CELEBS: Mel Gibson

[Anguirus111]

This is more a spinoff from my my Mad Max thread but I felt just talking about Mel deserved it's own topic.


So...Apocalypto is due out soon and you can see the trailer: http://www.apple.com/trailers/touchstone/apocalypto/

[Virus]

I love him. Great actor, pretty good director and seems like a likeable guy.

I watched the Apocalypto trailer last week and I am very confused as most people are about it. He seems to choose odd movies to direct.

[Justin]

Well it appears that Apocalypto is about the downfall of the Mayan civilization, a very mysterious race of South Americans (I think?) who seemed to just dissapear with no explanation.

The trailer is cool, and it is awesome that that shot of Mel is hidden in it, that is genius. He's a cool guy.

[Sam]

It's possible for one to be both an utter genius and completely nuts. It seems to happen very frequently.

[Justin]

Good point.

[Phil Tinajero]

I don't think he's nuts (despite that photo), but I definitely don't think he's a genius.

[James T. Skywalker]

Well it appears that Apocalypto is about the downfall of the Mayan civilization, a very mysterious race of South Americans (I think?) who seemed to just dissapear with no explanation.

Actually, they were from Central America, and what is now southern Mexico, in the Yucatan region.

~JTS

[The Bandit]

Calling Mel Gibson a genius is really lowering the value of the word.

He's technically competent director with a few very good acting performances under his belt. His directing Oscar is worth about as much as Kevin Costner's in my mind. Gibson is a "Best Director" but Stanley Kubrick, Charles Chaplin, Howard Hawks and John Cassavettes are not? Don't think so.

Completely nuts? That I'll give you.

[Anguirus111]

I primarily wrote 'utter genius' just to give an opposite end of the spectrum for 'completely nuts'.


Me, I can't seem to find the inner hate that so many people do towards him after he directed The Passion. He's still one of my favorite actors and I hope he gets back into acting some day.

[Galahad_Skywalker]

Well it appears that Apocalypto is about the downfall of the Mayan civilization, a very mysterious race of South Americans (I think?) who seemed to just dissapear with no explanation.

The Inca were from South America, and their downfall is easy to explain. Thank Pizarro for that.

Watched the trailer this morning...it's not what you'd typically think of as epic material, but I'm looking forward to it. Mel seems to be a down to earth type of guy--especially if he's willing enough to have fun through inserting himself in a few frames of his trailer.

Calling Mel Gibson a genius is really lowering the value of the word.

He's technically competent director with a few very good acting performances under his belt. His directing Oscar is worth about as much as Kevin Costner's in my mind. Gibson is a "Best Director" but Stanley Kubrick, Charles Chaplin, Howard Hawks and John Cassavettes are not? Don't think so.

Completely nuts? That I'll give you.

I don't think it's right to belittle Mel's and Costner's directing Oscars as flukes. Call me a sucker for epic films--you'd be right to say that I do feel that epics are much more powerful than a whole load of other movies. I've never been a Kubrick fan myself, but I do recognize that his films are very well composed. I also feel that Braveheart was very well done itself. It's not really Gibson's fault that his battle scenes were copied in almost every hack-and-slash epic that's come out in the past decade.

Besides, the Academy Awards are a joke anyway, aren't they?

[Darth Darthy]

He looks like Sadams long lost brother in that picture, fresh out of a hole.

[Galahad_Skywalker]

^I knew he reminded me of someone!

[Phil Tinajero]

Just finished watching my "Patriot" DVD. Mel Gibson was in that. And this is a Mel Gibson thread.

[Blizzard]

I love Mel.
I like guys with lots of kids, he has 6.

[Darth Vegas]

Mel Gibson is at best an OKAY actor, he's believable because he doesn't play particularly challenging roles, and as a director he's just mediocre, having almost no visual style of his own.

As for his "best director" Oscar...Braveheart is a by-the-numbers epic that was released in a rather mediocre year for movies or at least a year when mostly mediocre films were nominated for the best picture Oscar. But regardless it wasn't the best picture of it's year.

It's full of contrivances (ie, "They Killed her to get to me") and cliches, and it isn't historically accurate at all. Braveheart is merely a work of fiction which draws some inspiration from real historical events (just a few examples: the hanging of Wallace's father at the beginning of the film and the implication in the film that England had occupied Scotland for years never happened).

