SOME THOUGHTS ON "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST"

The movie has opened to a near world-record opening day gross of $26.6 million. It will undoubtedly end the weekend on many top 10 box office lists. Many, many people (presumably, mostly Christians) are deeply moved. Others are clearly offended or appalled. And since everyone else seems to have weighed in with their opinions, here are a few of mine....

•An amazing film. A tone poem of a movie. It is hard to see how anyone could come away from it without a profound emotional reaction (not necessarily a positive one, for those not predisposed to love the subject matter).

Many people have commented that while Jesus was being scourged, they saw their own very specific sins flashing through their mind. I didn't have that experience. But I found myself later that day really, really longing to take Communion.

Haunting. The final few minutes of the movie -- from the Pieta and the "tear of God" to the end -- are among the most brilliant visual filmmaking I have ever seen. Amazing.

Were I ever to write a scene as brilliant as the single shot that comprises the Resurrection, I would consider myself a great writer (even if no one ever shot the scene).

•Roger Ebert's review in the Sun-Times says "This is the most violent film I have ever seen. This will be probably be the most violent film you will ever see" (not an exact quote).

I don't think that's really true. Many other films come to mind that are at least as violent, if not more so: KILL BILL, FROM DUSK TO DAWN, THE WILD BUNCH...

So what's the difference? I think the violence in THE PASSION feels more violent because (a) the violence matters more. It's not happening against some unnamed 'redshirt,' but against Jesus. And (b) because it's all directed at one person.

•That being said, I think Mel could have cut 15 minutes out of the first half of the movie, had an equally effective movie, and been less open to cries of excessive violence.

But then, I thought he could have cut 30 minutes off BRAVEHEART. Maybe I just don't get into violence the way some other people do. Maybe it's 'cause I'm a girl.

•I've gotta laugh at the squeaks of hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle on this one: The critics who piously warn their readers of the extent of the violence ("Whatever you do, DON'T take your children to this movie!" -- Makes me wonder what they think an R rating means?), when they've praised other film violence (e.g., Tarantino, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN) in the past as bold and edgy.

But I can't laugh too loud at them -- I'm too busy shaking my head at the Christians who, equally piously, refuse to go to R-rated movies as a matter of principle -- but are lining up to get on the church bus to go to the most violent movie Roger Ebert has ever seen.

•And speaking of Christians' reactions to this movie.... I can't help but be saddened by the plethora of "How to talk to your friends about THE PASSION" material out there. For several reasons:

--Were I a non-believer and I learned about all these materials, I would feel like a target. I might want to avoid the movie to avoid being targeted.

--This is a movie that generates untold discussion by itself. We've already seen that in the lead-up to its release. Why do we need to control that discussion? Do we not trust the movie? Do we not trust Mel? Do we not trust each other? Do we not trust the Holy Spirit?

--Why do we need instructions in how to talk to people about a movie? Do we need "How to Talk to Your Friends About AMERICAN IDOL"?

--And isn't the need for such materials really an admission on the part of the various pastors/leaders/etc. involved that they haven't done their jobs? That their people *don't* know how to talk to non-believers about Jesus, about a movie about Jesus, maybe about anything outside our own safe little Christian world?

...The whole thing just makes me sad....

•One thing that I think is a cool consequence of all the pre-Passion hype/controversy: The partial rapprochement it's brought about between the Catholic and Protestant camps of Christianity.

So often we each think our "side" is the only Church there is -- we alone are the standard-bearers for God. And of course, all the while, God is orchestrating something much grander than any of us imagine.

It's been cool, though, watching some of the walls break down a bit, watching us learn about each other and begin to drop a few prejudices.

We have a long way to go, though. Last night, I was at a gathering of about 60 (Protestant evangelical) Christians who all have shown concern for the body of Christ in Hollywood. We heard someone who was on the set of THE PASSION speak about how Mel had Mass served every day, about how he prayed through the production, etc.

And after hearing all this, a man (well-meaning, I'm sure) raised his hand and asked, "So do you think Mel is actually a Christian?"

Sigh.......

•Because it's Oscar season, we of course have to think about next year's nominations.

I would love to see Jim Caviezel nominated -- not so much for his agony on the Cross, but for the brief flashbacks of him as the pre-Passion Jesus (the Sermon on the Mount, the Last Supper, etc). I think it's noteable that so many critics have devoutly wished there were more of these flashbacks -- Don't you love it, jaded movie critics clamoring to see more of Jesus?!

I think the role of Jesus is the hardest one for an actor to play. (Just think how hard it is to "be like Christ" in our own lives!) The way Caviezel pulled it off was remarkable. I wanted to see more of him too (and I generally hate flashbacks).

Make-up -- should be a gimme nomination. Music -- how beautiful and haunting was Debney's score! Perfect. Cinematography -- probably the most likely, given the enormous respect the industry has for Caleb Deschanel already.

And here's one to chew on: I don't know if the U.S. is allowed to submit an entry, but if they are.... How about THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST for Best Foreign-Language Film? (Props to Lee for coming up with the idea!)

•What about this year's Oscars. How will the audience react when Mel walks onstage as a presenter?

Here's my prediction: If the movie had made $30 million for its opening weekend, half the audience would have sat on their hands. A $40 million weekend, polite applause. $60, he'll get some cheers. If it reaches $90 million, he'll get people on their feet.

•Finally.... It's just a movie. We have to remember that. It is not the answer to the world's woes. It will be the number one movie this week, probably next week, maybe the week after... And then it won't. We will have to watch the movie drop down the charts, watch it leave the theatres. We will feel an inevitable letdown.

But God's work through the movie is not negated through that. And His work will go on.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION

For 2004, I made a New Year's resolution to start a blog.

I've taken New Year's resolutions seriously for several years. It all started as a joke, actually. Before my son Cory was born, my husband Lee and I found ourselves swamped with requests: Read my script. Speak at my gathering.... And we said yes to just about everything.

When Cory was born, the requests seemed to double. I tried saying no to things. But no one would take no for an answer. "No one else will do." "You owe us." "It's so important." So I kept saying yes, until I was so exhausted I didn't know if I was reading a script or a baby food label.

Then, shortly after New Year's, I tried saying "no" again. This time I added, really as a joke, "I've made a New Year's resolution to say no to things." And to my shock -- the person took no for an answer!

That's when I realized the power of resolve. We can toy with making change in our lives. We can dream about it. But only when we do something with resolve will we stand a chance of carrying through.

I've had some great New Year's resolutions over the years. In 1999, I saved a fortune when I stopped buying clothes I didn't have an immediate use for. Thanks to 2001, I've read dozens of fabulous books, some of which have changed my life. In 2000, I made it all the way through October without eating any fast-food French fries.

And this year -- thanks to encouragement from Barbara Nicolosi (whose terrific blog you can read here), and to indirect encouragement from Hugh Hewitt's great book "In But Not Of" -- I resolved to start a blog.

(Yes, I know it's late February as I write this. Timing is not of the essence in a New Year's resolution. Let's just leave it at that.)

I have opinions. I like discussing them. I hope you will like reading them -- and commenting.

I'll write about books, I'll write about movies. I'll write about the world of Hollywood and what it's like to be a Christian in that world. I'll write about the intersection of Christianity and art -- not to mention commerce. And I'll look forward to hearing what you think, too.

Please feel free to keep reading -- put me on your "Favorite Places" list, even! (I'll consider it an honor!) And please forward my blog link to anyone you might think would be interested.

In the meantime, thanks for reading... And Welcome to my Blog.