Benz Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Got Passion? LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The second coming of Mel Gibson's biblical epic "The Passion of the Christ" sold 4.1 million DVD copies by Wednesday after only one day in stores. While the figure from distributor Fox Home Entertainment is high, it's not quite a record breaker. "Finding Nemo" holds the No. 1 overall spot for one-day DVD sales with about 8 million. For a live-action movie, "Spider-Man" holds the one-day record with 7 million. Although "The Passion" fell short of that, Fox Home Entertainment said it did inaugurate several secondary industry records. In terms of one-day sales, Fox is describing the movie as the best-selling R-rated film of all time and best-selling non-English language film of all time. Most DVD sales trackers, however, only divide rankings between animation and live-action. "The Passion," starring Jim Caviezel as Jesus, earned more than $370 million at the North American box office, making it the year's second-most popular movie behind "Shrek 2," which earned $436.7 million. Gibson's film was also one of the most controversial movies in years. Besides its violent depiction of the crucifixion, some Jewish organizations complained it might spark a rise in anti-Semitism by blaming ancient Jewish people for killing Christ. "The Passion" DVD is on track to sell as well as Hollywood blockbusters such as "Spider-Man" and "The Lord of the Rings" movies, which topped out between 15 million and 18 million total disc sales, said Scott Hettrick, editor in chief of DVD Exclusive magazine. Churches and religious groups were active in trying to promote the movie to their congregations, sometimes buying huge blocks of theater tickets for sale to parishioners. Many DVDs were paid for well in advance and picked up Tuesday. Filmed in Aramaic and Latin, the movie was sold with English subtitles on VHS for $24.98, and English and Spanish subtitles on DVD for $29.98. Many retailers are cutting the price to $15 to $20, Hettrick said. Since the "Passion" that went on sale Tuesday includes only the movie -- no bonus features or documentaries that are common on most discs -- a more fully loaded version of the DVD is likely in the future. I'm gonna have to get that fully loaded one if and when it comes out. I already have this one. It includes a sound track for the visually impaired. Interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 wow...jesus spoke today, and he said "its aight if you wanna bootleg this one." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 2, 2004 Author Share Posted September 2, 2004 Ummm..... No He didn't. ??? He would say "If you really want to see my movie, and really can't afford to pay for it, talk to Benny. Help him buy it for you if you can, and if you can't that's fine too, but at least have him buy you a copy and give it to you as a gift so you're not stealing." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 No, i know what i heard. He said it was like that thing he did with the bread; nothin wrong with makin copies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 2, 2004 Author Share Posted September 2, 2004 Um... Can't be the Christ then. Must be Jesus Barrabas or maybe a Jesus (hay-sus) In Miami. Seriously though, Nick and everyone... I make a serious offer. If you're thinking of bootlegging, of all the movies, PLEASE don't bootleg this one. I'd much rather you asked me for a copy and I'll be more than happy to buy you one instead. Mel Gibson made a huge sacrifice to make this film. He put his own money that he's made in other films up to make this one. He took a big risk to make this film, and despite critics, and personal adgendas attacking the movie, it's been a big hit. Mel Gibson is a great example to every Catholic in this country. Everyday he and Jim C (sp) would go to Mass. Anyways, if you intend to bootleg it, please tell me so I can buy you a copy. I'm serious on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Bob Posted September 2, 2004 Share Posted September 2, 2004 Uh...actually I was just thinking of renting it, maybe. I think watching that one once is enough for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 3, 2004 Author Share Posted September 3, 2004 Well, ok SBob, but if you're gonna make copies of it or anything, just let me know so I can buy your copy for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jumbie Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 "Passion sells 4.1 million..." proving once again that any mediocre fantasy/scifi movie can make serious money as long as there's a built in fan base. [AKA "the George Lucas law of marketing"] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
defgoddess Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 hmm yes a *huge* sacrifice... i mean he gave his LIFE and everything to make this movie... oh wait... that's jesus. boohoo for mel gibson. he's rich. that's not a huge risk. if it bombed, oh well, he's still pretty rich, and he can go on living. maybe yeah he wouldn't get as many opportunities to become richer, but hey, that's life. and we all know how much uber-religious folk respond to critics and attacks on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 3, 2004 Author Share Posted September 3, 2004 Jumbie - That's nice. Have you even seen this to be calling it mediocre? def - He put the majority of his money and his career on the line, but anyways... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Bob Posted September 3, 2004 Share Posted September 3, 2004 Yeah I actually gotta agree with Benny, there. You gotta give Gibson some props. Yes, he's rich, but that's still a helluva lotta money her put into this thing. And it's not like he was making the next Hollywood summer blockbuster, he was doing a very personal project that had no guarantee of making any of the money back (statistically, American audiences hate to read subtitles in movies - this one is all subtitles). He didn't do this to make money. If he wanted to make money he would've invested in Lethal Weapon 5 or something. He did this just because he was that (sigh) passionate to get the movie made. I gotta give him credit for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 3, 2004 Author Share Posted September 3, 2004 Thanks, Silent Bob. Glad we agree on some things! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*MisSarah* Posted September 4, 2004 Share Posted September 4, 2004 i saw this movie when it first came out...and it was really awesome! i mean it was hard to watch but im glad i saw it.. even if your not christian you should still see this movie its extremly well made and acted! i do think mel gibson put alot on the line to make this movie. i mean granted he is rich but still not many major actors would make this type of film knowing the critisism they would recieve... