Mel Gibson's film now on video
The Passion of The Christ comes to your living room—but without the hubbub and media frenzy that surrounded its theater release six months ago.
by Mark Moring | posted 8/30/2004
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When Jesus came to earth, he did so without much fanfare, born in a lowly Bethlehem stable, surrounded by peasants, barnyard animals and maybe a few shepherds.
But when Jesus hit the cineplex in February, there was fanfare aplenty. Considering the hullabaloo surrounding the theater release of The Passion of The Christ, one might think it was the Second Coming.
Many Christians certainly regarded it as something of a sacred event, helping to make it the highest-grossing R-rated film ever (and No. 8 overall in the U.S.), earning some $370 million domestically—and over $600 million worldwide. But it was more than just a monetary blockbuster; untold thousands of believers—including quite a few of our readers—were spiritually moved by the film. Many rededicated their lives to Christ, and some came to him for the first time.
Meanwhile, the media had a field day, calling the film "controversial" and quoting anybody who was willing to say it was anti-Semitic—whether they had actually seen the movie or not. Mel Gibson, who funded and directed the film, suddenly found himself on the defensive and answering difficult questions, all for making a film he says he was compelled to make because of his commitment to faith.
Jim Caviezel plays the role of Christ
Well, that all died down—for a while. Now, of course, The Passion is back in the headlines, as it releases to video today (retail $29.98 DVD, $24.98 VHS). It's pretty much exactly as we saw it in theaters—no frills, no bonus coverage, no director's commentary, no behind-the-scenes stories or interviews—virtually no DVD extras whatsoever, other than the option of Spanish subtitles.
A "special edition" version—with all those extra features—could be in the works for later release, but a Fox Home Entertainment spokesman wouldn't elaborate. (I'm guessing we might see something either in time for Christmas, or by next Easter.)
Reliving the Controversy?
The Passion's video release will spark some of the buzz again, though on a smaller scale. As I write these words just a few days before its release, I've seen very few stories about it. But last January and February, leading up to its theater release, it wasn't unusual to see dozens of stories each day.
Mary (Maia Morgenstern) and Mary Magdalene (Monica Belluci)
So it's relatively quiet now—but not entirely. Just the other day, Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean and founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center and the Museum of Tolerance, told Religion News Service, "If you're asking me if we have changed our positions, absolutely not." Hier said he still feels the film depicts Jews "in a very negative manner."
Meanwhile, Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, who so vehemently protested the film before its theater release, told the RNS there's nothing more to say on the topic because "DVD is not the event the film was."
According to an article in last week's TV Guide, Gibson was so stung by the charges of anti-Semitism that he's spent much of the last six months relatively in hibernation—well out of the limelight. The accusations "affected him greatly," Father William Fulco, who spent long hours on the set in Italy, told TV Guide. Another friend, who preferred to remain anonymous, told the magazine, "I never see him anymore. I think he's hiding in his house."
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