Passion of the Christ

NEAL KING is Associate Professor of Sociology at Virginia Tech, USA. He is the author of Heroes in Hard Times: Cop Action movies in the U.S. (1999), co-editor of Reel Knockouts: Violent Women in the Movies (2001), and has published several other studies of violent film genres and social inequality.

'Neal King knows more about the making, marketing and reception of The Passion of the Christ than anyone else. He gives us an elegant and perceptive analysis of the controversies that surrounded Gibson's film and a sociological portrait of their origins in the competing objectives of polarized groups. King's book is an essential source on the making and meaning of a film that has been both celebrated and condemned.' - Stephen Prince, author of Firestorm: American Film in the Age of Terrorism 'This book is a means to reignite interest in the film and inspire debate surrounding it. Neal's resurrection of the film may help it take its rightful place in cinematic history.' - Lauren Felton, Filmwerk

• ContentsIntroductionA Personal and Procedural NotePART I: KEY DETAILSCastCrewOther DetailsRatings, by NationPART II: PRODUCTION AND MARKETINGThe Turns of EventsThe Needs of GroupsThe Final PushPART III: RATING CENSORSHIPDeference in HollywoodSupport for violenceDefiance in New ZealandTitillationHorrorThe Fate of a ProphetConclusionPART IV: EVANGELICAL RECEPTIONDangers of Media ViolenceUses of Nedia ViolenceThe Scholars and ViolenceRedemption through Media ViolenceStolen FirePART V: THE PLOTTINGNarrative StructureCharacter FocusUndermotivationPART VI: THE SENTENCINGSynopsisThe Finished VersionCaiphas's CursePART VII: CONCLUSIONPART VIIIAppendix A: Christian Watchdog SitesAppendix B: References.