Lightning strikes Gibson's Christ
Friday, October 24, 2003 Posted: 0840 GMT ( 4:40 PM HKT)

ROME, Italy -- Actor Jim Caviezel, who plays the son of God in Mel Gibson's controversial film "The Passion of Christ" has been struck by lightning during shooting.

Caviezel was uninjured, but a producer described how he saw lightning come out of the actor's ear.

An assistant director on the film, Jan Michelini, was also hit -- for the second time in a few months.

The first time, a lightning fork struck his umbrella during filming on top of a hill near Matera in Italy, causing light burns to the tips of his fingers, VLife, a supplement to Variety publications said in its October issue.

A few months later the second strike happened, a few hours from Rome.

Michelini was again carrying an umbrella, and standing next to Caviezel on top of a hill, the magazine said.

Both were hit, with the main bolt striking Caviezel while one of its forks hit Michelini's umbrella. Neither were hurt.

The film, which is spoken in Latin and Aramaic, has come in for criticism from religious leaders. It portrays the last hours of Christ, but some Jewish and Roman Catholic groups are concerned the film will fuel anti-Semitism.

Hmm Maybe they should take warning in this. That is ofcourse you believe in such things

Heh heh. Sounds like someone is telling Mel this was a bad idea. Any chance of getting Cary-Sue & Jack Valenti parts in this movie or at least get THEM to carry umbrellas on set?

Is God sending in an early review?
Or a message about continuing with the filming?

Actually this points out something you should learn back in school. Never be the tallest thing around when lighting is present. You're the easiest path to ground!!!

That religeous stuff could be valid as well, but I'm no authority to comment on how God conducts himself.

God works in mysterious ways.

I'm actually looking forward to seeing this (assuming it can be done without the MPAA getting any money). Gibson has said if he can not find a distributor for the film that he may distribute it himself. I'm hoping that means no MPAA.

A slight correcetion to the article: while many Jewish groups are worried about the film creating anti-Semitism, many Catholic groups are supporting the film. (I need to watch myself as this is an RIAA related site and not a religous site and a giant can of worms could easily be opened.)

actually this is one of the movies i have the most anticipation for ever. hopefully they dont give in and change it. about the anti-semitism, if the film is going to create that, oh well. its supposed to be as accurate as possible, back then alot of jews were horrible (read the bible if you think im making this up).

there should be a scene where RIAA members sing praises to their pagan gods are are struck by lighting

enough with the warnings already.. next one should count

there is a downloadable clip of the movie online. It is a very dramatic looking piece, and the clip involves Jesus (Yeshua) on the cross. From what I understand, the opposition from certain Jewish groups is that the Pharisees and Saducees are made to look corrupt and greedy.

Sometimes the truth hurts. Most people are in touch with reality and will realize that not every jew is like those portrayed in the film.

Everybody is different. I mean. come on. The whole world has become so politically correct that we cannot get anything done without fear of offending someone.

The minority of the people are changing the US to fit their views because our political correctness is enabling it to happen. Now the beliefs and values of the majority are being eroded.

Where does it end?

good ol' movies with controversy for an INTERESTING reason. I can't wait.

THATS AWESOME. Go GOD!!!! You da MAN. LOL Struck by lightning and lived to tell.

umbrella being been lightening idiot.
train front 2 be step do be not god
but do be poor brain see

They say things happen in three's...so...third time should be a charm...*zzzzzaaaap*

We should send umbrellas and tickets to Rome to the RIAA.

gdZiemann be 2 been good brain do be
wise

Sanitizing history is insanity. The truth is not always pretty, but it is always the truth.

... Oops! Did he really say that?

who says history is truth?

The following is not a joke.

I was almost hit by lightning a few years ago, it hit a tree about fifteen feet away. Tell ya one thing...lightning is really bright and really loud...I could hardly see or hear for a few minutes. I can only imagine what it's like to be hit by it.
~Code

i was electrocuted in biology class. thought i was going to die.

