I'm happy that at least something "worth talking about" is coming out, and especially in the Siberian Desert of bad films that is February.

Hopefully, other fat pockets will get some interesting projects made in the near future.

Here's the cast:

James Caviezel .... Jesus, the Christ
Maia Morgenstern .... Mary
Monica Bellucci .... Mary Magdalene
Hristo Jivkov .... John of Zebedee
Hristo Shopov .... Pontius Pilate
Rosalinda Celentano .... Satan
Francesco Cabras .... Gesmas
Claudia Gerini .... Pilatus Wife

I tried to put the two posters on here. It wouldn't work so here's the link to them. http://imdb.com/gallery/ss/0335345

That first poster with the crown of thorns is pretty intense to look upon.

"These products are available to you FREE of charge.

You may receive as many fan kits as you would like for only the cost of shipping. Please select from the packages below to proceed."

If anyone is interested you can get fan kits from the web site for the cost of shipping.

http://www.passionmaterials.com/index.html


Overall, it's a pretty good website.

http://www.thepassionthemovie.com/splash.htm

if they wanted to go even more realistic , they would have used darker skinned actors (as pointed out by another poster), but i still love that it's all in aramaic.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1243339.stm

I'm looking forward to this films, I am agnostic, but I have always been fascinated by the stories of the bible...

true, in real life, jesus probably looked more like Osama bin Laden than the Nordic god-looking jesus I always saw in churches as a kid. At this point though, its safe to say that no one has a clue what jesus really looked like... so I guess a guy with paler skin portraying him is ok. I mean, didn't john wayne play ghengis khan once?

j

And if the movie version of Kingpin can be black, then the movie version of Jesus can be white.

I wonder if they had a linguist train the actors how to actually speak aramaic with something close to a correct accent, seeing as how they wanted to make it as authentic as possible. Because, you know, they had film cameras back then. I pop in the Zapruder film of Jesus on the cross every so often.

Seriously, I'm conflicted as to whether I want to see this. I loved the Last Temptation of Christ, but let's face it, that wasn't your average Christ movie. I just don't know if I want to support this film. I applaud Gibson for doing something he believes in and is passionate about, but I don't know if I can give money to it.

Its a good site but the *Free* fan kits seemed to be a little high on shipping prices. They could have at least kept it under $10 shipping.

Supermallet what would you be conflicted about paying money to see this movie.

Think of all the movies that you didnt enjoy watching, and all the money you already spent, whats another $5.50

I guess I can understand why people would be hesitant to see it if they dont believe in it. But from what I understand the film isnt really preachy, it just tells the story.

To be fair, I wouldnt be nearly as fired up to see this if I wasnt a follower of Christ. Cant wait!

What is it exactly that is making you conflicted about seeing this movie? I'm not sure I understand . . .

Well, I'm an atheist, and this movie is professing to be more than entertainment, it's meant to have a message. I don't want to support that message.

Think of it as supporting an independant film Supporting a man putting his own money on the line, and wanting to put his vision onscreen w/out studio involvement!

Its also a film that (hopefully-guess we'll wait for the reviews) will be on a lot of top-ten lists at the end of the yr.

Also a lot of reviews I've read have come from non-religous people who really liked the film. I'm guessing the biggest message of the film is love.

Got some links? Only reviews I've seen were from people who attended special screenings arranged by Gibson for "friendly" audiences.

Eh sorry, I was thinking of the dozen or so that AICN posted last yr. Dont think I have time to dig em up, but I'll see what I can do... I wouldnt mind reading them again myself.

Gimme a break, this is one the dumbest reasons I've ever heard. The Last Temptation of Christ wasn't THAT different from the numerous other movies based on the Gospels, when all is said and done Jesus accepts his role in the end and dies on the Cross. You make it sound as if by seeing Gibson's film you feel you'd be supporting Nazism or something.

Here's a new review:

http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/display.cgi?id=16815

I have no doubt the film will be worth seeing, but that review is from what I would call a biased source: I'll wait for a review from a critic I trust: Ebert, Rosenbaum, Gavin Smith

Every movie has a message. Theres not gonna be a priest in the theatre to baptize you when the movies over. You could always go the familiar route though. Watch the movie and them come to dvd talk to complain about it. Thats what I suspect many will be doing.

I think that you are probably going to be okay to watch it. Do you have a problem watching Natural Born Killers? Malcolm X? Fight Club? Little Buddha? All of them contain issues, topics, etc. that could be considered controversial (depending on your personal beliefs) on one level or another, but I can't see how that would keep anyone from watching those.

Worst case, you come out understanding a contrary belief better . . . and that's never a bad thing.

Except that the Last Temptation of Christ says it is fiction. I don't think it's like supporting Nazism, but at the same time, why would I give money to something that is, at least in some part, an attempt to convert people? And don't jump all over me on this one, I remember reading interviews with Mel saying that part of the intention of the film is to spread the word. Perhaps THAT'S why I don't want to support it.

I don't think it's like watching Natural Born Killers (a film I have for its overblown style), or Fight Club, because their messages aren't something I have a problem with. Natural Born Killers isn't supporting killing so much as it attacks how media-saturated our society has become, and Fight Club is quite ambivalent as to what final statement it makes.

I have no problem with controversial material. I love Takashi Miike. However, that doesn't mean I want to support something that, at least in part, is trying to spread the word.

As for understanding a conflicting viewpoint better, I've read the New Testament and have done many comparitive religion studies. This movie is not going to teach me anything.

Edited to add: Would you go see a movie that promoted fascism? I don't think Christianity is that good of a thing, so I don't want to support the movie. Plain and simple. And no, I won't go see it and come back and complain about it here.

I wonder how many of the people who are dog-piling on Suprmallet would go and see a film called The Life of Mohammed directed by a Muslim?

It's been tried, the problem is a true Muslem can't show Mohammad's image in ANY form. It would be a tough film to make.

If it looked interesting I would go see it. The fact that I might not agree with it wouldnt keep from seeing a movie that looks interesting.