The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

'The Passion' to play at Student Center

The film that provoked the most passion in moviegoers this year will be shown publicly on the SIUC campus for the first time this weekend.

Director Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ," which evoked both record-breaking box office numbers and intense controversy when it opened in theaters last February, will be shown six times this weekend in the Student Center Auditorium as part of the Student Programming Council's yearly film series.

Organizers at SPC said they have added a special showing at 7 p.m. Sunday to accommodate special religious groups who may decide to come.

"We thought some groups would be interested in coming on Sunday," said Don Castle, director of University Programming. "We have a special showing like that when we think the demand might be there."

Based on the demand that met the movie upon its initial release, the special showing is an understandable move. Paid for with about $30 million of Gibson's own money, "The Passion" was expected to be a flop but turned into a staggering success, much of it due to Gibson's promotional efforts months before the film's release.

Having now grossed more than $370 million in the United States alone, "The Passion" is the No. 9 top-grossing film of all time, falling in between "Spider-Man 2" and "Jurassic Park." The film is also the top-grossing R-rated film ever made, and the DVD release in late August went on to break records as well.

Dave Ebenhoh, director of the Newman Catholic Student Center, said the popularity is understandable.

"It's well-done," Ebenhoh said of the film, which stars Jim Caviezel in the role of Jesus. "Visually, it's a great movie. It will continue to be used in an educational way."

Despite the cinematic achievements of the film, however, Ebenhoh said the gut-wrenching violence and focus only on the end of Christ's life does little to inform non-Christians about the life of Jesus.

Although it serves as a spiritual confirmation for those who already practice Christianity, Ebenhoh is skeptical as to whether it will bring in more people looking to discover the religion.

Even though the film has been criticized for its intense violence and allegedly anti-Semetic tone, Ebenhoh said that the film is open to interpretation and that there's no reason to believe Gibson's vision is not valid.

The film presents a proper truth, Ebenhoh said, but the details are open to debate since nobody knows the precise situation for sure.

Kyle Dare, who coordinates the films shown by SPC, sad the movie's popularity should bring in good numbers including several campus religious groups to whom he' has spoken.

"It's created a buzz and made a lot of money," Dare said. "It will bring people in. People can see it and make up their own minds about it."

"The Passion of the Christ" will play at 7 p.m. tonight, 7 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday in the Student Center Auditorium. Tickets are $4 or $3 for students with a valid ID card.

 

 

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