www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Franciscan request/Mel Gibson film

I went to the Franciscan Friars' site last evening to read an update on Fr. Benedict and noted that the friars have written a letter (and invite anyone else to sign) to Mel Gibson thanking him for making The Passion film and asking him to consider making a film on Saint Francis which would be named "Man of the Passion" .

Interesting request.

A Passion-like movie about St. Francis would indeed be interesting.

I hope that one day Mel or some other director can put together a movie about the persecution of the Apostles and early Church. It would be of the same caliber and value as that of The Passion Of The Christ and would perhaps be titled "The Passion Of The Martyrs".

Watching how the Apostles suffered cruel and horrific deaths for Jesus (The flaying of St. Bartholomew comes to mind) would ignite once again the faithful people's hearts and should give them ever more courage to face the insults levelled against them for being followers of Christ. Some of our Christian brethren around the world are experiencing first hand the cruelty of the world towards them because of their committment to follow Christ unto death.

It should also make the liberal hearted cafeteria Christians uncomfortable in their present lifestyle, and hopefully move them to the realization that being a Christian is a serious self-emptying self-sacrificing commitment.

I think that we will indeed start to see more religious movies on a grand scale like the Passion, or at least I hope we will.

Rony

Yeah, and watch the pagans and wiccans get in an uproar because they'll think that us crazy Christians are going to burn their covens to the ground and bring back the witch burnings.

I actually think that is a great idea! Uh, not the witch burnings and all ... but rather making a movie about the persecution of the early Church. Hmmmmm ....

Dear Rony,

Yes, I can see it now . . .

Christian martyrs being flayed alive, while being slowly cooked over fires until their flesh smoulders . . .

Others being sewn alive into the dead bodies of cattle only to be given to hungry lions . . .

Still others covered with pitch and hung as flaming, human lanterns for Emperor Nero's amusement . . .

Just pass that popcorn and soda!!

Alex

Dear Reznut:

It's possible that the pagans/wiccans would object on a large scale, but that's ok, it'll just give the movie more publicity

Actually Alex, I think the popcorn and soda vendors will declare and boycot the film as Anti-Business due to the potential loss of revenue :p

God bless,

Rony

Dear Rony,

So you Americans call ANY fizzy soft-drink a "soda," am I correct?

What do you call, "soda water?"

My American relatives always try to catch me off guard when they ask for a "soda."

I'm just left standing there wondering what the heck they're talking about . . .

Alex

Dear Alex:

I think many of us do call the fizzy soft drinks here as "soda", although some call them "pop" or "soda pop" or if you want a more technical non-slang term, there is the "carbonated beverage". This would include the colas, seven-up, dr. pepper, moutain dew, and all that is related to them.

As for "soda water", I asked my sister what she calls it, and she said "carbonated water". I don't think many refer to it as "soda", though some probably do. In any case, it dosn't seem to be as popular here as say the colas. In vending machines, you don't usually find "soda water" among the various sodas.

If your American relatives ask you for a soda, they're most likely asking for a cola.

God bless,

Rony

Usually, "soda" or "soda-pop" or "pop" (depending on where you are in the US), unless you're in Massachusetts east of Worcester (midway across the state) or certain parts of Rhode Island - then you call it "tonic" .

Many years,

Neil

hmm - here fizzy drinks are commonly known as 'Ginger " - please don't ask me why 'cos I don't know

But of course we have that other one known as "Your Other National Drink " know by it's full title of ' Iron Brew' and according to one set of adverts is brewed from Girders

Anhelyna

In Brazil we ask for water with gas (Agua com gas).
Lauro

Actually, there are a few places in the US where any carbonated drink is referred to as a "coke" - with an appropriate adjective to describe the flavor one really wants - e.g., "I'll have an orange coke".

You've lost me here, but "Iron Brew" is a flavor of non-alcoholic carbonated drink bottled by a small independent bottler in Connecticut named Foxon Beverages. Not sure how best to describe it; it's in the Root Beer, Birch Beer, Sasparilla family of flavors - quite nice, actually .

Many years,

Neil

In the south a lot of folks call all soft drinks "pop"

Hmm - I wonder if Barrs know that there is another soft drink called Iron Brew ?

Here they are very protective of their name - and dentists hate the stuff [ but they would never ban it as they get so much income from it ]

Now you have made me start to wonder if I have spelt the name correctly - must check that when I am next shopping

BTW - looking at the flavours you mentioned - one jumps out - Birch Beer - never met that one but have enjoyed Birch juice

At our house, we refer to soda water as "bubble water" or just "bubbles."

But we are Very Silly.


Sharon

Dear Friends,

I've written all these variations down - I'm tired of the condescending attitude of my American relatives every time they come here and ask for something to drink!

Thank you, soda-guzzlers!

Alex

To return to the topic: I think Mr Gibson should next pick up right where he left off and do the time from the Resurrection until Pentecost. I hear though that he intends instead to do a film on the revolt of the Maccabees. This will A] perhaps ease Jewish suspicions that he is an anti-Semite and B] give Mr Gibson a more familiar [ie, gory] genre to work in....

Actually, I was quite enjoying the carbonated beverage chatter. :p

Regarding Mel's next movie idea, I also heard from someone at Church that it will be about the revolt of the Maccabees. That's kind of cool because I don't think anyone has ever made a film on that. Who knows, he may have just thrown that idea out and someone jumped the gun by printing it. I would think that he will spend a considerable amount of time mulling over the possibilities before committing to any new movie ideas. Whatever he decides on (if anything biblical) I would expect to be very well done.

Dear Reznut,

Well, you do have an effervescent personality!!

With all the money Mel is making from the movie, he'll be able to start up an entire Christian Hollywood, if he wanted to . . .

Alex