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Click Here 41 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, March 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 26, 2004 Zelma Bezona, left, and Randi Distler said they were moved by �The Passion of the Christ,� the controversial Mel Gibson movie that opened Wednesday at Tinseltown in Medford. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Movie PASSION Medford moviegoers rave about Mel Gibson’s bloody portrayal of Christ’s last hours By BILL VARBLE Mail Tribune Medford moviegoers at a Wednesday matinee had nothing but raves and roses for Mel Gibson’s new film, "The Passion of the Christ." "Fantastic," Randi Distler said. "Awesome." "I loved it," said Gerri Glenn. Gibson’s controversial picture about the last hours in the life of Jesus opened on 2,800 screens on Ash Wednesday to large crowds and mixed reviews. It’s been praised as an unflinching look at its subject and condemned for what some say is a negative portrayal of Jews, as well as for extreme violence. "Some parts I couldn’t watch," said Glenn, of Medford. Advertisement Distler, of White City, who came in a wheelchair with the help of pal Zelma Bezona, wanted to see the picture’s opening so badly she was undeterred by the capacity crowd. "I cried a few tears," Bezona said. "If it weren’t for the flashbacks, people would have been hyperventilating." Most of the picture depicts in unprecedented detail the physical torture and suffering of Jesus, who has occasional flashbacks to events from biblical accounts of his ministry. Tinseltown manager Kirk Swarthout spoke briefly to the crowd before the screening to stress that no children younger than 17 would be permitted without their parents because of the film’s violence. He offered refunds to anybody who left because of it. But filmgoers didn’t seem to mind scene after scene of gore. "It’s true to life," Bezona said. "We had to see it." "Earlier movies didn’t want to face the issue," Distler said. "You wouldn’t see this in ‘The Ten Commandments,’" Bezona said, referring to Cecil B. DeMille’s 1956 biblical epic. Both Distler and Bezona identified themselves as Christians, as did Jeremy McLaughlin of Central Point. "I’m hoping for the movie to affect non-Christians," he said. Darryl Walker, 39, of Central Point, said previous films about the life of Jesus have been needlessly squeamish. "All the shows leading up to this have been pansy in showing what our Lord went through," he said. "This is the first one to show the cruelty of crucifixion." The film’s portrayal of Jews has also stirred controversy. "Of course I have concerns," said Rabbi David Zaslow of Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland, who did not attend Wednesday’s showing. "I worry not about the passion story or the beauty of the gospel message but about the film’s historical context and its interpretation of events portrayed. "I believe most Christians in our valley interpret the crucifixion as being the responsibility of all humanity. But I worry about how Christians in Latin America and Europe will interpret the Jewish high priest and the mob." In the movie, Pontius Pilate is depicted as a thoughtful ruler who is not eager to have Jesus put to death. He is finally persuaded to do so by Jewish priests, and especially the cunning high priest, Caiaphas (Mattia Sbragia). "They came across as, ‘We gotta get this guy,’" Bezona said of the movie’s Jews. Distler did not think the film was anti-Semitic, but she questioned the portrayal of Pilate. "I think he wasn’t as innocent as he was shown," she said. Gibson has said he believes those who don’t belong to his church, the Traditionalist Catholic Church, even other Christians, will burn in hell. Walker says he’s thankful to Gibson for making the movie, but he doesn’t believe that. "Faith will save you," he said. What would he say to Gibson? "I’d sit down and pray with him," he said. Zaslow and the Rev. Anne Bartlett plan public talks about the film and the issues it presents at 7 p.m. March 23 and March 30 at Havurah Shir Hadash in Ashland. "Maybe we wouldn’t have chosen this," Zaslow says. "But it’s an opportunity for healing and dialog." Reach reporter Bill Varble at 776-4478 or e-mail [email protected] Passion plays date back to 10th century Europe The lineage of "The Passion of the Christ" reaches back to medieval Europe. In late Roman times, the Christian church banned plays and excommunicated actors. But the liturgy of the church in the early 10th century gave birth to chanting celebrations of the Christ story, which by 980 evolved into mini-dramas such as the "Quem Queritis" with actors playing Jesus, Mary and angels. In 1240, the church discontinued the dramas and put them into the streets, sparking a flowering of theater in Europe that lasted to Shakespeare’s day and beyond. Mystery plays and passion pageants dramatized themes from the Bible and glorified Jesus. Some contained anti-Semitic material and depicted Jews with horns, hooked noses and devil tails. Others emphasized the responsibility of all humanity in the crucifixion and God’s mercy. In York, England, Corpus Christi (body of Christ) plays eventually offered 48 "playlets" in the York Cycle presented from atop gigantic, rolling "pageant wagons." Each playlet in the cycle was put on by a different guild. The bow and arrow makers portrayed Jesus and Caiaphas, the dyers handled the trial and Herod, and the painters did the crucifixion. Viewers saw the scourging of Christ by soldiers, but Jesus focused on forgiveness, saying: What they work, know they nought, Therefore, my Father, I crave, Let not their sins be sought, But see their souls to save. Passion plays were revived in York in 1994. In Oberammergau, Bavaria, they have been held every 10 years with an original script dating from the 1400s. In more recent times, the Oberammergau passion play was revised to eliminate anti-Semitic references. 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