The Passion of the Christ, in its recut version, plays in theaters today. Last year, the film became one of the most successful box-office draws in history despite an "R" rating, no marquee names, a paltry advertising budget, and the dialogue spoken in foreign tongues. Upon seeing The Passion of the Christ last Good Friday, my immediate reaction was that the film succeeded because "The twelve hours before Christ's death contain violence, betrayal, love, redemption, and other ingredients for a blockbuster movie." Although Christ's Passion is read in churches across America today, Good Friday is not a holy day of obligation. Skip church in favor of the movies.

Why see a redux? Rent the original.

I dunno, I just can't really see how the Passion could have the same force it did the first time around without the violence. After all, the sensory image the film slammed home is what gave it more power than the reading of the Passion, or the stations of the Cross.

Depends on the church you're skipping...

..but the Food at Church is better for you than the movie theater.

"Skip church in favor of the movies"? Wow. And we wonder why things are screwed up these days?

It's legit. The movie is a great way to spend Good Friday. However, as I pointed out in a previous post, the movie and the Good Friday service have the same power. Power that is not in Gibson's or the Priest, or anyone else's hands to control, but come from Him.

Of course, if you happen to attend a church that insists on having you pay more attention to the chicks singin' and and playin' piano, than the Lord himself, maybe you WOULD be advised to spend the day in a darkened movie theatre, with nothing to interrupt your mediation on His suffering and sacrifice.

Amen Mr. Fong.

"Skip church in favor of the movies."? -- Better to say "church and the movies." I leave the chronology to you.

I had not planned to see the original "Passon of the Christ" but after the Hollywood elites and the main stream news media began attacking it so much I decided if these people don't like it then it has to be good!! I thought it was pretty funny when the media began accusing it of being "to violent" and things tlike that. Since when has violence bothered Hollywood or big media types? Whether or not the redux will succeed will depend on if God's hand is in it the way it was for the original.

YetiRunner has spoken! Awesome.

I am w/ Yeti, I got to spend the day in attendance at Fr. George Rutler's meditation on the 7 last words of Christ from noon to 3 p.m. Mass began shortly after Christ's death at 3 w/ the traditional liturgy including the adoration of the Cross. Having seen Gibson's vision of the Passion last year (and owning the dvd) certainly helped heighten my ability to meditate on the subject today.

If anyone ever gets the chance to hear Fr. Rutler at the Church of Our Saviour in Manhattan preach on Good Friday they should absolutely jump at the chance. Powerful, powerful stuff.

Maybe I will watch Passion tomorrow.