Gibson defends 'The Passion of the Christ'

Mel Gibson said the graphic depiction of Christ's crucifixion in his upcoming film The Passion of the Christ was meant to make viewers realize the extent of Christ's sacrifice.

Mel Gibson directs Jim Caviezel on the set of Gibson's movie The Passion of the Christ.
AP

"I think it pushes one over the edge so that they see the enormity, the enormity of that sacrifice," he said during an interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC's Primetime that airs Monday.

Gibson, who funded, directed and co-wrote the upcoming movie, said he wanted the movie to be shocking and extreme.

"It's very violent and if you don't like it, don't go, you know?" Gibson said in excerpts of the interview provided by ABC. "If you want to leave halfway through, go ahead."

The R-rated movie, set for release Feb. 25, details the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus. Gibson maintains it's a faithful biblical narrative, but some worry that its depiction of the role of some Jews in the death of Christ may lead to an increase in anti-Semitism.

Among them is Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, who has seen the film twice.

Gibson told Sawyer the film was not anti-Semitic and was instead about "faith, hope, love and forgiveness."

"To be anti-Semitic is a sin," the actor-director said. "It's been condemned by one Papal Council after another. To be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I'm not."

The Primetime program also includes an interview of Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League. Foxman told Sawyer he does not believe Gibson or the film are anti-Semitic but added that the movie "has the potential to fuel anti-Semitism, to reinforce it."

Discuss.

I thought it is kind of weird that the Pope doesn't know if he liked the film or not. According to the press that is he keeps changeing his story. Now everyone is aiming at Mel Gibsons father on religious opinions and such...damn press.

Anyway, I can't wait to see this film.

------------------
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall fade.

[This message has been edited by Rod-Nog (edited February 16, 2004).]

I STILL ate fish today.

I still didn't watch it.

Discuss.

------------------
Juztyn
Taking credit for: Canyon Stream, Higher Ground, The Space Between, Death's Dome (mlp3), bits of JKRPG, and the entire Showcase forum, damnit!... Visit SWGalaxies.net for the latest Star Wars: Galaxies information!

I don't think it's anti-semetic, but I can see how it could happen given that the general public is stupid.

------------------
I'm not an actor. I just play one on TV.

I agree. If people are just going to complain about the movie, why even bother seeing it? Like Mel Gibson said, the movie is very very violent, and if you don't like it, then don't see the film.

------------------
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall fade.

I might catch it on video if the reviews are good. The trailer was a bit overdone, but then again most are of late.

I admire Gibson for sticking to his vision and not cutting the film so it will nail as many demographics and with the lowest rating possible.

------------------
Cantina Cloud | BCF | The Massassian 1 & 2 | Gonkmeg
Corrupting the kiddies since '97

[This message has been edited by Jaiph (edited February 16, 2004).]

I thought it the full title was "Lethal Weapon 5: The Passion of Christ"?

[This message has been edited by Evil_Tofu (edited February 16, 2004).]

There is a LW 4 already

------------------
Of war, we don't speak anymore

I think it will be so amazingly poweful. If it has any flaws, they will be overshadowed by it's powerful message.

Gibson in the interview in regards to the Anti-semitism thing, said that if anyone was to blame, that the people who the blame should be put on were the Christians.

I'm going to see this movie on the 27th with a group of people from church. I'm looking forward to it very very much, and I'm hoping that it will be as moving as MOST people say.

------------------
Only To Keep The Public Happy

------------------
Don't be unwise judge me not by my size. You wont believe your eyes watch the xwing rise!

I had salmon yesterday. It was good!

My mom wants me and my wife to go with her to see this movie next week. Unfortunately the costs of going to a movie is a little steep for us, especially right now since I can't work...

------------------
I am a nobody, and nobody is perfect; therefore, I am perfect.

Everyday I beat my own previous record for number of consecutive days I've stayed alive.

[url="mailto:Bruintone@netscape.net"]mailto:Bruintone@netscape.net[/url]Bruintone@netscape.net</A>
Yahoo! Name : jedibruintone77

mel gibson said "bugger" in that interview ehehe

OMG forbidden word!

------------------
Don't be unwise judge me not by my size. You wont believe your eyes watch the xwing rise!

Freudian slip perhaps?

Can we get into R-rated movies with a parent? I really want to see this when it comes out... I'm excited. It could spark an interest in a LOT of people and direct them towards Christianity.