As for The Passion of the Christ...Jesus' words and actions take a back seat to the emphasis of his physical beating. It's just poor filmmaking IMO, the cinematography and lighting are uninspired and as a result most of the picture (to me anyway) feels like it was done on a sound stage, and there's no character developement, no precedent for the torture and execution of our main character. These scenes are not only excessive, but slow. The picture crawls gradually along, leaving a bloody trail. Mel Gibson attempts to manipulate the audience by the relentless torture of Jesus. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

[T-bone]

I HOPE we're just giving educated opinions in here and not bashing/flaming people - right?

[P-Ray]

Mel Gibson is at best an OKAY actor, he's believable because he doesn't play particularly challenging roles, and as a director he's just mediocre, having almost no visual style of his own.

As for his "best director" Oscar...Braveheart is a by-the-numbers epic that was released in a rather mediocre year for movies or at least a year when mostly mediocre films were nominated for the best picture Oscar. But regardless it wasn't the best picture of it's year.

It's full of contrivances (ie, "They Killed her to get to me") and cliches, and it isn't historically accurate at all. Braveheart is merely a work of fiction which draws some inspiration from real historical events (just a few examples: the hanging of Wallace's father at the beginning of the film and the implication in the film that England had occupied Scotland for years never happened).



Thanx for the review but a great movie nonetheless!

As for The Passion of the Christ...Jesus' words and actions take a back seat to the emphasis of his physical beating. It's just poor filmmaking IMO, the cinematography and lighting are uninspired and as a result most of the picture (to me anyway) feels like it was done on a sound stage, and there's no character developement, no precedent for the torture and execution of our main character. These scenes are not only excessive, but slow. The picture crawls gradually along, leaving a bloody trail. Mel Gibson attempts to manipulate the audience by the relentless torture of Jesus. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!



You are missing the point of the movie. It's not about Jesus' words. It's about what he endured on our behalf. I even heard Gibson say that himself when people were complaining about the abrupt ending.

[T-bone]

It wasn't the "story" of Jesus - it was about what Christians call "The Passion" or the time period from the betrayal to the Resurrection and all the steps in between. It is not supposed to be an all inclusive story about Jesus' lessons, etc.

I think the film was very well done. I don't cry easily at films but I have to admit that when he saw his mother while carrying that cross and that whole little flashback with him falling down... that had me going. I enjoyed the film a lot.

[Cassus Fett]

Mel Gibson is at best an OKAY actor, he's believable because he doesn't play particularly challenging roles, and as a director he's just mediocre, having almost no visual style of his own.

As for his "best director" Oscar...Braveheart is a by-the-numbers epic that was released in a rather mediocre year for movies or at least a year when mostly mediocre films were nominated for the best picture Oscar. But regardless it wasn't the best picture of it's year.

It's full of contrivances (ie, "They Killed her to get to me") and cliches, and it isn't historically accurate at all. Braveheart is merely a work of fiction which draws some inspiration from real historical events (just a few examples: the hanging of Wallace's father at the beginning of the film and the implication in the film that England had occupied Scotland for years never happened).




Braveheart in my mind was way to 'Americanised' if you get what i mean. First of all, William Wallace was not a highlander he came from the flatest land in Scotland, second of all he only attacked the English and invaded England to up his chance's to get on the throne as he was in-line behind a few other Scot's for the Scottish Throne. Not like the film says to pay back the English for a hundred years of rape and pillaging etc which in the actual event he did!

I hate it the way they protray the English as idiots, come on do you all really think that they would send Infranty by themselves?

You would have the Calavary sweeping in from the flanks, Infrantry down the centre and archers continuing firing until your soldiers smashed into the Scottish lines.

Now i think it's the second battle scene and this really bugs me cause you Wallace running with his sword on his back, then you see him running with a little Axe, then sword on back and finally with Sword.

[P-Ray]

Originally posted by T'bone@Dec 29 2005, 11:24 AM
It wasn't the "story" of Jesus - it was about what Christians call "The Passion" or the time period from the betrayal to the Resurrection and all the steps in between. It is not supposed to be an all inclusive story about Jesus' lessons, etc.

