Alright, this has got to stop. Apparently, our fellow citizens (no offense to my enormous international following) think that Mr. Gibson is in fact the Christ. At least that’s the case for $125.1-Million worth of citizens, through Sunday. Were I not Jewish (permitting me to not believe in such a thing), I would find this to be the first sign of the Apocalypse. I am certain that most of the people who ran screaming from their TVs when Justin molested Janet yet still took their six year old kids to see what many people call the most violent and gory film in many a year are still marveling at that new-fangled technology in the modern multiplex known as “stadium seating.” Nevertheless, that is quite a remarkable opening for a non-holiday weekend … in February … the week of the Oscars — when many films go to die.
So I’m sure curiousity has been piqued, and while I never intended to boycott the movie, I am very much against actually putting more money in Mel’s hands. Meanwhile, another future cult fave opened this weekend to not quite as spectacular results. Many of you may have no interest in the horror spoof Club Dread — from the same people who brought you Super Troopers a few years back — but what other movie would be the perfect antidote for The Passion? So here’s what you do … get thee to thy nearest multiplex. Buy yourself a ticket to Club Dread, maybe even go see it as a warmup. Then, if at some point during the day, you happen to find youself watching a man tortured to death in the most horrible way possible … oops. Then you too can decide whether or not this movie has supplanted The Exorcist as the scariest film of all time.
I would consider waiting another week until the hordes of believers calm down just a bit. Otherwise, if you’re in New York, the AMC Empire 25 is a lovely theatre at which to have such a day. I don’t want to be unfair to any monolithic corporation specializing in exhibition, so please purchase an overpriced coke and some popcorn at the concessions stand — that’s where they earn their profits anyway.
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Out of Focus 