Unless you have been living under a rock, you know that tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, is the opening of Mel Gibson’s passion play. From the early reviews I don’t think I’ll be watching this movie. It is unflinchingly violent (admittedly those were violent times), the dialog is spoken in Latin and Aramaic (admittedly that is what they spoke back then) and it may be the most “truthful” telling of the crucifixion, but I smell overwrought film brought to the screen by the overwhelming star power of one Hollywood actor. Can I say “Battlefield Earth” without suffering the wrath of Christians?
For me, maybe, tomorrow night I will watch my favorite movie from that time, Jesus Christ Superstar.
I love the original film version of Jesus Christ Superstar. The newer version that they brought to DVD is a bit creepy.
I’m a bit undecided myself on “Passion” I may see it, when it hits the dollar theatre.
I saw the stage production JCS in New York first, so I really disliked the movie on first viewing, but now I do like it a lot.
I didn’t even know of the updated 2000 version until I went to IMDB to get the link for the post. I’m tempted to rent it, just to compare. I have read good and bad about it. For me it has always really been about the music, so it would be interesting to hear how it was scored.