My only question: Is Dov Hikind unhealthy for Jews all over the world? He sounds like someone not worth liking.

Hmmm... I remember people in another "passion" thread saying Mel was NOT a victim of censorship.

I hope Lion's Gate picks it up.

Dogma & Passion 2-pack!!!

Okay this is in no way saying that Christians have been through worse things than people of the Jewish faith(they haven't), but how many films out there portray Christians in a negative manner. And yes i believe that many people have maybe brought it upon themselves with the way some speak out about stuff they think they understand and obviously don't(a certain Ihate****website to mention an example). But still Hollywood has no problem trashing Christians(and i'll say again this does not mean i think Christians are in the mistreated minority).
And i haven't seen Passion so i don't know how Mel chose to portray the last hours of Christ's life. But i'm guessing the problem is saying that Jews are the ones who crucified Christ. But most Christians know that yes, Jewish Leaders were the ones who wanted him arrested. But according to the bible(my only resource on the matter), he was arrested by a Gentile army, went before a Gentile Judge, and his crucification was carried out by a Gentile Army.
Again i don't know how Mr. Gibson chose to film the movie, he may have blamed everything on the Jews, which i believe he would be wrong but that doesn't mean the film shouldn't be seen.
I just want to say, in the likely hood that i may offended someone, this is just what i believe and the way many interpret the Gospels, which on the part i brought up it is pretty straightforward.

Fox refusing to use their money to promote and distribute a movie that they don't want? That's CENSORSHIP!!!!

How is this censorship? Fox can distribute whatever films they want. Check the constitution if you don't believe me.

The situation described in the above article is fundamentally different from the one discussed in the prior thread, in which Gibson elected to edit his film based on feedback presented to him. Here, apparently under pressure from a vocal group, the studio has decided not distribute the movie. Apples and oranges.

Fox’s position regarding The Passion roughly parallels Universal’s decision not to exhibit Last Temptation of Christ in Orlando following demonstrations by conservative Christians. Is this a form of censorship? Perhaps. I don’t want to split hairs over the definition of censorship; that’s a tired and boring debate. Censorship or not, when groups exercise their influence to restrict art, I find it offensive.

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. In addition, should there ever exist a form of entertainment called 'motion pictures', and if there exists an entity that creates such 'motion pictures' that goes by the name 'Fox', said entity will have undeniable right to distribute whatever 'motion picture' they choose. They are also granted the right to refuse distribution of any such 'motion picture'. In exchange for these rights, should something ever exist called 'television', and should aforementioned entity 'Fox' decide to operate in this area, they must agree to 1) dedicate a certain percentage of their content to animal attacks on human beings and to humanity acting in some otherwise foolish manner; and 2) take at least one promising show each year and present it in a disadvantageous time, where it might be difficult for many to discover."

Some of these Jewish groups are acting like Nazis, they should know better. Americans have a distaste to any kind of censorship, the more they dont want us to see it, the more I want to see it.

Why won't paramount pick this up.
They could put it out under their paramount classics line.

I mean, didn't he make an oscar winning film for those people?

they might still pick it up... ICON (mel's production company) has been working solely with Paramount for a while...so Paramount, if they have the balls, may elect to pick up and distribute the film... and unless this film totally distorts or rewrites the bible...I don't know what all the bitching is about...people pretty much KNOW the story and don't go around "hating jews" because of it...why this film would make anyone an antisemite seems beyond me...but of course, I haven't seen it...and I think many of the people making these claims haven't either.

MATT

I can certainly see why any major studio would pass, it's a lot of headaches for film that appears to have little chance at box office success.

However, doesn't all this complaining about the film bring about a lot more attention to it? It would seem like it would almost be better just to ignore it.

It seems the message that they don't want out is Jesus is the savior.
If you have been watching the news since 9-11 anything Jesus is like forbitten in this country, but the ACLU will allow Muslium religion to be taught in schools & collages.
And yes I to have noticed a lot of christian bashing in movies the last 13 years.
Ever wonder why every bad review from a magazine that CREED gets always brings up that they are a christian band.
It's like they don't want you to listen to them.
But as it is written in the bible it mentions who runs the world.

Please elaborate what you mean here.

Yes, its sad when a faithful adaptation of the bible can't be released in this country. I agree with wm lopez, the Muslims blow up the Twin Towers and all of a sudden everyone college kid is now expected to read the Koran.

References?

This sucks

Oh, great. Another thread about THE PASSION that's quickly turning into anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim rants.

Can't the mods steer this back to talk about the movie and weed out the people who are only using the thread to grind axes?

It appears to me to be a sound decision by Fox. It's a high risk film that could get them tons of life-long boycotts, and Fox has nothing to lose by passing on this, it's not like they're hard up for money.

I can see where some anti-Sematic sentiment comes from when you have losers like Abraham Foxman and Dov Hikind believing they think and speak on behalf of all Jews.

Right-- the majority of Americans won't go to a subtitled movie in a foreign MODERN language. How many are going to bother going to one in ARAMAIC?

The more I read about "The Passion" the more I think it's Mel Gibson's "Battlefield Earth."

Think about it. Both are pet projects by actors who want to promote their religions. That might be noble but it also has "self-indulgent disaster" written all over it.

Fox has probably made a pretty smart business decision.

Let's see here...

(1) Controversial film...

(2) Not blockbuster material.

Now why would a big studio not want to invest time and money in such a product? I just don't know...

Sorry to tell some of ya', but a studio exercising it's right to not pick up a film is not censorship. It is business and it's Fox's right to distribute what they want. Yes, that means they can turn down Gibson's 'Passion' and frankly, if I was running a company, I would turn it down also. The film is already causing headaches for everyone involed and it isn't goin' to be a blockbuster - so why waste time with it?

Censorship is something entirely different. Censorship, would be Fox pickin' up the film and then changing it to fit them, due to the fact that they don't agree with the content. Instead, Fox simply passed on the film . How did they censor Mel? If anything, they made a sound choice and one that really doesn't effect Mel that much, as he can always find someone else to distribute the film.

Just like Judge Roy Moore or Jerry Falwell speaks for all Christians? Give me a break. You can pull anyone off a crappy news channel and then make anti-semitic or anti-christian remark and then you are the bigger idiot.

Whenever Jerry Falwell speaks on CNN, I am sure he is speaking for all Christians. I know this for a fact.

i can't really imagine why anyone would think this movie doesn't have blockbuster potential. i mean if its as good as we all hope it is then it may very well be a big "christian" movie, by which i mean all christians have a high desire to see it and almost feel obligated to do so, not unlike how many jews felt about schindler's list. this is also helped by the fact that they wanna release the film around easter, which is a smart move. you could be certain the film will be gettin alot of free advertising every sunday morning at mass if the catholic church digs the flick.

also, all the boycott / anti-semetism talk would most likely draw more people to see the film than to not see or boycott it. do that many people do whatever these religious fanatics tell them to do anyway?