I think the film was very well done. I don't cry easily at films but I have to admit that when he saw his mother while carrying that cross and that whole little flashback with him falling down... that had me going. I enjoyed the film a lot.



I agree and I still cry while watching it!

[Galahad_Skywalker]

Mel Gibson is at best an OKAY actor, he's believable because he doesn't play particularly challenging roles, and as a director he's just mediocre, having almost no visual style of his own.

As for his "best director" Oscar...Braveheart is a by-the-numbers epic that was released in a rather mediocre year for movies or at least a year when mostly mediocre films were nominated for the best picture Oscar. But regardless it wasn't the best picture of it's year.

It's full of contrivances (ie, "They Killed her to get to me") and cliches, and it isn't historically accurate at all. Braveheart is merely a work of fiction which draws some inspiration from real historical events (just a few examples: the hanging of Wallace's father at the beginning of the film and the implication in the film that England had occupied Scotland for years never happened).



Braveheart in my mind was way to 'Americanised' if you get what i mean. First of all, William Wallace was not a highlander he came from the flatest land in Scotland, second of all he only attacked the English and invaded England to up his chance's to get on the throne as he was in-line behind a few other Scot's for the Scottish Throne. Not like the film says to pay back the English for a hundred years of rape and pillaging etc which in the actual event he did!

I hate it the way they protray the English as idiots, come on do you all really think that they would send Infranty by themselves?

You would have the Calavary sweeping in from the flanks, Infrantry down the centre and archers continuing firing until your soldiers smashed into the Scottish lines.

Now i think it's the second battle scene and this really bugs me cause you Wallace running with his sword on his back, then you see him running with a little Axe, then sword on back and finally with Sword.


Oh, I agree, it's a joke as far as historical accuracy goes (Longshanks lived two years after Wallace was executed, and Princess Isabella was only a kid at the time, so it makes you laugh when you think about her affair with Wallace). Still, for all its inaccuracy and cliches (I'm a sucker for these particular cliches, and I think we're all guilty of being suckers for various cliches), it's still a powerful movie told from the heart, at least to me.

Oh, and Cassus, that bit with him running with his sword being behind his back and so on...I've seen the movie 30 times now and it still bothers me.

[Darth Vegas]

Originally posted by P-Ray@Dec 29 2005, 08:27 AM
You are missing the point of the movie. It's not about Jesus' words. It's about what he endured on our behalf

I didn't miss anything, it's pretty hard not to understand that. As an attempt to realistically show the torture and execution of Jesus, it works, as a film with well developed characters and an engaging story it does not.

[P-Ray]

You are missing the point of the movie.* It's not about Jesus' words.* It's about what he endured on our behalf.

As an attempt to realistically show the torture and execution of Jesus, it works, as a film with well developed characters and an engaging story it does not.


For me it does, but I already am very familiar with Jesus' story

[Cassus Fett]

Oh, I agree, it's a joke as far as historical accuracy goes (Longshanks lived two years after Wallace was executed, and Princess Isabella was only a kid at the time, so it makes you laugh when you think about her affair with Wallace). Still, for all its inaccuracy and cliches (I'm a sucker for these particular cliches, and I think we're all guilty of being suckers for various cliches), it's still a powerful movie told from the heart, at least to me.

Oh, and Cassus, that bit with him running with his sword being behind his back and so on...I've seen the movie 30 times now and it still bothers me.


Yeah its really annoying, couldn't they just have ediited right.

[Sam]

I agree about the historical inaccuracies, and learned here that there's more of them than I originally thought.

The inaccuracy that bothered me the most isn't talked about much. It's where Gibson stacked the deck on the historical figures' religions. He starts by having his opening narrator call King Edward "a cruel Pagan." (I looked it up. The King had his disputes with the Vatican, but he was no Pagan. The Church was so powerful by that time that it would not have tolerated any non-Christian kings.) Gibson goes on to portray Wallace and all the other good guys as devout Christians, while portraying all the bad guys as either Pagan or as having no discernable religious affiliation.

Gibson also portrays the Prince as homosexual in the most negative light possible. I don't know if that part is historically true or not, but I agree with the critics who noticed it that the way it plays in the movie constitutes gay bashing.

[Anguirus111]

Happy Birthday, Mel. He turns the big 5-0 today.