"From what I understand, the opposition from certain Jewish groups is that the Pharisees and Saducees are made to look corrupt and greedy."

Pathetic. History records the fact that the Pharisees and Saducees WERE corrupt & greedy. Heaven forbid that someone should portray history accurately on film!

I'm a construction electrician. I've been hit once, real hard with 277Volt and it ain't fun. Can't even imagine what lightning must be like! I worked with an old-timer that got hit with 4180 Volt off the line side of a transformer and lived. Lucky bastard because it went in one hand and out the other - the worst way to get hit because it goes straight through your heart!

As for the movie, I'm looking forward to it. I always welcome a different perspective!

i think everyone needs to stop attacking AND defending the movie. no one has seen it yet. wait and watch it. how does anyone know whether the movie is spiteful or accurate?

movies are movies, if you don't think your going to like it don't pay to go see it. I just want to know how we can get cary sheman and mitch braincheese a role in this one before the next strike

It's interesting that some of those in Hollywood who claim to support "artistic integrity" with respect to films, TV shows and so-called "music" that are loaded with violence, profanity, and sexually explicit material -- to say nothing of attacks on religion, family and so forth -- now assert that Mr. Gibson has no right to such "artistic integrity" viz his film (whose title, I read somewhere, was changed to "The Passion Of Christ" in the U.S. because of another film called "The Passion" which was his original intended title). I'm not necessarily commenting one way or another about his effort, I'm just spotlighting this rank hypocrisy among the elite -- never mind that (from one account I read) Valenti the alter-kocker gave the thumbs-up to Mr. Gibson's movie.

It's all just so shocking...........

i hear the violence is as entertaining as Kill Bill Vol 1. I'll be eating my popcorn and drinking my coke as i watch i am entertained by the human sacrifice known as jesus.

bet this is just propaganda to get the film some column inches


YAWN

With an entire bible to steal ideas from and an existing fan base, what studio could resist? The alst hours of christ have already been made into a film of course, probably more than one (not counting the monty python .

Never been hit by lightning. Ive been zaped by everything else through. Most painful was the time I steped on two two-inch pointed test probes which were connected to a mains socket and wedged point-upwards through a terminal block. Ive had a few from HT equipment too. High-voltage low-current is painful (understatement) but surviveable. Its the high-current shocks that are most dangerous.

Hurray for God! Hurray for Mel!

Doesn't it make you wonder why the actor portraying Yeshua was not hurt? Couldn't he have been protected? Ya know, the power of God? I am not ashamed to say that I am a Christian who has downloaded music.

if mel gibson releases this movie on his own with out the MPAA we should all make it a must to go see it and tell the movie theatre why we've came to see it. To support independant creation, because as far as the *AA's would make it seem there is only their copyrighted works and the illegal copies of their works.

F U Mel Gibson you butt pirate

First of all...what does this have to do with music? Second, I'll bet God had nothing to do with lightning striking the actor...it was just a case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. As a former protestant converting to Roman Catholic, I would say God protected that actor from any real harm or even death. I believe God has had his hand on Mel since he loves and respects God. As for the RIAA, they will probably be swallowed up like the Egyptians soldiers were in the Red Sea, when they were persuing the Isrialites.

We are in deep shit, Jesus foretold of these tribulations that will only get worse.

Score one for ZIPPY!!!!!!!!!!!! They were Greedy kind of reminds me of the RIAA!!!!!!!!!!!! Now we know where the RIAA comes from!!!!!!!!!!

ghosthouse: The evil-RIAA is only one aspect of a much larger problem. The music, movie and TV industries are terrified of computer technology and the internet. They know that this has the potential to ruin their entire industry. So they attempt to surpress or at least control the new technology, often going to extremes, frequently with dirty tactics, and in the process doing severe damage not only to the technology itsself, but to the new social concepts which this technology allows.

Maybe god is tired of people telling their version of what is and what isn't! Go MIGHTY LIGHT!