------------------
BV's rendition of Titanic: Let's have sex. I won't let go. I don't need this stone.
The End.
~ Wolfy

Not this man.

I'm not religious, I don't want to be religous, and I'm no fan of religion period. It's probably a great movie, but I don't want to see it.

I'd go on and give more reasons and "whys" but I think it'd just spark a debate and this would end up locked or in the Religous Debate forum. I doubt anyone wants that to happen.

------------------
Frogblast the Vent Core!

--End of Line--

"To be anti-Semitic is a sin," the actor-director said. "It's been condemned by one Papal Council after another. To be anti-Semitic is to be un-Christian, and I'm not."

lol, that has to be one of the most blind quotes I've ever seen. I'm sure it appeals only to those who like to think Christianity has had such a spotless historcial record... Yeah, so Christianity wasn't the biggest propagator of Jew hatred for the last 2000 years (until recently)? That's certainly news to me...

Personally, I believe that, yes the film does have the ability to influence certain impressionable people towards anti-semitism, but I don't believe it will influence that many that it will become huge due to this one film.

Anti-semitism has been going strong for longer than Christianity has been around, and I'm sure it certainly needs no help from a Mel Gibson film. Today, the number of Anti-Semitic acts committed throughout the world are at the highest levels since WWII... and this is BEFORE "The Passion" came out. Trust me, anti-semitism is going to keep rising whether this film comes out or not...

Sure, it will be a great movie...but it's only a movie and not an actual historical account of Jesus.

------------------
The top ten times in history when using the "F" word
was appropriate.....
10) "What the *&%# was that?" -Mayor of Hiroshima - August 1945
9) "Where did all these *&%#ing Indians come from?" - Custer 1877
8) "Any *&%#ing idiot could understand that." - Einstein 1938
7) "It does SO *&%#ing look like her!" - Picasso 1926
6) "How the *&%# did you work that out?" - Pythagoras 126 BC
5) "You want WHAT on the *&%#ing ceiling?" - Michelangelo 1566
4) "I don't suppose it's gonna *&%#ing rain." - Joan of Arc 1434
3) "Scattered *&%#ing showers...my a$$!" - Noah 2114 BC
2) "I need this parade like I need a *&%#ing hole in my head!" -
JFK 1963
1) "Aw c'mon, who the *&%# is going to find out?" - Bill Clinton 1997

[This message has been edited by Agent-Smith (edited February 17, 2004).]

this has very little to do with my actual opinion on the movie, but has any one noticed that when that interviewer, diane whatever, interviews people shes so horribly one sided? isnt the point of the interviewer to ask questions ?yes the questions may be biased, but i noticed all the questions she asked him which she thought would entrap him, n he answered back with really descent answers, she gave him this dumb look like he was stupid or that he didnt answer her question right. ive noticed a lot of interviewers lately have started this. i dont just mean asking biased questions, or bringing up biased topics to blatantly admit that they have a personal opinion as well. im talking about these cowardly politically correct interviewrs who act like they're neutral but totally try to make the person being interviewed feel like a retard when he/she actually answers back to a question they dont expect they'll have an answer to. i dont think this made much sense but it was a rant. i hate that interviewer lady.

ps. mel gibson is so hot for an old guy man

------------------
[teletubbie voice] BIG HUG!!!! [/teletubbie voice]

Darn straight, Wolvie!

------------------
All the prism in the world couldn't make hue.

Vinny, you think Mel Gibson is hot?

------------------
Only To Keep The Public Happy

Who doesn't?

------------------
"LC Tusken: the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot"
NMGOH || Jack Chick preaches it

I don't think he's hot, I think he's dead sexy.

------------------
Home is behind, the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread. Through shadow, to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall fade.

I noticed that myself... Tis quite irritating.

------------------
Tia mi aven Moridin isainde vadin
http://www.writings-emag.net The next big thing since individually wrapped cheese slices (coming soon).

I lost some respect for the guy when he said god makes his bed.

------------------
When bread becomes toast, it can never go back to being bread again.

So the guy has some overconfidence in his sexual capabilities; so what?

------------------
"LC Tusken: the idiot is the person who follows the idiot and your not following me your insulting me your following the path of a idiot so that makes you the idiot"
NMGOH || Jack Chick preaches it

but his eyes are so blew and dreamy! Oh mel!

------------------
[teletubbie voice] BIG HUG!!!! [/teletubbie voice]

/me imagines eyes that have been "blew" out of their sockets, and vomits

------------------
"Guns don't kill people, I kill people."