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SHARON TUBBS and BRADY DENNISCongregations fill bay area theaters to help teach children the story of the crucifixion.
With movie reviewers focusing on the violence in Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ, church groups and families flocked to movie theaters across Tampa Bay on Wednesday as the film was released to the public.
Parents and youth ministers pushed aside The Passion's R rating, gambling that the sight of a beaten man with nail-pierced hands would help kids understand Jesus' sacrifice, rather than turn their stomachs.
"It's not just a story, it's real life," said Nick Martinez, youth pastor for First Assembly of God Church in Clearwater. His church rented an auditorium at R/C ParkSide Movie 16 for 70 adults and 200 kids, 12 and older.
A number of teenagers stood outside afterward, crying and hugging each other. Some talked to youth ministers for comfort. Others were less emotional, discussing their favorite scenes from the movie.
In Tampa, Luigi and Joanna Martinez debated whether the violence and R rating were inappropriate for their 14-year-old son, Gaby.
Luigi, who is Jewish, and Joanna, a Christian, ultimately took their son to a show at Citrus Park Mall, which featured 15 opening-day showings.
Some parents said teens may already be hardened to what Gibson critics are calling unnecessary violence.
"You can see violence on any video game," said Kathy Baudoin, of Tampa who planned to take her 14-year-old son, Anthony. He had never been to an R rated movie, but his mom figured he had played video games with hints of violence at his friends' homes.
"This is important to him," she said. "He wants to go."
Just before the 7 p.m. show in Pinellas Park, kids in jeans, T-shirts and baseball caps stood in line for popcorn and candy, readying themselves for a two-hour play-by-play of the crucifixion. Chaperones had already collected permission slips from those whose parents couldn't attend.
It was the perfect setting, said Doak Yeary, youth minister at First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, which reserved seats for 50 kids, ages 14 to 18, and 25 adults. "What do teenagers do? They go to movies," he said. "It's a great way for teenagers to see the story they've read about their whole lives."
Barbara Arnal said she was nervous about letting her children, 11-year-old Nick and 14-year-old Jenna, see the film.
"From the reviews I read, I'm not sure about the brutality of the movie," she said.
But the family was with a group from Pathways Community Church in Seminole, which rented an auditorium for 100 adults and 165 youths, ages 11 and older. Youth minister Andrew Hobbs agreed to stay in the lobby and sit with kids who needed to leave.
So how did The Passion play with kids?
"It was gory, but you learn about it," said Gaby Martinez in Tampa. "This is real. You feel really grateful."
Alicia Torres and her daughters, 15-year-old Angie and 13-year-old Alyssa, emerged from the theater with tears in their eyes.
"We were aware there was going to be very violent parts," Alicia Torres said. "But we thought our children were ready to see it."