A Jewish actress plays the part of Jesus' mother.

And? If I'm not mistaken... Jesus's mother was Jewish.

Because of the objection of many Jews to this movie, there's a big stink about her taking the part & speculation on Mel's motive for choosing her. Her family history goes back to Auswitz.

oh... so her ability to act (which is good) had nothing to do with it?

I've been watching the controversy about the marketing of Passion and supporting sale items.

Of course, they've got the key chains and coffee mugs, but they also picked up on an item that's been available forever. A crucifiction spike to be worn around the neck as jewlery recently made popular by the Promise Keepers.

It's been a $6.99 neckwear item for years found in Christian bookstores, but now the movie has added it's name and it's suddenly $16.99. I suppose some think the real controversy should be that a symbol of persecution should be jewlry, but isn't that what a cross is anyway? The symbol of Roman capital punishment? Kind of like wearing an electic chair.

But anyway, the recent bump in price is more of a shameless conspiracy than anything. That the "passion" is making so much money pretending to be a nonmainstream "controversial" movie.

This is so mainstream marketing 101 it's textbook.

Gibson's father's comments, though unwelcome I'm sure...play their role in the media frenzy.

[Edited on 19-2-2004 by RANT]

...there was a choice.....Puntious Pilot....washed hands....remember?

But on this movie:

Great, no, BRILLIANT marketing!
They've given advanced tickets to all the good little Christian groups & have made a stellar word-of-mouth buzz, generatedscadsof free press with statements and BOOM! An 'R' rated movie that parahocial schools will have field trips to see!!

In terms of this film being offensive, it's bull#.

Anybody remember Jesus Christ Superstar? (One of my favorite films) that made the life of Christ into a musical?!!?! It was #ing amazing.

Not to mention the Life Of Brian. Anybody remember that controversy?

What Rant said is the shocking part. Not the film.
If the film was made for that purpose, then that’s unforgivable.
But we all know who the one to judge that is…


[Edited on 19-2-2004 by kegs]

I wonder how Mel feels about his fathers comments regarding the matter.

Gibson is not inciting race hate by making this movie.

The Jews are calling attention to that fact that SOME jews in the area asked for him to be killed by the romans as it is stated in the bible.

Just because some morons have used this idea to promote hate for the Jews does not make the passage anti-Jew.

Nothing would hold up in court.

From Bout Time"Great, no, BRILLIANT marketing! "
Agreed. I think you are the only one who sees this. This
"controversy" slowly generated over the last YEAR. It started
by aligning the conservative Catholics with the evangelical
Protestants. This creats a grass roots movement that a savy
marketer can ride on to generate controversy. Notice how the
controversy has been guided such that if you are part of the
grass roots, its a must see movie. If you are a critic and think
there is something bad about the movie, its a must see to prevent
hypocrit-itus. So everyone is gonna see it. Thats Marketing.


/\/ight\/\/ing

This is really old news...

WTF?

'to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people'

that is discrimination?

that is just about anything you want it to be, isn't it?

besides, I agree with his father, there was not 6 million Jews cremated as we are told.

do the research yourself, there are valid arguments and evidence and facts to dispute the number of Jewish dead.

Originally posted by KrazyJethro
Gibson is not inciting race hate by making this movie.

The Jews are calling attention to that fact that SOME jews in the area asked for him to be killed by the romans as it is stated in the bible.

Just because some morons have used this idea to promote hate for the Jews does not make the passage anti-Jew.

Nothing would hold up in court.

that's not what the story in the bible says? why would you change it?

Anyone that hypes this movie as anti-semetic is just looking for a little free pub. Everybody knows the story already. No one is going to walk out of the theater shocked that the Jews sent Jesus to the cross.

And, Mel shouldn't have to answer for what his father believes. He said he doesn't believe that non-sense. The media should let this story die. His daddy has a right to his delusion, and Mel shouldn't be forced to apologize for him.

Originally posted by John Nada The amount of people who are calling this movie anti-semetic BEFORE they've even seen it are stupid at best.

Well... there are valid concerns. The movie is based on the traditional "Passion Play" which has drummed up emotional anti-semitic furor throughout history. Also... it's not uncommon for the religious views of a father, to hold influence over the views of the son.