:birthday:

[Virus]

Originally posted by Anguirus111@Jan 3 2006, 02:30 PM
Happy Birthday, Mel. He turns the big 5-0 today.
:birthday:



What a long and amazing career he's had

[Phil Tinajero]

What a coincidence. I was just watching Braveheart. I love the movie, and like The Patriot, it's full of historical and cinematic errors, but I'm no historian so it doesn't bother me much. It's still an engaging movie. Some parts do irk me, though. When Wallace is charging towards the English infantry at Stirling Bridge (no bridge in the movie, though), there are brief little spots where he's wielding his sword, then he's not, then he's removing it, then he doesn't have it anymore. And also, before that, when the English cavalry are charging towards the Scots, there's a moment where it shows them holding pikes before Wallace has even yelled "now!". Those kind of things can take me out of any movie.

[Anguirus111]

I watched the Apocalypto trailer and when Mel showed up I couldn't help but laugh at it.

[Anguirus111]

Should be an interesting Academy Award Ceremony this year.

Gibson to Speak Ancient Tongue at Oscars
Associated Press - Mar 04, 12:14

More Photos

Mel Gibson will give audiences a preview of the ancient language spoken in his upcoming movie, "Apocalypto."

During a brief appearance on the Academy Awards on Sunday, Gibson will speak Maya, the only language in the film. His last movie, "The Passion of the Christ," was performed in Latin and Aramaic.

"I wanted to shake up the stale action-adventure genre," Gibson told Time for a story on the magazine's Web site. "So I think we almost had to come up with something utterly different like this."

"Apocalypto" is set in pre-Columbian Mexico and is being shot on the fringe of southern Mexico's rain forests. It addresses the end of civilizations and contains warnings about environmental degradation and political fear-mongering.

[Cassus Fett]

The Patriot should be called Braveheart 2 (like Gladiator is Braveheart 3 and Kingdom Of Heaven is Braveheart 4)

Man who doesn't want to fight but is forced to fight (and wins)

[Anguirus111]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/07/28/gibson.dui/index.html

Gibson apologizes for comments made while being arrested for a DUI.

[Sam]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/29/AR2006072901180.html

This morning's Washington Post article on the Gibson arrest, with a few quotes of his tirade from the police transcript.

[T-bone]

at least he owned up to it.

[Saranac]

genious, he can sell the footage of his rant in the police station and have another controversial blockbuster.:eek:

[Miasmo]

I heard he was drunk on jesus juice.:confused:

I don't know much about his personal life, but I definitely didn't see anything like this coming.

Let the media party begin.

[DblDwn]

Here's what I don't get. What is with the super rich and famous even driving drunk in the first place? I can understand that there is some degree of ego involved, an "above the law" type of mentality, when you are an A Lister but, seriously, what's with even thinking of driving when you've been drinking. It makes sense why a celeb wouldn't want to call a taxi. You wouldn't want to run the risk of there being some sort of recording device that could end up on Entertainment Tonight or the cabbie could end up on Extra telling stories about what so and so said in his taxi the night before. But you would think that in these times when driving is not an option that a celeb's publicist would have an intern on standby just in case so and so super client gets into a pickle and needs a ride before they get into trouble and spend the next who knows how long trying to wag the dog. That's just my opinion.

Another thing though. A BAC of .12 seems awfully low to be so intoxicated that you are screaming out insults and derogatory racial comments. So either Mel is a bit of a lightweight or he should stick to drinking Foster's.

But, like T said, I do respect the fact that he owned up to it. I've always been a fan of Mel and I will always be a fan of Mel.

[Miasmo]

They're wondering if it will hurt his career. Not really. I mean even if it does lower his popularity with certain key demographics, he's Mel frikkin Gibson.

"What? They won't go to see another Bible movie of mine? Oh, okay. I'll play Mad Max again. How about Lethal Weapon 5? I'm also up for another chick flick. The ladies will eat anything I serve them. I'm Mel Gibson."

EDIT: Has Mel completely sworn off acting?

[DblDwn]

I think Mel has made so much money in recent years, didn't he personally make something like $250 million for The Passion?, that he doesn't really need to. I think that he will continue to do films. But he is in that unique situation where he doesn't have to do everything that is thrown his way. He can wait until the role he wants comes along and then he can just go get it because, as you said, he's Mel frikkin Gibson.

