SUBMITTED BY Timbo

February 24, 2004 — The New York Times talked to people coming out of an early screening in New York and got their reaction to Mel Gibson's religious epic.

Gloria Malave, who said she had worked at the Bible society until she was laid off in 1998, called the film "great." Asked to rate the film in the way Ebert and Roeper would, she said, "I'd definitely give it a thumbs up."

Donna Lampert, who said she was laid off last year, mentioned the violence - the beatings, the bloodiness. "It's not for the faint of heart," she said.

The Bible society's president, Eugene Habecker, said he had already seen "Passion" once. Leaving the theater yesterday, he said, "I found myself responding more emotionally, more viscerally."

"I'm more shaken," he added before describing the film as "compelling, provocative, disturbing."

And the bloodiness?

"It's Mel Gibson," he said. "If you watch 'Braveheart,' that's Mel Gibson."

"Is it true in every respect?" he added. "I don't think so."

Read the rest at the link below.