ARTelevision

Woman dies watching Christ film
From correspondents in Salt Lake City
27feb04

A WOMAN watching Mel Gibson's new film The Passion of the Christ collapsed during the the final, bloody crucifixion scene and later died.

While people were helping the woman, identified as 57-year-old Peggy Law Scott, in Wichita, Kansas, the lights were turned on and moviegoers were ushered out. She later died at a hospital. No cause of death was immediately given.
The opening of The Passion of the Christ drew everyone from conservative churchgoers to confrontational New Yorkers more than willing to roll out their soapboxes as screenings got under way across the United States.

But the gore - and in some cases, church rules - kept some of the most devout Christians away.

In Salt Lake City, curiosity about the film among many Mormons was outweighed by church teachings that discourage viewing R-rated movies, which are not recommended for people under 17 years old.

"I don't think our Lord would want me to see an R-rated film about his son," said 20-year-old Shawn Watts, a Mormon missionary.

Watts said he was intrigued but would need permission from his bishop, since missionaries are not allowed to watch films or television under church protocol. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stresses family values and frowns upon members seeing R-rated films.

Despite concerns about violence and accusations that the film fuels anti-Semitism, The Passion made a bundle on its Ash Wednesday opening.

The movie took in an estimated $US15 million to $US20 million ($19.49 million to $25.99 million) after just one day of release, remarkable for a religious-themed movie. It opened in more than 3000 theatres in the United States - an unusually large release for a religious film with English subtitles to translate the Latin and Aramaic its characters speak.

Among the legions that saw The Passion, many streamed out of movie theatres feeling as if they themselves had been through a flogging.

"It sort of felt like you were coming to watch an execution," said Peter Hitchins, whose wife, Amy, wiped away tears as they left a movie theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"It's a little bit more brutal than you would think," said a sobbing Kim Galbreath, 29, in the Dallas suburb of Plano in Texas. "I mean, there were times when you felt like it was too much. But I dare anybody not to believe after watching it."

Directed, produced and co-written by Gibson, the film has received mixed reviews from critics. Some have praised Gibson's commitment to his subject. Others see it as excessively bloody, obsessed with cruelty and unfair in its portrayal of Jews.

Abraham Foxman, national director of the Anti-Defamation League who saw The Passion before opening day, said he was still worried about reactions to the film when it comes out in places like Argentina and Europe, where there has been less debate about its content.

"We know the power of images, and we know the power of a star with a reputation around the world, and this concerns us," Foxman said.

In New York, famous for its love of raucous debate, members of the New Black Panther Party gathered outside a theatre, saying the film's biggest problem is obvious: Jesus wasn't white.

"We call this the greatest story never told," said Divine Allah, a youth minister in the group, citing a biblical verse that describes Jesus with woolly hair and brown skin.

Even People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sounded off in the Big Apple - but this time, it was in support of the film, which they said underscored the brutality of violence.

"It points out our belief in the unacceptability of violence and how animals suffer the same pain humans do," said Corinne Ferraro, 29.

.................................

There' just so darn much that's curiously entertaining about this movie that it has set a new mark in the annals of weirdness.

I'm sorry, I just can't take Mel Gibson seriously - as an actor, director, producer, or thinker.
..................................

I guess I'm not the only one who feels this way:

'I'm not going to spend $9 just for a few
laughs'

-- CBS's Andy Rooney to Don Imus on
why he won't see PASSION OF CHRIST....

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