[P-Ray]

I gotta tell ya, I kinda feel bad for the guy.

I hate to see anyone addicted to alcohol or anything else for that matter.

[DblDwn]

It's Hollywood. The real story would be if he wasn't addicted to anything. So he likes to drink. At least he isn't imprisoning Katie Holmes while she nurses the phantom baby all in the name of Dianetics.

[Darth Darthy]

Dbldwn is right. That BAC is way too low to be that plastered. Surely he had something else with it?

[Sam]

None of you are addressing the anti-semitism.

[Saranac]

i dropped several Rohypnols in his drink when he was taking a leak on a rhododendron outside.

[Miasmo]

None of you are addressing the anti-semitism.
I thought it was implied. Drunk driving isn't going to hurt your career, but anti-semitic remarks might.

And people like Barbara Walters have shown that there are those out there that will indeed be affected by it.

It's hard to say how serious he was, if at all. Alcohol can be a truth serum of sorts, but it's not that clear cut. He could very well have certain feelings that he keeps under control, knowing that's the 'right' or 'politically correct' thing to do. Alchohol can take that control away.

Is that what happened? Who knows? Who really cares?

[DblDwn]

None of you are addressing the anti-semitism.

Miasmo said it best. Who cares? If he was $hit-faced and starting running his mouth to be hurtful for the sake of being hurtful, the drunken mentality of "I'm Mel Gibson, how dare you attempt to arrest me," then that is the end of it. If he really feels that way and the "truth serum" effects of alcohol caused him to express his true feelings in public then so be it. What I would say is that the words of his latest statement were very carefully chosen and the fact that he called for a meeting with leaders of the Jewish Community as a way to seek forgiveness is enough for me. Granted I'm not full-blooded Jewish, I'm 1/8 Jewish which basically means my keyboard is closer to wearing a yarmulke than I am, so I can't speak for the feelings of betrayal, for lack of a better word, that those that are Jewish may be feeling at this time. The logical thing is, if he really does have something against the Jews, does that really matter to anyone? Does that make his films less appealing? Does it make them less entertaining? Does it make those who are Jewish less righteous?

Are his Anti-Semitic remarks enough to truly offend people who are Jewish? History has shown us that many kingdoms/countries/dictatorships/people for that matter have not liked the Jews over the years. Does one man's drunken tirade upon being arrested, regardless of his status as a public figure, really change anything or make a difference? The Nazi's didn't like the Jews. Has the Jewish Community sworn off all things German in the years since the Holocaust?

Yes he said those things but he has also admitted to saying those things. More importantly he has asked for forgiveness. Whether he truly feels remorseful or is simply attempting to exercise damage control is beside the point. He fessed up to it. He said he was sorry. And he is seeking forgiveness from a higher power. That as they say should be that.

[BobPalpatine]

Heh, I understand what some of the fuss is about...but I'm tired of hearing about it.

What is kind of funny about the whole situation is a director like Polanski is loved in Hollywood. He sexually assaulted a young girl. Yet he is still loved in Hollywood. Hollywood is a farked up place.

[P-Ray]

Heh, I understand what some of the fuss is about...but I'm tired of hearing about it.

What is kind of funny about the whole situation is a director like Polanski is loved in Hollywood. He sexually assaulted a young girl. Yet he is still loved in Hollywood. Hollywood is a farked up place.

Good point!

[Miasmo]

Here's the mugshot. I tell you, this man can do no wrong. :D

[Sam]

Roman Polansky doesn't make films which are intended as blunt instruments in the culture war. He has kept his filmmaking separate from what he has been charged with in his personal life.

Mel Gibson, on the other hand, made a film which used the most violent take on the Passion Play ever conceived to divide America, as well as the rest of the world, along cultural and religious lines, while the whole time he denied charges that the film is anti-semitic. He is then caught making an anti-semitic tirade under the influence of alcohol. It reveals the true agenda of his film, and that is something a lot of people care about.

[Leia]

I was thinking about this a bit and it seems to me that people who are truly racist or bigoted make negative racial comments without even thinking that they're doing something wrong. Isn't Mel Gibson's father fairly openly against Jews? Perhaps these views were drilled into Mel from early childhood and he's tried to supress them. Maybe the alcohol just made it all come out? If these were his true feelings, why would he go to any great length to apoligize about it?

