Shalom All:

The Prophet hits the silver screen with an eye to reverse stereotypes
U.S. release of "Muhammad" passes without the hype of Mel Gibson's "the
Passion"
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=4&article_id=10187#

(Read especially at the end of the clips.)

---clips---
Jammal (chief executive of the Joliet, Illinois-based Fine Media Group)
carefully timed the film's U.S. debut to coincide with Eid al-Fitr, a
celebration marking the end of the Muslims' daylight fasting month of
Ramadan. It was, he said, the ideal time to release a movie "that will
hopefully help Muslims celebrate their history."

The movie begins with a couple and their young daughter meeting a destitute
old man whom they bring home in the spirit of charity advocated by Islam. At
their home, they begin to tell the story of Mohammed, starting from the first
revelations on Mount Hira when the Angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to
the Prophet - then 40-years-old - and urged him, "Read."

But Mohammed's message that there is but one omnipotent God - that of Abraham,
Moses and Jesus - under whom all are equal, increasingly won favor among
common people.

The film makes a point of showing the respect with which Mohammed held other
monotheistic faiths. Twice there are references to Islam's God also being the
God of Jews and Christians. It's a message of tolerance that viewers said is
painfully absent today, both on the part of extremist Muslims and many in the
West.

The movie debuted last Sunday in about 37 U.S. cities - with the vast majority
of showings in individual theaters rented from United Artists. Now, Jammal
hopes for a second showing in the United States, and has his sights set on
Europe next.

Unlike Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ," the opening of "Muhammad" in the
United States seems to have caused little controversy.

"The people here are ignorant. They just see (Osama) bin Laden, and to them,
that's what Muslims are," said German-born Marie Edwards, referring to the
Al-Qaida leader who masterminded the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

Her husband, David Edwards was more optimistic.

"Islam is terribly misunderstood, but I don't think that people would be
unmoved" by the movie, he said.

"Personally, I think it's a good religion," he added. "And I'm an atheist."
---end clips---

That last quote speaks volumes!

Dianne
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