The Passion: Early Morning Box Office

Matt Drudge has been on top of Mel Gibson's Passion like ... er, never mind (please excuse that image).

Anyhoo: today is no different for the intrepid Miami-based proto-blogger. Drudge notes thay in little Plano, Texas, (link via CNN's Thom Patterson) as far as The Passion goes, it's on like popcorn:

"Thousands of moviegoers in Plano, Texas, spent the morning of Ash Wednesday viewing Mel Gibson's controversial 'The Passion of the Christ,' courtesy of a local businessman.

"Three early-morning showings of the movie about the crucifixion of Jesus began at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday, after Arch Bonnema bought thousands of tickets for $42,000, according to a spokeswoman at his church.

"'It was his passion,' said Pat Spackey of the Prestonwood Baptist Church. 'He was just so moved by the movie that he wanted everyone to be able to see it.'"

Okay, so am I the only one who was blown away by the image of people going to see a little bit of the ole ultraviolent at 6:30 am? Oatmeal? No. Cookie Crisps? No. Eggs with Catsup? No. The blood of our precious lord? Priceless.

New Yorkish cuts them down to size. And so does Matt at Lowculture.