Subject: Mel Gibson’s new movie “The Passion” (A Must Read Review!)
Paul Harvey Comments on “The Passion” by Mel Gibson
The majority of the media are complaining about this movie. Now Paul
Harvey tells “The rest of the story” and David Limbaugh praises Gibson.
Most people would wait and see a movie before giving the reviews that
have been issued by the reporters trying to tell all of us what to
believe.
Paul Harvey’s words:
I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been
invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson’s film “The Passion,” but
had also read
all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town and owe
much
of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long, deeply
held
aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any form of
anti-Semitic thought, language or actions.
I arrived at the private viewing for “The Passion”, held in Washington
DC
and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was typically
Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to look
beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very briefly
introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened. From
the gripping opening scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very
human
and tender portrayal of the earthly ministry of Jesus, through the
betrayal, the arrest, the scourging, the way of the cross, the encounter
with the thieves, the surrender on the Cross, until the final scene in
the
empty tomb, this was not simply a movie; it was an encounter, unlike
anything I have ever experienced.
In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic
triumph,
“The Passion” evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional reaction
within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or the birth of
my
children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film concluded,
this
“invitation only” gathering of “movers and shakers” in Washington, DC
were
shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a
dry
eye in the place.
The crowd that had been glad-handing before the film was now eerily
silent.
No one could speak because words were woefully inadequate. We had
experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life, the kind that makes
heaven touch earth.
One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind.
Brutalized,
wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross. His
mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to him, she
flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the dirt road
outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him from the fall,
she was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at
her
with intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us
through the screen) and said “Behold I make all things new.” These are
words taken from the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of
Revelations. Suddenly, the purpose of the pain was so clear and the
wounds,
that earlier in the film had been so difficult to see in His face, His
back, indeed all over His body, became intensely beautiful. They had
been
borne voluntarily for love.
At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a
question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film,
from
a rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were
effusive.
The questions included the one question that seems to follow this film,
even though it has not yet even been released. “Why is this film
considered
by some to be “anti-Semitic?” Frankly, having now experienced (you do
not
“view” this film) “the Passion” it is a question that is impossible to
answer. A law professor whom I admire sat in front of me. He raised his
hand and responded “After watching this film, I do not understand how
anyone can insinuate that it even remotely resents that the Jews killed
Jesus. It doesn’t.” He continued “It made me realize that my sins killed
Jesus” I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found
anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the
first
to decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically
beautiful, sensitive and profoundly engaging way.
Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have
another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a “Christian”
film,
in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify themselves
as
followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story that
will
deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art. Yes, its
producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful to
the Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior, then we are
all
in trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and
Christians have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the
greatest story ever told and that its message is for all men and women.
The greatest right is the right to hear the truth. We would all be well
advised to remember that the Gospel narratives of which “The Passion” is
so
faithful were written by Jewish men who followed a Jewish Rabbi whose
life
and teaching have forever changed the history of the world. The problem
is
not the message but those who have distorted it and used it for hate
rather
than love. The solution is not to censor the message, but rather to
promote
the kind of gift of love that is Mel Gibson’s filmmaking masterpiece,
“The
Passion.”
It should be seen by as many people as possible. I intend to do
everything
I can to make sure that is the case. I am passionate about “The
Passion.”
You will be as well. Don’t miss it! This is a commentary by DAVID
LIMBAUGH
about Mel Gibson’s very controversial movie regarding Christ’s
crucifixion.
It, too, is well worth reading.
MEL GIBSON’S passion for “THE PASSION”
How ironic that when a movie producer takes artistic license with
historical events, he is lionized as artistic, creative and brilliant,
but when another takes special care to be true to the real-life story,
he is vilified. Actor-producer Mel Gibson is discovering these truths
the hard way as he is having difficulty finding a United States studio
or distributor for his upcoming film, “The Passion,” which depicts the
last 12
hours of the life of Jesus Christ.
Gibson co-wrote the script and financed, directed and produced the
movie.
For the script, he and his co-author relied on the New Testament Gospels
of
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the diaries of St. Anne
Catherine
Emmerich (1774-1824) and Mary of Agreda’s “The City of God.”
Gibson doesn’t want this to be like other sterilized religious epics.
“I’m
trying to access the story on a very personal level and trying to be
very
real about it.” So committed to realistically portraying what many would
consider the most important half-day in the history of the universe,
Gibson
even shot the film in the Aramaic language of the period. In response to
objections that viewers will not be able to understand that language,
Gibson said, “Hopefully, I’ll be able to transcend the language barriers
with my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it’ll be a
monumental failure.”
To further insure the accuracy of the work, Gibson has enlisted the
counsel
of pastors and theologians, and has received rave reviews. Don Hodel,
president of Focus on the Family, said, “I was very impressed. The movie
is
historically and theologically accurate.” Ted Haggard, pastor of New
Life
Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the National
Evangelical Association, glowed: “It conveys, more accurately than any
other film, who Jesus was.”
During the filming, Gibson, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every
morning
because “we had to be squeaky clean just working on this.” From Gibson’s
perspective, this movie is not about Mel Gibson. It’s bigger than he is.
“I’m not a preacher, and I’m not a pastor,” he said. “But I really feel
my
career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was working through
me
on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope the film has the
power to evangelize.”
Even before the release of the movie, scheduled for March 2004, Gibson
is
getting his wish. “Everyone who worked on this movie was changed. There
were agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity… [And]
people being healed of diseases.” Gibson wants people to understand
through
the movie, if they don’t already, the incalculable influence Christ has
had
on the world. And he grasps that Christ is controversial precisely
because
of WHO HE IS – GOD incarnate. “And that’s the point of my film really,
to
how all that turmoil around him politically and with religious leaders
and
the people, all because He is who He is.”
Gibson is beginning to experience first hand just how controversial
Christ
is. Critics have not only speciously challenged the movie’s
authenticity,
but have charged that it is disparaging to Jews, which Gibson vehemently
denies. “This is not a Christian vs. Jewish thing. [Jesus] came into the
world, and it knew him not.’ Looking at Christ’s crucifixion, I look
first
at my own culpability in that.” Jesuit Father William J. Fulco, who
translated the script into Aramaic and Latin, said he saw no hint of
anti-Semitism in the movie. Fulco added, “I would be aghast at any
suggestion that Mel Gibson is anti-Semitic.”
Nevertheless, certain groups and some in the mainstream press have been
very critical of Gibson’s “Passion.”
The New York Post’s Andrea Peyser chided him: “There is still time, Mel,
to
tell the truth.” Boston Globe columnist James Carroll denounced Gibson’s
literal reading of the biblical accounts. “Even a faithful repetition of
the Gospel stories of the death of Jesus can do damage exactly because
those sacred texts themselves carry the virus of Jew hatred,” wrote
Carroll. A group of Jewish and Christian academics has issued an 18-page
report slamming all aspects of the film, including its undue emphasis on
Christ’s passion rather than “a broader vision.”
The report disapproves of the movie’s treatment of Christ’s passion as
historical fact.
The moral is that if you want the popular culture to laud your work on
Christ, make sure it depicts Him as an everyday sinner with no
particular
redeeming value (literally). In our anti-Christian culture, the
blasphemous
“The Last Temptation of Christ” is celebrated and “The Passion” is
condemned. But if this movie continues to affect people the way it is
now,
no amount of cultural opposition will suppress its force and its
positive
impact on lives everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith and courage.
Please copy this and send it on to all your friends to let them know
about this film so that we’ll all go see it when it comes out.
