Film which has the power and the gory

Published on Saturday 27 March 2004 00:00

THIS was the week that cinema with a "health warning" finally arrived in the Capital. When William Friedkin’s supernatural horror The Exorcist first hit the big screen more than three decades ago, filmgoers in the States were reportedly so terrified that many fainted in their seats.

As Father Damien Karras tried to bring an end to Regan’s demonic head-spinning exploits, ambulances waited outside just in case.

Skip forward to the present and it’s happening all over again, only this time they’re literally dying in their seats while watching Hollywood’s latest gore-fest, The Passion Of The Christ.

On Tuesday, it was reported that a Brazilian priest suffered a heart attack and died while watching the film.

The pastor was the second person to die at a screening. Peggy Law Scott passed out last month while watching the crucifixion scene in a cinema in Witchita, Kansas, and later died in hospital.

Yesterday, Mel Gibson’s gruesome biblical epic, which charts the last 12 hours in the life of Jesus, opened at cinemas across the city and demand for tickets is high despite warnings from former Archbishop of Edinburgh Richard Holloway - who decried it as "two hours of blood-letting" - and Evening News film critic Rory Ford who said: "This is an excessively gory film. Compared to The Passion, Dawn Of The Dead looks like a model of restraint and good taste".

With local congregations queuing up to make block bookings for its opening weekend, many screenings at city picture houses look set to sell out.

Will it convert anyone? Who knows? But then, as the old saying goes, "God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform". But perhaps in this case it should be "mysterious and bloody ways".

On the subject of mysteries and performing, veteran entertainer Des O’Connor proved he can still keep up with the best of them earlier in the week when, on Wednesday, it was announced that he is to become a dad again aged 72.

The TV host said he felt it was the "right time" to have a baby with his 35-year-old partner of 14 years Jodie Brooke Wilson. "Jodie and I couldn’t be happier," he said. Hopefully he’ll still be as enthusiastic when he has to start the school run. O’Connor Jnr should just about be ready for primary one as O’Connor Snr approaches the grand old age of 77. Sorry, but it’s just wrong.

As is Crap Towns 2: The Nation Decides, a new guide book published by... well let’s not give it too much publicity, as it has just included Edinburgh on its list of the "100 worst places to visit".

Describing our beloved city as "cold, grimy and reeking", the guide warns readers: "Edinburgh: Cold in all sorts of ways: the people, the buildings, the gaps in the cityscape caused by the hills, and above all the all-year-round icy winds."

OK, there’s the odd icy wind and spot of rain but neither seems to stop in excess of 3.53 million tourists visiting the Capital each year. One thing that I will concede about Edinburgh, however, is that it seems to be losing the ongoing battle to keep traffic flowing.

Being a non-driver, I cheered when bus lanes were brought in. The idea of whizzing along, hare-like, past lines of cars inching forward at a snail’s pace left me well chuffed.

Likewise, I seemed to be the only person to welcome the idea of the proposed congestion charges - yes I know, it’s a naive and selfish view but it’s only 2.

Now, though, I’m not so sure, as it seems so many vehicles will be exempt that it’ll never work. Obviously emergency vehicles and transport used by the disabled can’t be charged. Nor should local buses and black taxis. But the list of exempt motors is growing at a frightening rate.

This week fresh fury erupted when it was disclosed that the AA, RAC and other breakdown organisations would be joining the list of those who don’t have to pay - a list that already includes motorbikes and City Car Club vehicles.

"If you allow the AA an exemption, why don’t you allow British Gas, Telewest and the Royal Mail. Where will it stop?" pondered Lib Dem transport spokesman Fred Mackintosh.

Which brings us to the more serious question: What happens in the summer, that ONE day in July when there’s no icy wind or rain, and the ice-cream vans need to get into Princes Street Gardens... will they have to pay?

And does that mean the already extortionate price of a cone might rise further still to cover the charge?

• Tune in to Liam Rudden on the Bob Malcolm Show on Forth2 (1548am) every Wednesday at 6.40pm

• Jennifer Veitch is on holiday