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yahve Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 proving once again that any mediocre fantasy/scifi movie can make serious money as long as there's a built in fan base. LOL While I agree, Passion was pretty good at doing what it set out to do, a modern day gore flick. The story is as deep as some porn flicks, but thats not the main concern of the movie. It's built like a music video, albeit a long one. Not to bash any historical significance of the actual event, but the movie part of this movie is pretty sad. I would call it a graphic tribute to humanity's capacity for violence. It does a damned good job at that. Again back to Jumbie's point, the tribute didn't make the money in this case, it was the fan base. People knew it was "great", people had a preconception of the movie before they had allready seen it. Given the visceral attention drawing aspect of the vid, their preconception carried on till the end, regardless of movie quality of epic. Great flick nonetheless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 5, 2004 Author Share Posted September 5, 2004 Yahve - Sounds like you have preconceptions about other people's preconceptions... ??? While I knew, and have always heard of Jesus' sufferings, I was unable to grasp what that really meant until I saw this movie. Even now I still cannot grasp what He endured, but I have a much better sense of it. Nothin pre-concieved except for the basic documentations we have today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 5, 2004 Share Posted September 5, 2004 Reading an objective view of this movie is like asking a liberal what he thought of Farenheit 911. Or a conservative. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MetalHeart Posted September 6, 2004 Share Posted September 6, 2004 No, i know what i heard. He said it was like that thing he did with the bread; nothin wrong with makin copies. HAHAHAAAAAAHAHA! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Jax Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Hmm...releasing a Pro-Jesus movie in America...that does sound liek me made a huge financial risk. Right up there on teh list of great risks: Pro-Che movie in Cuba, an anti-semetic film in Iran, a Woody Allen/Jerry Lewis movie in France, and a Barbara Streisand tour going through Queens, West Palm Beach and Tel-Aviv. And I don't remember Jesus' specific position on intellientual property. Do Jesus of Nazereth's living heirs get any share of gross sales of the Holy Bible, or do they have a deal for a portion of the net? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 Jesus has no living biological heirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 ..arent there translations where he does, where Mary & Joesepth had kids later on? Or am i thinking of gnositicism, benny? Also, ive actaully heard people saying its their "christianly duty" to pick this movie up for others....that's so brilliantly american, i cant put it in words. We really, really should do a good "birth of christ" movie, and have it out on DVD in time for christmas. goldmine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 Translations may say "brothers of Jesus", but we know that "brother" in the language used can also mean cousin. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had no biological decendants. Perhaps in Gnosticism, which the Da Vinci Code is based on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reverend Jax Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 I've also heard that "Son of God" in the language can mean any man, like how we are all "children of God"...leading it to be somewhat confusing if Jesus every was claiming hisself to be God incarnate or just another "child of God." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Bob Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Yeah there's a discussion that belongs in the Movies thread... Hmm...releasing a Pro-Jesus movie in America...that does sound liek me made a huge financial risk. Right up there on teh list of great risks: Pro-Che movie in Cuba, an anti-semetic film in Iran, a Woody Allen/Jerry Lewis movie in France, and a Barbara Streisand tour going through Queens, West Palm Beach and Tel-Aviv. Oh come on. The budget has been estimated at 30 million dollars, most if not all of which Gibson paid for himself. The movie is about a subject that's very personal to him and it treats that subject with intelligence and respect. From a technical standpoint, it's a very well-made movie. And yes it was a risk to make. It's rated R for graphic violence and brutality. Historically, how many Christian movie-goers have been willing to see a movie like that, no matter what the subject matter is? It's completely subtitled. Historically, how many American movie-goers have been willing to pay to watch a subtitled movie? Sure, it probably wouldn't have ever been Gibson's Ishtar, but to think making a movie about the crucifixtion was his big money-making scheme is just fucking stupid. The guy spent his own money to make the movie he wanted to make. In a marketplace where usually all we get are re-hashed remakes, sequels, and movies with plots determined by focus groups, you guys should be celebrating what Gibson did. The thing that bugs me is that if this film was about anything other than Jesus, you guys would be celebrating the achievement. That's fucking bullshit. Sure, the film is the next Citizen Kane, but I can't believe you guys can't even at least get over yourselves to praise it for what it is. I often hate many Christians for trying to push their religion on me too, but the religion of cynicism that many of you guys keep pushing is just as arrogant and just as narrow-minded. Fucking grow up. (/end rant) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted September 7, 2004 Share Posted September 7, 2004 Fair enough, but youll notice none of my comments are about Gibson himself, or the project, which i thought was ambitious, and was backing it when he was talking about using no subs at all, cause i thought, cinematically, that was insane, but damn interesting. And yes, a filmaker putting their own coin into the pool does say a lot to me - didnt he put a little of his own into Braveheart? I know there was outside fudning. My beef has come in the subsequent reviews, which again, have largely been around the story itself, and not this particualr movie, which i think is a shame. I dont think it was Gibson's call to market this one in such a way that the catholic crowd seemd a bit "guilted" into watching it, even again on easter, tho i dont put it about some marketing VP's. Gibson himself got nothin but haters - even from his friends - on this project, and did it anwyay because he wanted to, and thats respectable. So, yeah, tell me not to bootleg it in the name of cinematic heart, dont say not to bootleg it 'cause it'll make baby jesus cry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benz Posted September 7, 2004 Author Share Posted September 7, 2004 Jax - That's a possibility, however Jesus called Himself I AM. The very name God told Moses to tell the people to tell whom he was speaking with. I AM = Yahweh. Also the word used for LORD in Greek is Kurios, but again in hebrew translates back into Adonai, as in Adonai Elohim, as in Shema Yisrael! Adonai Elohenu! (Hear o Israel! The Lord our God!) IC - I was saying not to bootleg it, and I meant to say because it's such a great movie. You brought up Jesus first. Of course he wouldn't approve of bootlegging the movie. Both reasons fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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