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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: Mpi Home Video
Salesrank: 90993
Released: March 9, 2004 |
| Our Price: $13.48 |
| Used Price: $1.99 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
In this episode of Primetime, ABC News' Diane Sawyer interviews filmmaker Mel Gibson about his highly controversial movie, "The Passion of the Christ."
Gibson discusses his own religious beliefs with Sawyer and explains how his faith helped him overcome struggles with addiction and other personal problems at a spiritual low point in his life. These dark experiences ultimately led him to make "The Passion of the Christ."
He responds to charges that the movie's portrayal of the Jewish role in the death of Christ will encourage anti-Semitism. He also elaborates on comments he's made about the Holocaust. In addition, he tells why he felt it necessary to exhibit such a graphic depiction of Christ's crucifixion on film, and discusses his decision to tell the story in both Aramaic and Latin.
Sawyer also interviews Abraham Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League, who shares his views on the Passion of the Christ." Religious scholars, members of the clergy and others assess the film's potential impact.
Critics, theologians and film aficionados won't want to miss this exclusive interview about one of the most emotionally charged movies of our time - "The Passion of The Christ."
Approx. 40 mins.
ABC Primetime - Mel Gibson's Passion Reviews:
Biased, but interesting. 
2005-11-25 - I don't own the DVD, but I saw the interview when it aired live. Although I hadn't been a particularly avid follower of Diane Sawyer, I had by no means ever been offended by her, so I gave her the benefit of the doubt that she wasn't caught up in the anti-Christian bias. After watching this interview, I was disappointed. I don't dislike Sawyer now, but I've lost a lot of respect for her. It takes a strong person to stand against popular opinion (i.e. anti-Catholic bias), and she simply doesn't seem to have what it takes. I'm sorry, but one would think that a full-grown, mature, educated woman would have learned the importance of not following peer-pressure -- the anti-drug campaign advocates this lesson enough, for crying out loud.
From the get-go, it seemed that Sawyer had made up her mind (or her boss did) to react to Mel Gibson and his beliefs as one reacts to someone who believes that they have been abducted by fish-people (although I think she would've been a tad more polite to the fish-people believer, as it is politically incorrect to denigrate a (non-Christian) person's belief system). She also seemed intent emphasizing the anti-Semitic issue, just like pretty much everyone else who hadn't even seen the movie yet did (forgetting that most of the "good guys," if you will, in the movie were also of Jewish descent). As we all know, it's been about a year and a half since the movie's release, and people of Jewish descent are at about the same level of health and happiness that they were before the movie's release. Way to break the mold, Diane.
Thankfully, Gibson held his own. Although he didn't openly react to the implications raised by Sawyer's questions, it seemed evident that he was well aware of her intentions; to be fair, he was probably very well prepared for it.
I gave this DVD 3 stars because, even though I thought Gibson was interesting and he stated his reasons for making the film with confidence, Sawyer was unimpressively consistent with the popular opinions of the day.
Also, a respectful note to the individual who addressed the issue that Gibson has his own private church. While you raise an interesting concern, you seem to be under the impression that because Gibson has his own church, it means that he has his own religion. That would be problematic, except the church he has on his property is a Catholic church, and the Mass that is said there is in union with the Roman Catholic Church, at least as far as I know. Therefore, I don't see the hypocrisy that you seem to be trying to point out. As far as where his money goes, Gibson, unlike other celebrities, doesn't publicize his donations, so who's to say how much money from the movie went solely into his own pocket? It wouldn't be very Christian of me to judge.
Mel and Diane
2004-08-18 - The mainstream media, so eager to crucify Mel Gibson for being an outspoken Christian and, therefore, not a hostage to the atheistic liberalism embraced by most film stars, isn't about to pass up an opportunity to cash in on his popularity. Hence, the release to home video of this episode of ABC News "Primetime."
When your audience is deserting you in droves for cable and the internet, you've got to find a way to make extra cash, but the only selling point is Mel Gibson whose popularity is soaring as ABC and Gibson's interrogator, the obnoxious Diane Sawyer, slide into irrelevance.
Such hypocrisy is not surprising, nor is it a revelation that Diane Sawyer is an embarrassment to her profession. This aging fluff chick's anti-Christian bias is evident throughout, but she never comes close to ruffling Mel's feathers. Unlike Sawyer, the superstar actor/director has a solid belief system and is not likely to be intimidated into muzzling those beliefs to accomodate the infidels of modern Babylon.
Although Mel holds his ground and makes quite an impression, and Sawyer makes a bigger fool of herself than she usually does, I can't justify buying this. Anyone who wanted to add this interview to their video library could have taped it from TV. They weren't likely to miss it since it was hyped in the same hysterical fashion that is network TV's stock-in-trade. Besides, Gibson gave a more in-depth interview to ETWN, the Catholic cable network that let him speak his mind without trying to trip him up, as Sawyer does, with stupid, insulting questions. Buying this video only puts money in the pockets of Sawyer and ABC. I gave up on ABC and the other broadcast networks long ago. I'm not about to support them now.
Brian W. Fairbanks
Money Mel and His Big Money Movie 
2004-07-19 - First, the guy who ordered this thinking it was the "Passion" movie, you're an idiot. You got what you deserved for not paying attention.
This interview is a waste of time, Gibson is just promoting himself and I don't belive a word of his personal religous dogma. If anyone thinks Mel made 'The Passion' for any reason other than to make himelf richer, then you are a fool. If his inspiration was to spread "the word", why weren't the profits given to his beloved Catholic church? The money went in Mel's pockets and if you paid your hard earned dollars to see it you're fool, regardless of the quality of the story or your religious beelifs. Not one cent went to any religous entity of any kind. Except Mel's chruch of course. Did you know Mel started his own chruch? With private membership? I guess he decided not to tell you that part. He's a money grubbing egomanic and if you buy into his crap then more fool you.
Confident and Steady Mel Gibson 
2004-07-17 - Gibson did very little press for The Passion, with this being the much-hyped primetime ABC interview. Sawyer asks the questions that would be expected, asking him why he didn't make a more politically correct version. Gibson should be commended for standing by his vision. His particular form of Orthodox Catholicism believes the brutal crucifixion is the singular most important moment in the life of Christ, and to understand the him, you must travel that last day with him and suffer ever blow.
Therefore, he felt his depiction of the death of Christ was the ONLY version he could ever produce (he tires to explain this to Sawyer who seems to suggest "well, why not change this story if people get mad?"). To him, anything else would be a compromise before God. You may not agree with his spin on the meaning of Jesus, but you have to admire his allegiance to his beliefs.
In a moment emphasizing Gibson's nearly jaw-dropping gall, he answers a question by Sawyer similar to "Isn't it wrong and unfair to modern Jews to show them doing bad things in this movie?" His answer is to compare it to Schindler's List, and how that historical film is most likely discomforting to modern Germans. I understand his point (and agree), but it is easy to see how he gets labeled anti-Semitic with parallels like that.
biased?
2004-06-01 - 3 stars for Mel. Two knocked off-- one for Diane's obvious biasness and one for the network's biasness. Diane was 'just' doing what she was told to do and was scripted to do (doh?). There's a movie out in theaters now called "Saved". It is very biased towards young Christians. How much you want to bet that this movie will NOT be put down by Diane or this network? Any takers?
Mel impresses me with his boldness in doing the movie and the interview. He KNEW what the reaction would be by the "hey we insist on Christians being tolerant" club. The networks have long been biased towards anything Christian (nothing new there and God help these people!), but Mel stood by his beliefs and has an answer in season and out. Good going Mel!