[Sam]

^ Because his publicists may have convincd him that, unless he goes to great lengths to apologize, he's through. We do not yet know whether his apology is sincere or not.

While he's at it, he ought to apologize for the way "The Passion of the Christ" divided up the Jews (The ones who were with Christ looked like Northern Europeans, while the ones who wanted him crucified looked like stereotypical Jews, with the Devil mingling among them) and for rewriting history to make it appear that the Jewish officials were more powerful than Pontius Pilate.

He also ought to apologize for the homophobic message he put in "Braveheart" and, again, for rewriting history to favor religious intolerance. In this case, it wasn't enough for him to depict King Edward as the oppressor that he was, he opens the film with a narrator calling the King a "cruel Pagan," which historically he was not. He goes on to depict all the good guys in "Braveheart" as devout Christians, and all the bad guys as either the above-mentioned Pagan, or as having no discernable religious affiliation (not believable for that time in history), or as homosexual.

Mel Gibson has a lot to answer for, besides just driving drunk.

[Miasmo]

I just deleted a long tirade I wrote out. It wasn't worth the arguments that would ensue. I feel better for getting it off my chest, though.

*deep breath*

What's Mel's next project again?

[Justin]

What? No come on dude let us know what you were thinking.

[Justin]

I thought Braveheart was awesome, and I didn't percieve any of the things you did, Sam. I also didn't think the Passion of the Christ was what you believe it to be either.

Of course it was wrong for Gibson to go on an anti-semitic tirade or whatever. But at least he admitted it happened and apologized instead of covering it up.

[Miasmo]

Much of what I was going to write was written as 'mad miasmo' and I'd rather keep him under the bed as much as possible.;)

I will ask this. For those who already suspected Mel of being an anti-semite, how does this incident really affect your opinion of him? If you think it confirms his agenda behind The Passion, okay. Now what? Is that really what you want an apology for? You probably wouldn't think he was sincere about it anyway.

[Justin]

Aw come on dude, at least PM me your comments, ha ha.

As far as the people who already hated Mel Gibson and said he was antisemitic this makes no difference to them, they would go on hating him anyway.

[Miasmo]

Question, Disney/ABC dumped the Holocaust era series he was producing. Did this happen right after this thing blew up? If so, that's a pretty big punishment. I think they said it was for other reasons but ...

And it's just one of many indirect punishments that he will face in the weeks to come I'm sure. But I guess he deserves it all and more, eh?

[P-Ray]

Question, Disney/ABC dumped the Holocaust era series he was producing. Did this happen right after this thing blew up? If so, that's a pretty big punishment. I think they said it was for other reasons but ...

And it's just one of many indirect punishments that he will face in the weeks to come I'm sure. But I guess he deserves it all and more, eh?

That happened today. The media was talking yesterday that was in the works and then the cancellation was anounced today.

[Sam]

Much of what I was going to write was written as 'mad miasmo' and I'd rather keep him under the bed as much as possible.;)

I will ask this. For those who already suspected Mel of being an anti-semite, how does this incident really affect your opinion of him? If you think it confirms his agenda behind The Passion, okay. Now what? Is that really what you want an apology for? You probably wouldn't think he was sincere about it anyway.

It isn't how the incident affects my opinion of him. It's that he's been putting religious bigotry, homophobia and anti-semitism in high-profile films, one of which proved to be the most culturally divisive in recent memory, and getting away with it. Now that he's been caught, he won't be throwing any more gasoline on the fire of the culture war anytime soon.

As for his apology, time and his future actions (which speak louder than words) will tell whether it's sincere or not.

[Miasmo]

Well for now it's your word over mine, since I can tell you've paid a lot more attention to the events surrounding The Passion and Mel's other decisions than I have. I know when I don't have room to talk, and I don't have much right now. I don't think it's been as divisive as some may say, but I suppose it very well could be. Maybe I'm just not taking the generally fickle mood of the country in recent years very seriously. I have that tendency.

If there's one thing we have in common, it would probably be that we're both interested in some way what Mel Gibson decides to do in the wake of this.

