Passion of Christ movie and snake cameo

nolagurl · 03-09-04, 03:51 AM

I just got back from seeing Passion of Christ, the new Mel Gibson movie.

Disclaimer: PLEASE don't turn this thread into a religon flame *war*.

If anyone hasn't seen the movie yet I'll explain.

There's a scene in the very beginning where Jesus is praying in the woods and satan is listening in. Satan makes a snake appear and Jesus stomps on his head. (He doesn't really stomp on the snake, I watched closely.)

Do you think this will put the *snakes are evil* garbage out on the table or am I not giving people enough credit?

I'm not stating my opinion just throwing the question out for everyone.

Yve · 03-09-04, 09:17 AM

Movies, books, media in general has always made snakes look evil and scarey...I can't think of one reference to a snake being made to look like anything else....unless its a documentary

Some people get sucked into that, especially if they've been seeing it since youth and have been brought up in an environment that doesn't teach different.

UpscaleBoas · 03-09-04, 09:53 AM

the snake is a powerfull metaphor......problem is that some poeple can't seperate poetic language and real life.....

the metaphor will never change....its too old and powerful...its apart of our collective imagination...

Invictus · 03-09-04, 09:59 AM

I heard that the snake in question used in the movie for this scene is an albino boa. Of course this came from a non-herper. Is this true?

Yness · 03-09-04, 10:28 AM

I talk about my snakes at work all the time and have converted a lot of my co-workers. One girl who said she couldn't handle even seeing a snake picture came over on sunday night and was handling my king snake...

I too have noticed that the media (books, games, tv, movies), with the exception of documentaries, portrays snakes in a negative light. This upsets me. Sometimes it upsets me to the point that I will stop watching a show.

The problem was stated very well in Men In Black (Yah I know coulda found a better source but I don't know where it comes from originally): A person is intelligent, accepting and tolerant. PEOPLE are dumb, irrational and violent. Thats the gist of it anyway.

With the exception of children in an educational setting its hard to change the opinions of the masses on a subject that has been negatively ingrained through out their life. Each and every one of us has to do our best and educate everyone we can. One by one and working together maybe we can change the reputation of these beautiful and amazing spectacles of nature.

whew...

Thanks. I really needed to get that out.

Yness

Cruciform · 03-09-04, 10:42 AM

There are many cultures that have revered snakes for wisdom and healing powers. Unfortunately, North American's aren't one of those cultures

Removed_2815 · 03-09-04, 11:01 AM

North American's embrace the somewhat universal symbol of healing and medicine, the Aesculapian snake wound around a staff (from Roman mythology). Snakes will always have the religious stigma, but their image is still revered in our society in the medical profession.
R

Toirtis · 03-09-04, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Invictus
I heard that the snake in question used in the movie for this scene is an albino boa. Of course this came from a non-herper. Is this true?

Albino Burm, actually.

marisa · 03-09-04, 12:08 PM

There will ALWAYS been someone against hobbys you are into. If you like riding dirt bikes, there is a group that is afriad someone will get hurt, if you race cars, same thing. If you hunt, a group against it, own a gun, people are scared. It goes on and on and on. People will NEVER EVER stop living in fear or hating things they do not understand.

And I mean, everyone doesn't have to like snakes just like they don't have to like hunting, etc. As long as we keep a responsible, educational hobby going, let those angry people keep complaining, they have nothing better to do.

Marisa

corr · 03-09-04, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toirtis
Albino Burm, actually.

Yeah, it wasn't a very good shot, but I'm pretty sure it was a Burm.

Neo · 03-09-04, 06:04 PM

to stick to the topic i don't think the snake stomping scene portrays snakes as evil. Mel is merely using a snake because he got the idea that satan came in the form of a snake. Snakes are not always evil.. even in the bible. moses had a stick turn into a serpent and.. moses wasn't evil

Toirtis · 03-09-04, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by corr
Yeah, it wasn't a very good shot, but I'm pretty sure it was a Burm.

It was quite clear, close, and about 10-15 seconds, too.

scalawag · 03-09-04, 06:38 PM

Garden of Eden, Snake tempting man, cursed to crawl on his belly for eternity. Or something like that. I slept through most of school.

As for cultures revering snakes for wisdom and healing powers, unfortunately those cultures often kill and eat the snakes, fortunately us North Americans haven't gone down that road.

Wizwise2000 · 03-09-04, 09:27 PM

One of my best friends hates snakes. He thinks they should all die, and he will in fact kill every one he sees. Of course I'm against it and think he's an idiot for this. I try and convert him and tell him the good things about snakes and reptiles, but, he argues and says they are evil.

Took me a year to convince my wife snakes are fine. Finally she allows one into the home (my corn), being scared she still held him and now she loves him. So, even though the media, books and everything else that're against snakes, people can and some will change their opinions of them.

I got typing and completely lost the point I was intending to make

Oh well, how was the movie?

Shane

corr · 03-10-04, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Toirtis
It was quite clear, close, and about 10-15 seconds, too.

Well, I had a hard time making it out. I have bad eyesite too.