Focusing on the final 12 hours of the life of Jesus of Nazareth’s life, the year’s most talked about movie, The Passion Of The Christ, makes its highly anticipated DVD and VHS debut on August 31, 2004, it was announced today by Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and Icon Productions. Released in theaters on Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2004, the powerful Mel Gibson-helmed epic went on to gross more than $375 million at the box office – earning a spot in the top 10 grossing movies of all time. Starring Jim Caviezel in the critically-lauded role of Jesus Christ and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdalene, The Passion Of The Christ DVD is presented with a maximum bit rate, 5.1 Dolby Digital and 5.1 DTS, offering viewers the highest quality picture and audio. The film, which was shot in Aramaic and Latin, is presented with English subtitles on VHS and English and Spanish subtitles on DVD. Priced to own, the DVD is available in Widescreen or Pan And Scan for $29.98 and the VHS is $24.98.
Beginning June 1 at the film’s website information will be available regarding bulk orders and high quality, visually stunning customized church sleeves and other downloads- encouraging church ministry participation. Additionally, the site will feature trailers, film synopsis, cast biographies, and soundtrack background, among other information. For retailers from the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) the DVD/VHS will be distributed through Zondervan, a leading international Christian communications company.
This depiction of the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus opens with his betrayal by Judas, his condemnation by the Pharisees and his appearance before Pontius Pilate. Pilate defers to King Herod, but Herod returns Jesus. Pilate then asks the crowd to choose between Jesus and Barrabas. The crowd chooses Barrabas. Pilate washes his hands of the matter, and Jesus is forced to carry the cross through the streets to Golgotha where Roman soldiers crucify him. Although Jesus briefly fears that God, his Father, has abandoned him, he regains his faith, proclaiming “Into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” At the moment of his death, nature itself over-turns.
