THE PASSION -- WILL IT CHANGE THE DYNAMICS OF THE 2004 ELECTION?

Vanity Press ^ | 02-08-04 | CWW (Vanity)

[CWW]

No, the movie is not better than the book, but you can't get many to pick up the Good Book. Remember, in the purpose of frescos and stain glass windows was to teach the stories of the Bible those who couldn't or wouldn't read it. Movies are the media of the day. You need to give most people a concrete visual image to get them to go beyond the screen and to the Book. This is a visual age, like it or not.

[onyx]

WOW, prairie. You have a farm, you've seen "the Passion" --- I am impressed. :)

Seriously, since you've seen Mel's film, do you agree it's destined to be one of the greatest films ever made?

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

The movie Jesus has had an incredible effect on millions around the globe. The Passion of the Christ will be shown to people all over the world and will bring about many conversions.

[Dumb_Ox]

Well, the current administration seems familiar with the concept of handing an innocent man over to be tortured, if not killed.

[discostu]

That's a really odd person. Tell him to just wait 5 weeks, by that point the studio only gets about 20% of the ticket price, go to a matinee and Mel will only get like a buck not even enough for a cup of coffee.

A lot of religious movies make stong and often irrational reaction. In my experience most of the strongest reactions come from people that will never see the movie.

Glad you liked it. Hopefully that will be the reaction of many. I just don't see it as a draw for people with no religion. Maybe some seekers in denial that claim to be non-religious but that's as far out as it will go. Should still make a fat pile of benjamins though and maybe will teach Hollywood a lesson (I've long preached on FR that if people want Hollywood to make moral movies they need to make moral movies profitable, this is a golden opportunity).

[CWW]

The Left Behind series has an evangelical Christian predisposition that is aimed at that particular crowd. The Passion is about the Historical Jesus. Even if you're not religious, you cannot deny his impact on humanity. That being the case, whether you're Christian or Jew or Muslim, many would want to see the historical account of Christ's passion and death.

By the way, if only Christians are going to go see the movie, then why do some Jewish groups and spokepersons want Gibson to change the film or soften it? Why would it matter if it's just a "Christian" movie?

You an I will jsut have to disagree. I'll trust God and we'll see what happens over the next 6 months.

[feedback doctor]

People that aren't religious aren't going to watch the movie. Much like how people that were religious didn't go see Last Temptation of Christ. It might be a great experience for those that are religious, but it will merely be preaching to the choir.

Discostu,
I see how you would come to this conclusion, but I think this is going to be a little different. For one thing, here in my town some churches have paid for up to 10 screens for several days for the film. That means anyone who shows up gets in free. I know where I go to church we are giving out tickets to people we know, people that would never walk into a church. We are not trying to promote our church, just trying to offer folks a chance to see what we see, a God who gave his own life for us. They are not going to see some huckster with big hair asking them to open their wallet, they are not going to hear some clean-cut, suit wearing guy tell them they are going to hell because they own rock and roll records and have a body piercing. They are going to see someone who claimed to God in the flesh, give his life for, and loving those who hated him. I am not preaching, but I think that the traditions of churches are falling down in favor of knowing a great, loving God, in an intimate way, and trying to express His character (goodness, kindness, and mercy) to others. We are growing up and getting past trying to mold people into our narrow view of what being religious means. We are starting to realize that we can trust God to bring people into the completeness that he has created them to be.
Almost everyone that has seen the movie says that they think anyone who sees it will be put in a place where they cannot remain neutral on who Jesus was/is. I think the religious will be offended by this movie. I think it will make them uncomfortable. I think those who are burned out on and abused by religion will be open to it.
Anyway, I don't know where you stand but I hope you see the film so you can understand a little why I and others are so passionate for this Jesus.

[discostu]

Schindler's List was for entertainment, that's what movies are for, especially Speilberg movies. How many neo-nazis do you think went to see Schindler's List? Supporters of the PLO? Anti-zionist conspiracy drones? Every movie has a demographic, people that didn't like Jews were not on Schindler's List's demographic. People that don't like Jesus are not going to be on Passion's demographic.

My premise is simple marketing 101: people that aren't interested in Jesus will not be interested in a Jesus movie.

