate the line from Seinfeld... ) So is James Caviezel, who's playing Jesus, by the way...

Since Gibson clearly takes this film very seriously, I would expect it to feel thematically and emotionally like something coming from his own personal faith... I would expect the film to be influenced (one way or another) by Mel's personal feelings for such Catholic iconography as the Crucifix, the Stations of the Cross, the Pieta, etc... At the same time I'm sure he's attempting--like most mainstream filmmakers of religious epics--to make a film that will be inspirational to all believers.

Last edited by adamblast; 01-18-03 at 10:26 PM.
Old 01-18-03, 11:31 PM
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http://www.melgibsonnews.com/news/passionmoviepics.html

here's a link to a site with quite a few production photos of the actors and sets. about half way down the page, look for a link to the "unofficial passion movie website" which has more photos.
Old 01-19-03, 01:20 AM
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The pics from the Other Forum had me cringing...I think I'm gonna have to think twice before I see this film...
Old 01-19-03, 03:09 AM
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Originally posted by adamblast
bahist17: Yes, I was merely referring to Mel's reputation as a very devout Catholic. (Not that there's anything wrong with that, to misappropriate the line from Seinfeld... ) So is James Caviezel, who's playing Jesus, by the way...

Since Gibson clearly takes this film very seriously, I would expect it to feel thematically and emotionally like something coming from his own personal faith... I would expect the film to be influenced (one way or another) by Mel's personal feelings for such Catholic iconography as the Crucifix, the Stations of the Cross, the Pieta, etc... At the same time I'm sure he's attempting--like most mainstream filmmakers of religious epics--to make a film that will be inspirational to all believers.
That's what I thought you meant, I just wanted to be sure - that is one reason I would want to see this is because is such a devout Catholic and in turn I think he will take his work on this film seriously.

Interesting, I didn't know that Caviezel was Catholic, too. (not that there is anything wrong with that - hell, I am Catholic, too)
Old 01-19-03, 03:14 AM
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Originally posted by shaun3000
Probably from a Catholic perspective, tying in with the Catholic church. The Catholic church was the first Christian church, with one of the disciples being the first "pope." The church, today, is probably nothing like it was 2000 years ago, though.

It wouldn't make sense to do a realistic story about Jesus from a Baptist, Protestant, or Mormon perspective. It wouldn't be as realistic, any more.

However, the basic Catholic beliefs are theoretically the closest to Jesus's teachings as Catholics didn't break away from anything, unless you consider forming a Christian church breaking away from Judaism.
I thought he meant Catholic perspective. I have heard people use the term "catholic" in a few different contexts before, so I was just double-checking.
Old 01-19-03, 11:36 AM
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Originally posted by shaun3000
Probably from a Catholic perspective, tying in with the Catholic church. The Catholic church was the first Christian church, with one of the disciples being the first "pope." The church, today, is probably nothing like it was 2000 years ago, though.

It wouldn't make sense to do a realistic story about Jesus from a Baptist, Protestant, or Mormon perspective. It wouldn't be as realistic, any more.

However, the basic Catholic beliefs are theoretically the closest to Jesus's teachings as Catholics didn't break away from anything, unless you consider forming a Christian church breaking away from Judaism.
Not meaning to get into religious debates or anything, there is a lot of Catholicism that comes from when Constantine adopted Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire and blended it in with existing Roman religious practices. Saints replaced pagan gods and such. The structure of the Church was a bit of a holdover. Also, the majority of Canon (including seemingly fundamental elements) came about over the subsequent 1700 years and was not part of "the original church". Even Papal Infallibilty and Immaculate Conception aren't 150 years old. Now, this is not to say none of this is not the Divine Revelation of God given to His Church as was needed, but I just wouldn't say that the Catholic Church is any more close to the Original Church than any other faith (who, theoretically went back to the "source" and refined it and divorced it from accumulated ritual) by virtue of its age.

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