Staff members of the St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church of Tyrone attended the film, \u201cThe Passion of the Christ\u201d yesterday in Altoona.
\nThe group numbering more than a half dozen sat near the front of the theater at the Carmike 8 Cinema. Father Joseph Orr spoke afterwards outside the cinema about the power of the film\u2019s subject, even thousands of years after its occurrence.
\n\u201cSo many people want to see it, and as bad as it makes you feel to watch it, people still keep coming in the thousands to see it,\u201d said Orr. \u201cI think it says something about the strength of Christ drawing upon us.
\n\u201cSo many people are so deeply moved to see something so very few of us would like to experience,\u201d Orr told The Daily Herald.
\nOrr also spoke about the historical perspective of the film both during and after the viewing.
\n\u201cThe scourging was considered capital punishment; most people died of it. That is why Jesus lasted such a short time on the cross,\u201d said Orr.
\n\u201cOne of the incongruities of the Crucifixion of Christ was that he had already been sentenced to death, and under Roman law you cannot condemn a person a second time.\u201d
\nFather Orr also spoke of one other historical issue when the film depicted Pontius Pilate washing his hands from a water basin. Orr thought some viewers could misunderstand it.
\n\u201cYou think Pontius Pilate is washing his hands of what is taking place,\u201d explained Orr. \u201cBut actually that is a symbol in Roman justice when the judge pronounced sentence he would wash his hands showing although he condemns this person to death, he personally was not responsible for the person\u2019s death. He was simply the judge.\u201d
\nSome other church staff were too moved or shaken by the movie to offer any thoughts, but two members of the staff did offer some additional perspective.
\n\u201cAlthough everyone knows the story, I was still surprised by what an awakening it still is,\u201d said Jamie DiDomenico, the principal at the St. Matthew\u2019s school. \u201cIf everyone who watched the movie when they do something wrong would think about the movie, there would probably a lot less evil in the world.\u201d
\n\u201cWhen we think of love we sometimes think of it as a pretty thing and yet what I think this shows is love is a harsh reality, love is a sacrifice, love is being willing to pay a price,\u201d commented Sister Karen Duddy.
\n\u201cLove means being willing to undergo the pain for someone else,\u201d noted Duddy. \u201cIt is such a unselfish act that Jesus really chose his strength and Mary\u2019s strength throughout the film which struck me very profoundly They knew something beyond themselves was happening even in the midst of terrible trauma and real agony.\u201d
\nThe Associated Press reported earlier this week the film took in $125.2 million in its first five days and was positioned to get even bigger as the Roman Catholic season of Lent leads up to Easter on April 11.
\nThe box-office total announced Monday by distributor Newmarket Films pushed \\”The Passion\\” past \\”The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King\\” ($124.1 million) for biggest debut ever by a film opening on a Wednesday.
\nThe total was almost $8 million more than Newmarket first estimated, because far more people turned out Sunday to see Gibson\\’s grisly crucifixion recreation than originally predicted.
\n\u201cI think we\\’ll see strong bookings leading up to Easter, and I would anticipate Easter would be a huge weekend,\u201d said Bruce Davey, Gibson\\’s partner at his film company, Icon Productions.
\nThe movie, which stars Jim Caviezel as Christ, has deeply divided religious communities. Church groups have bought out entire theaters for screenings, while some Jewish and Christian leaders say \u201cThe Passion\u201d could revive the notion that Jews were collectively responsible for Christ\\’s death.
\nFather Orr made note of the controversy at the conclusion of his remarks to the group after viewing the 1:30 p.m. showing of the film.
\n\u201cAll I can say is if any one coming out of the movie thinking that it justifies malice toward anyone else didn\u2019t understand it at all,\u201d said Orr.
\nFrom a financial standpoint \u201cThe Passion\u201d ultimately could take in between $300 million and $350 million in the United States and Canada alone,\u201d said Rob Schwartz, head of distribution for Newmarket.
\nOn the local level, the film continues to play to strong crowds with a near sellout at the 1:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon showing. Patrons were also lined up to enter the next showing when the first showing of the day ended.
\nThe movie also opened in Australia and New Zealand on Ash Wednesday and is gradually debuting worldwide. Through March and April, \\”The Passion\\” will open in such countries as Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Mexico and most of South America.
\nAccording to an Associated Press article written by AP movie writer David Germain Gibson\\’s movie embodies the most basic definition of the independent film. Though its $25 million budget (paid entirely by Gibson) is far larger than most indies, \u201cThe Passion\u201d is a personal vision offered up without the slightest concession to mainstream tastes or box-office commerce.
\nThe film succeeded through Gibson\\’s brilliant marketing strategy. He sold his vision from the ground up by selectively screening the movie for like-minded church leaders, who spread the buzz to congregations nationwide.
\nWhen some Jewish and Christian groups complained that the movie could foster anti-Semitism, Gibson largely stepped back and let the debate rage.
\nIt probably was a blessing in disguise for Gibson that Hollywood would not touch the film. Conventional studio marketing never could have provided the free ride of publicity \u201cThe Passion\u201d received from all the headlines and media commentary.
\n\u201cYou\\’ve got to have the madness to step outside the system, and he did,\u201d said Peter Bardazzi, director of new media development at New York University, who saw \u201cThe Passion\u201d on opening day. \u201cI won\\’t say it\\’s a work of art myself, this movie, but he caused more controversy outside the system than anyone has in the last 20 years.\u201d
\nBecause \u201cThe Passion\u201d was a personal quest by Gibson, Hollywood observers doubt big studios will jump on the bandwagon with their own religious sagas.
\n\u201cI hate to underestimate Hollywood\\’s ability to imitate, but I kind of think that these executives realize that there is a unique alignment of the stars with this picture,\u201d said Kim Masters, an entertainment correspondent for National Public Radio. \u201cI think Mel could easily decide to do more of these, and he would be guaranteed a certain return. But not necessarily on this level.\u201d
\n(The Associated Press contributed to this article.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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