After reading Sullivan’s review of the Passion, there is no chance in hell I will go see the movie. I have found that as I age, I simply can not handle horror movies or movies with a great deal of graphicviolence. I just won’t sleep for weeks.
At any rate, Iam not much on the blogger triumphalism, but I did want to point out that I find it amusing that the only two movie critics I listen to are Andrew Sullivan and Oliver Willis.
Dave_Violence
It’s a movie by, for and about Roman Catholocism. Christ’s suffering is replayed – for real – at every mass, so why not a movie to enjoy it over and over again?
Now, what’s REALLY important is that He rose from the grave – but that’s not good enough, one must drink His blood and eat His flesh once a week, minimum, or you’re going to spend a lot of time in purgatory.
Jon Henke
I’m with you, John. I think my “change” happened when I had a kid. I just can’t watch too much tragedy any longer.
I can’t even watch ER. I just personalize it too much. Perhaps you have a kid, as well? That might do it.
tom scott
My favorite movie critic is James Bowman. Here is a list of his movie reviews.
Ricky
My sympathies for listening to OW about Bad Boys.
Tatterdemalian
Hmm. I’ve found that, as I age, horror movies have less of an effect on me. Well, that and the fact that I’ve been jaded by playing Doom, Mortal Kombat, Silent Hill, and Grand Theft Auto.
John Cole
I am probably just a wimp, Jon.
HH
Now I know that whatever Krugman clone Denby over at Vanity Fair hates, I’ll like.
HH
Within a matter of weeks, Aaron Sorkin was crying “blacklist” after Sep. 11, because of the Bill Maher episode. I don’t think we’ll hear much now that it appears Gibson’s been blacklisted by at least one company.
The Commissar
I find the same thing. I can’t bear to watch graphic Holocaust documentaries.
And “disturbing violent” movies liek ‘Seven’ and ‘Silence of the Lambs’ push me over the edge. One neighbor said that she wanted to be the way she was, “pre-Seven.”
Ricky
BTW, Sully telegraphed that he’d hate it earlier this week. His “review” was almost as surprising as his tiff with Bush over FMA.
Oliver
Bad Boys *was* fun.
keith edge
I think I’m agreeing with Oliver for the first time in my life.
I had to take issue with Sullivan. He talked about the whipping scene, saying it had no Biblical basis. Jesus was scourged, which is exactly what that scene depicted. I thought that undermined his review more than a little.
Scott S
Come on, you won’t go see it because of Sullivan. AS is clearly out of line by clling this thing porn. He’s trying to take some obscure and outdated definition of porn and apply it to violence and sado-masochism? Porn is about sex. At least commonly accepted.
And how does he know S&M porn so well?
You should see this yourself, if not for the fact that you are a blogger and comment on this culture stuff.
Brian
Go see it. The most honest and reputable movie critic, Roger Ebert, gave it 4 stars. I do disagree with Evert that this is the most violent movie ever. The violence is tough to take simply because it is Jesus Christ on the receiving end.
Forget Andrew Sullivan. He’s lost it. He knows as well as anyone that any advancement of Christianity hurts his cause(s).
Oliver on the other hand is a proud agnostic. Take that into account when it comes to his opinion on this movie.
I repeat, go see it, and judge for yourself.