[DblDwn]

Mel Gibson, on the other hand, made a film which used the most violent take on the Passion Play ever conceived to divide America

I wouldn't call it more violent. I would call it more accurate. I repsect the fact that he took a topic as highly regarded as the final hours of Jesus' life and made it more realistic. I mean do you think that they just slapped Christ on the wrist a couple of times and put him on the cross. Kudos to Mel for making a much more accurate take on the death of Christ than we have ever seen before.

[Master Cephus]

Let me add to what DblDown said. Whether you agree or not with the book, Mel Gibson used the bible as his source in creating the movie. Jesus' death was violent, and usually directors choose to not show it as graphic. Gibson didn't distort history, he used the source he believes to be the supreme source.

And to be honest, the bible does say that the Jews did crucify Jesus. Matthew 27:25 talks of the Jews saying let Jesus's blood be on them and their children. Now this isn't the place to debate whether or not you beleive that or not, the point is that Mel Gibson used the bible as the source. That's why there was a Jewish outcry about the movie.

I can't speak of Braveheart because I don't know the history of the subject he covered, but he is not the only one who tends to swerve away from historical accuracy. Mel Gibson tells stories. That's his job. He isn't a person who makes documentaries, he tells stories in his way. If you don't like them, then just don't watch the movies...it's not that hard to do.

Personally, he messed up. He is a man and we mess up sometimes. It's a fact of life. He is apologizing for it and is trying to make amends. You can think that it's him trying to save his face and he doesn't really mean it, or you can genuinely feel is trying to apologize. It's your choice.

[P-Ray]

I wouldn't call it more violent. I would call it more accurate. I repsect the fact that he took a topic as highly regarded as the final hours of Jesus' life and made it more realistic. I mean do you think that they just slapped Christ on the wrist a couple of times and put him on the cross. Kudos to Mel for making a much more accurate take on the death of Christ than we have ever seen before.

I agree completely. I commend him for the risk he took telling the accurate Biblical account of Jesus' suffering.

[P-Ray]

[quote=Master Cephus]
And to be honest, the bible does say that the Jews did crucify Jesus. Matthew 27:25 talks of the Jews saying let Jesus's blood be on them and their children. Now this isn't the place to debate whether or not you quote]

True and it wasn't all the Jews just a select few who where in high political power. Plus they were more interested in the laws and rules instead of the true message. To me Mel was pointing out the accuracy of the small select group who happened to be Jewish. He(and The Bible) don't condemn all the Jews. There are some bad cops, some bad Doctors, etc. as well as people that do wrong in many races and religions. It doesn't make everyone in that particular group bad.

[Zedekk]

Let me add to what DblDown said. Whether you agree or not with the book, Mel Gibson used the bible as his source in creating the movie. Jesus' death was violent, and usually directors choose to not show it as graphic. Gibson didn't distort history, he used the source he believes to be the supreme source.

And to be honest, the bible does say that the Jews did crucify Jesus. Matthew 27:25 talks of the Jews saying let Jesus's blood be on them and their children. Now this isn't the place to debate whether or not you beleive that or not, the point is that Mel Gibson used the bible as the source. That's why there was a Jewish outcry about the movie.


Please keep in mind that the bible which Mel used as his source book for the movie is highly inaccurate and biased and has been re-written by church authorities (councile of Nicene c.a. 450 AD) with their own agenda. Not to mention that the authors of the gospels were writting for a roman audiance (ca 70 AD), so you can imagine the spin they put on it just to stay alive. Not going to turn this into a theology theard, but I do have to mention that the Jews do not crucify the people they want to kill. The jews stone people to death. The romans flogged Jesus, and the romans crucified him (ca 30 AD). Also the romans crucified hundreds of thousands of other criminals. The cross was basicly their gallows or electric chair. why you would want to wear a device of torture and death is another thing entirely. I'm just mentioning all this for a more accurate outlook on the times during that era.

[Saranac]

remember in mad max when he shoots that guy off the motorcycle with his double barrel shotgun....awesome

[Zedekk]

I love that scene!

[DblDwn]

remember in mad max when he shoots that guy off the motorcycle with his double barrel shotgun....awesome

That's tremendous because I was going to reference Mad Max myself to get away from the Sunday School discussion.

How about in Maverick, when you think the movie is over, and then it ends up having as many endings as Return of the King. That was really.............confusing...............but in an awesome kinda way.

(For the record I happen to enjoy that movie so I'm not bashing it, just being sarcastic for the sake of being sarcastic. I love the Danny Glover cameo as the bank robber.)