[prairiebreeze]

LOL!

I think, yes it could well be.

If you are interested I wrote about my experience. Mel Gibson was there for a Q&A.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/1062185/posts

Prairie

[Irene Adler]

I believe that the effect of the film will be longterm rather than shortterm. The longterm effect may be considerable. I hope so.

[discostu]

Sorry, it won't. People that are not interested in Jesus will not be interested in a movie about Jesus. Simple demographics.

[discostu]

Many people that aren't religious don't even believe Jesus existed, if they can deny he even was born it's pretty easy for them to deny his impact.

I didn't say only Christians will be going, I said only religious people will be going. Many religious people are willing to see things relating to other religions because they have a general respect and even curiousity about religions, this is especially true for the big 3 of Christianity, Islam and Judaism which have so much in common.

What will happen over the next 6 months is that Passion will make a large pile of money, be considered a high point of the year among religious people, and will only be a blip on the radar of the non-religious. Hopefully it will be a big blip on the radar of Hollywood and maybe they'll start persuing the moral dollar more actively afterwards but we won't know about that for 2 or 3 years (the life cycle of a movie from initial proposal to release).

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"The Passion is going to hit this country like a freight train, and many of those who see the movie will engage in some serious self-reflection about their lives and the direction of the Country. I believe that Mel Gibson's film will be a clarion call for those who have sat idly by and watched moral relativism erode the foundations of our democratic republic."

You may be onto something, could account for all the negative hype from the extreme left.

I am not a Christian, but I definitly will be seeing the movie for the moral underpinning of the greatest story ever told.

[ultima ratio]

Gibson's film got a five minute standing ovation at a screening for ain't it cool news. They are film buffs, not religious at all. Many are atheists. But they say they were blown away. Not only this, but the movie's become a cultural phenomenon. People want to see it out of curiosity, given the oft-quoted statement that it's "powerful." There are a lot of Braveheart fans out there, remember.

As for whether it'll affect the next election--I think it will have a subliminal, indirect affect. For instance, if the gay marriage issue becomes front and center, people will take a firm moral stand--which will hurt Kerry who voted against the Marriage Defense Act. Certainly Bush's base will be galvanized.

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

"I know a Jew who's bought into the anti-Passion line he's heard preached as his synagogue. He intends to purchase a ticket to another movie showing at the cinemaplex but then attend the Passion, that way seeing it but avoiding his money going to Gibson. BTW this guy is in his 50's, professional and very liberal."

From what you have said above, he is also a liar and a cheat. Perhaps the movie might point out his hypocracy and dishonesty. Hell, he might even get caught up in the minute and undergo a conversion.

[feedback doctor]

"The Passion is going to hit this country like a freight train, and many of those who see the movie will engage in some serious self-reflection about their lives and the direction of the Country. I believe that Mel Gibson's film will be a clarion call for those who have sat idly by and watched moral relativism erode the foundations of our democratic republic."

I think you are right, it will be like a freight train, or maybe more like a snowball. I do NOT believe it will be a clarion call for morality. Jesus did not come to make bad people good, he came to make dead people live. And those who live thru him desire to be more like him. And their "morality" comes from this, loving God with your whole heart, and loving your neighbor as yourself.

[discostu]

Not everybody that won't step into a church is non-religious, actually some of the most devout people I know stay away from churches because they don't like how many churches have become social organizations.

I'm not unpassionate for the movie. I'm not saying anything bad about it at all. I'm just explaining demographics: people that aren't religious historically do not see religious movies. Sometimes they get "tricked" into it (like with Dogma, a much better movie than a lot of people give it credit for) but there's no way that will happen with Passion.

You have to remember a lot of the atheist community is actively afraid of religion. These are the people that sue to get roadside crosses taken down, sue to get the 10 Commandments taken away from the court house, complain about people wearing religious ornamentation. These people will stay away from Passion in droves, they probably won't even want to look at posters. The more nuetral people it will depend on if they're truly non-religious or it it's just a pose and in reality they're seeking, most of them will still stay away for a variety of reasons.

It's just a simple matter of demographics. People without religion in their lives have no compelling reason to see Passion.