Gibson to re-release a less violent Passion of the Christ - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

sfloriII · #1 02-11-2005, 11:41 AM

This isn't a religous thread, but if anyone has a problem, PM me and I'll remove it.

Gibson relaunches "Passion of Christ" with a new cut

People head to theaters to watch Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of the Christ." Hollywood mogul Mel Gibson will release a new, low-violence version of his 2004 surprise mega-hit "The Passion of Christ" next month.
(AFP/File)

Hollywood mogul Mel Gibson will release a new, low-violence version of his 2004 surprise mega-hit "The Passion of Christ" next month.

The star, dubbed Hollywood's most powerful figure since the huge success of the low-budget, graphically gory film, is trimming five to six minutes of violent scenes ahead of the film's March 11 reappearance on US screens, Daily Variety reported Thursday..

The original film raked in 370.2 million dollars in its North American run that began on Ash Wednesday one year ago, but Gibson noted that many people had avoided the film because of its grisly portrayal of Jesus Christ being tortured by Roman troops.

"There has been quite a demand by the religious community to bring (the film) back for Easter," Bruce Davey, Gibson's partner at Icon Productions, told Variety.

"And there has been a lot of discussion about the violence. Mel wanted to try and accommodate those people by making a version that is softer and gentler," he said.

"The Passion Recut," will be beamed onto 500 to 750 screens by distributor Newmarket Films, Variety said, adding that the new versions would not be lumbered with an audience age restriction.

The new less violent version of the film goes easier on the brutal details of the last days of Christ.

"There are no new scenes, and the cuts are limited to the more violent aspects of the film, if that's the right term. The scourging scene in particular has been substantially adjusted."

The film caused huge controversy in the United States, with Jewish leaders accusing the devoutly-Catholic Gibson of anti-Semitism by portraying Jews as responsible for Christ's death, a charge he denied.

But instead of keeping audiences away, the controversy at the bloody religious epic helped draw people into theatres, despite a minimum of traditional publicity.

aklim · #2 02-11-2005, 12:52 PM

I watched that one because my wife's "Lil Sister" wanted to see it so we went. Personally, I would have waited to go to the Budget Theaters and see it for $1.50 at the afternoon matenee if I knew then what I know now.

jsmith · #3 02-11-2005, 01:10 PM

i watched the DVD and it didn't have as much an impact on me as other people...

boneheaddoctor · #4 02-11-2005, 01:21 PM

I would leave it the way it was.............why sugar coat things.

It was a brutal time...and brutal acts were committed. I bet far more brutal than depicted in the film.

I think it deserved a lot of awards.......

G-Benz · #5 02-11-2005, 02:51 PM

The new version has the actors replaced by the Muppets...

aklim · #6 02-11-2005, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneheaddoctor

I would leave it the way it was.............why sugar coat things.

It was a brutal time...and brutal acts were committed. I bet far more brutal than depicted in the film.

I think it deserved a lot of awards.......

Excuse to make another "must see" film to raise more money? Recycled scenes may mean less cost and more profit.

Now you can guilt trip the kids and not have to have so much voilence that it is more than PG-13. The Family Guilt Trip, it should be called.

Botnst · #7 02-11-2005, 08:23 PM

Seems pointless to remove from the movie that which caused the greatest emotion in the viewers, who were, "Passionate."

I would like to see Gibson do a movie about Abraham. That is the defining story for three major religions and it would be interesting to see if his version would get believers as pumped as "P.O.T.C" did. Besides, its a good story. Abraham was a late bloomer, which might appeal to baby boomers.

kerry · #8 02-11-2005, 08:58 PM

I can see the headlines now, 'Masses of Jews, Christians and Muslims slaughter their own children in respone to new Gibson movie." "Pat Robertson, overcome with the Spirit, kills his own son on 700 Club." "Pro-Abortionist line up in support of Gibson movie chanting, 'See we were right, God wanted us to kill children all along'" "George H. W. Bush plans trip to Washington, George W. Bush found hiding in basement of White House wearing bullet proof vest and pushing a goat out the door."

Botnst · #9 02-11-2005, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

I can see the headlines now, 'Masses of Jews, Christians and Muslims slaughter their own children in respone to new Gibson movie." "Pat Robertson, overcome with the Spirit, kills his own son on 700 Club." "Pro-Abortionist line up in support of Gibson movie chanting, 'See we were right, God wanted us to kill children all along'" "George H. W. Bush plans trip to Washington, George W. Bush found hiding in basement of White House wearing bullet proof vest and pushing a goat out the door."

Kerry, quit dreaming the impossible dream.

Don't you think that a movie about Abraham told from one man's uncompromising beliefs would be intensely interesting?

That's the thing that "Troy" could have been, had the director tried for a Homeric retelling rather than a Hollywood retelling. So instead of the Greek anthropomorphizing human motivation (their 'gods'), you get a goofy love story.

I think "Alexander" suffered a similar fate. A vision to small and without passion.

Whatever folks may think of Gibson's "Passion of the Christ", I don't think one could claim Gibson lacked vision, intelligence, passion, or courage. I wish there were more people like that.

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