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M
odern
P
atriot
C
hronicles
An Eleventh Commandment Free Zone
Vol. 3, Issue 3
February 24, 2004
by Craig Dawkins
Newsweek Magazine on Gibson's "Passion"
Copyright@2004, All Rights Reserved.
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Newsweek Magazine on Gibson's "Passion"
Mel Gibson's new movie, "The Passion of the Christ" has brought claims of anti-Semitism from many national journalists and Jewish leaders. But with all the attacks aimed at Gibson and his blockbuster film, few seem to be questioning whether the criticisms aimed at the film represent legitimate concerns or are due to anti-Christian bigotry.
Newsweek Senior Editor David Ansen, who reviews movies for Newsweek (
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4338528/
In his Newsweek article, Ansen states, "The film that has been getting rapturous advance raves from evangelical Christians turns out to be an R-rated inspirational movie no child can, or should, see. To these secular eyes at least, Gibson's movie is more likely to inspire nightmares than devotion." He further states, "It's the sadism, not the alleged anti-Semitism, that is most striking. (For the record, I don't think Gibson is anti-Semitic; but those inclined toward bigotry could easily find fuel for their fire here.)"
Ansen also compares the movie with pornography and rape. "I found myself recoiling from the movie, wanting to keep it at arm's length-much the same feeling I had watching Gaspar Noe's notorious "Irreversible," with its nearly pornographic real-time depiction of a rape."
In an interview on "Newsweek on Air," Ansen said, "It's kind of ironic, uh….I think that a lot the people are very excited about seeing this film, or seeing films about Jesus are precisely those people who are bothered, most bothered by cinematic depictions of violence which they feel have gotten run amuck. And this is really one of the most violent films I've seen in a long time."
About Mel Gibson, Ansen said, "He's definitely working out some strange demons." About the "Passion" play seen annually by millions of Americans, Ansen said, "Historically the Passion play throughout history has incited anti-Semitic violence which he may not be all that aware of. And it is dangerous because it's certainly anybody who is inclined towards anti-Semitism could find fuel for this fire in this film."
Had Ansen's comments been in a vacuum, questions about anti-Christian bigotry would likely not be raised. But when you look at the totality of Ansen's ratings on other movies that are also extremely violent, one starts to see a pattern developing that is not only anti-Christian but clearly out of the mainstream of most Americans.
Ansen published a movie review of "Kill Bill" by Quentin Tarantino on January 7, 2004. Ansen wrote a synopsis of the movie; "On her wedding day in El Paso, the Bride (Uma Thurman), her unborn child and her entire wedding party are slaughtered by assassins. She alone survives, and after emerging from four years in a coma in a hospital (where her comatose body has been sold to redneck rapists), vows revenge on the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, of which the Bride was once a member."
What did Ansen say about "Kill Bill?" The sub-heading said, "Quentin Tarantino's 'Kill Bill' is a superstylized bloodbath. NEWSWEEK's David Ansen thinks it's brilliant, but shallow. Tarantino thinks he's half right."
A collection of Ansen's movie ratings can be found at
www.rottentomatoes.com/author-774/reviews.php
"The Lord of the Rings" - "The second installment was better than the first, and this one is best of all." - 96% Rating
"The Pianist" - "In going home to tell Szpilman's story Polanski seems reborn: once again he's become a filmmaker who matters." - 96% Rating
"South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut
"Gangs of New York
"The Matrix Reloaded
"The Patriot
"Pearl Harbor
Ansen gave "The Passion of the Christ" a rating of 54%. He finds it offensive. If it's not anti-Christian bigotry, maybe he just doesn't like religious and patriotic movies. Or maybe it's just Mel Gibson he hates. Somehow I doubt it.
Remind me not to renew my Newsweek subscription