www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Controversy over Mel's "Passion"

Seems not everyone is enthused over Mel Gibson's movie. Don

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030812/film_nm/leisure_thepassion_dc_4

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030808/ap_on_en_mo/film_the_passion_2

What exactly is it they're objecting to? I've been seeing this particular objection since the project was announced, but no one ever cites a specific scene, character or dialogue to back up their allegations.

Obviously any retelling of the Passion of Christ which is faithful to the New Testament is going to have to bring up the painful fact that it was indeed the Jewish leaders of that time who brought Jesus to His death. However, the Romans, especially Pontius Pilate, were certainly not blameless.

But I don't know anyone who holds today's Italians responsible for the actions of Pilate, so why would anyone hold today's Jews responsible for the actions of Caiaphas?

Common sense, common sense ...

It seems Mel won't let them see it for some reason. See the second link. Don

Dear All:

I'm no scriptural scholar, but it seems to me that if Mel's depiction is true to the Gospels, it cannot help but saddle both the Jews and the Roman authority with partial responsbility for the Crucifiction.

Of course, it always puzzles me why people get in a tizzy about "who killed Jesus." Part of His purpose in coming into this world was, quite simply, to die. Without the Passion, there could not be the glory of the Resurrection.

Am I missing something?

Yours,

kl

Slava Isusu Kristu,

I wonder if Mel and his groups reject all of Vatican II? VII was so important to us (although our renewal may have happened anyway). Would Byzantines be accepted by his group?


Dmitri

I visit many Traditional web sites and have not seen one particular group claim association with Mel nor have I read any comments from him regarding Vatican II.


james

AMDG
Dear all in Christ,

I have actually seen the trailer to Gibson's movie. It is, quite simply, AWESOME in the true sense of the word.
There are some powerful scenes of the Jewish court, and of the chief priests at the crucifixion. But the "Ecce Homo" scene is also quite powerful. I think the last couple decades have shown that the leaders of secular Jewry (ADL, B'nai Brith, etc.) have a great hostility to Christ and to good Christian leaders who are a credit to the Church. Thus, the historically specious slurs against Pius XII have been repeated over and over, until they have become an unquestioned secular orthodoxy.
That is the only way I can understand these accusations of "anti-Semitism." Certain people just don't want Christ's sufferings presented in a compelling fashion by a popular director.
Oh, by the way, the reason Gibson won't show them the movie is because 1) it is still technically in production, and
2) the report that first made the accusation of anti-Semitism was based on a stolen copy of the screenplay.

In Jesus and Mary,
Latin-T

Greetings all,
I cannot say that I know much about the movie yet or why people do not like it. The charge of anti-semitism has been leveled against it.

But I think a lot of the concerns may actually be due to Mel's father, Hutton Gibson, a noted sedevacantist writer. He has been quoted as denying the holocaust.

It could be that critics are looking for signs that Mel shares those ideas. Perhaps they are trigger happy, or possibly they are justified in their expectations, I don't know enough to say.

I thought it funny that Mel invited Rush Limbaugh to a screening of his movie. To me that speaks volumes about both of them.

Michael

Does anyone know why Mel Gibson's production company is called Icon ? The logo shows part of a female face, I believe. Wonder what the origins are.

Mel's father Hutton Gibson is a leading figure in the sedevacantist movement in Australia. He has written several manifestos over the years explaining why the papal see has been vacant since John XIII.

I don't blame Mel at all wanting to be very careful and low profile with respect to outside media contact because anything even smacking of traditional Christianity will be attacked right off the bat by the media.

I don't think any portrayal of the Pharisees and Sadducees and the crowds clamoring for his crucifixion will be seen as a "positive portrayal" of the Jews, considering their collective behavior in the Gospels. I think anything he does in this portrayal of Christ will unfortunately be branded as anti-Semitic if he stays faithful to the account of the Gospels.

Hi Lawrence,

Icon Productions has been arround for quite a while. I've seen it in credits for non-religious films, e.g. 'Braveheart' and others. I don't know it's origins. Perhaps some browsing on the web might fully answer your question.

The female face for Icon Productions (detail) looks like Our Lady of Perpetual Help to me.

God bless,

Paul

Dear Lawrence,

Here's a bit of information on the origin of Icon Productions:

http://www.villagefair.com/MelGibson/melfaq/icon.htm

Paul

Dear Lawrence:

I believe that the logo for Mel Gibson's film company represents the eye of the Vladimir Mother of God.


defreitas

I looked closer at the icon detail for Icon Productions and I believe you are probably right about it being the Vladimir Mother of God.

Paul

Here's the actual image for Icon Productions FYI:

[Linked Image]