[P-Ray]

How about in Maverick, when you think the movie is over, and then it ends up having as many endings as Return of the King. That was really.............confusing...............but in an awesome kinda way.
cameo as the bank robber.)
I absolutely love that movie!

[DblDwn]

That is one that I need to get on DVD but I keep forgetting about. I need to write this down.

[P-Ray]

That is one that I need to get on DVD but I keep forgetting about. I need to write this down.
I have it on DVD but haven't watched it in a while. From this, it is now on my to watch list.

[empire21]

That is one that I need to get on DVD but I keep forgetting about. I need to write this down.

Same here, infact I think i'm going to look for it today.

[P-Ray]

I thought that this was interesting!

Look Who’s Slamming Mel Gibson
Some in the media who have been sharply critical of Mel Gibson for his disparaging remarks about Jews during his July 28 arrest are not without baggage themselves.
A police report leaked by a Web site disclosed that during Gibson’s arrest on suspicion of drunk driving, he told an officer, “The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world,” and asked him, “Are you a Jew?”
Gibson issued an apology. Nevertheless, on July 31, several prominent voices in the media sought to lambaste the star.


Noted political commentator Christopher Hitchens said: “I was just in the middle of writing a long and tedious essay about how to tell a real anti-Semite from a person who too loudly rejects the charge of anti-Semitism, when a near-perfect real-life example came to hand.”

Here is what Hitchens said on March 23, 2000, when he debated Catholic League President Bill Donohue: “I might have to admit for debate purposes that when religion is attacked in this country that the Catholic Church comes in for little more than its fair share. I may say that I probably contributed somewhat to that and I am not ashamed of my part in it.”

Barbara Walters and Joy Behar spoke out against Gibson on “The View.” Walters said: “I don’t want to see any more Mel Gibson movies.” Behar added: “The world is so dangerous between what’s going on in the Middle East right now, and for this idiot to come out and say things . . . ”
On Sept. 28, 2005, Donohue wrote an open letter to Walters regarding the Sept. 22 episode and accused Behar and co-hosts of “speaking in the most disparaging way about the Catholic Church’s teachings on women, celibacy, and homosexuality.” He added that “as the executive producer of this show, you looked on approvingly.”

And liberal commentator Arianna Huffington said: “For starters, the town’s players need to step up and publicly condemn Gibson’s vile comments.”
On April 14, 2005, two weeks after the death of Pope John Paul II, Huffington blasted the Pope for his teachings on sexuality, saying that “in his perversion pecking order, you had to be dead-set against ‘self-love’ but when it came to buggering little kids, there was some wiggle room.”
Donohue concluded in a release from the Catholic League: "While Mel is deeply apologetic for his offensive remarks, these people brazenly wear their anti-Catholic bigotry on their sleeves."

[DblDwn]

I can respect Barbara Walter's opinion because she is, in some circles, a respected journalist. But Joy Behar needs to shut up entirely. She has as much credibility as OJ so her opinion is moot as far as I am concerned.

Speaking of the View, and for the definitive record I don't watch but I do have ears so I hear things, can someone please tell Elizabeth that her husband is a garbage NFL QB and that he is one more bad pass, in practice mind you, away from moving to Berlin when the only job he can get is as a backup in NFL Europe. I've heard that she goes on and on as if she was married to Peyton Manning. Shut up already.

Back to Mel though.................

[P-Ray]

I can respect Barbara Walter's opinion because she is, in some circles, a respected journalist. But Joy Behar needs to shut up entirely. She has as much credibility as OJ so her opinion is moot as far as I am concerned.
Back to Mel though.................
Yeah, Joy's had a big mouth, IMO.

[DblDwn]

What do you all think of the trailer for Apocalypto? It looks like it has potential. I probably won't go see it in the theater, rather wait until it is on Starz or HBO, but it certainly doesn't look boring. I just have to get into the right mood to read subtitles for an entire movie.

[Virus]

What do you all think of the trailer for Apocalypto? It looks like it has potential. I probably won't go see it in the theater, rather wait until it is on Starz or HBO, but it certainly doesn't look boring. I just have to get into the right mood to read subtitles for an entire movie.

Looks kinda dull. I most likely will NOT see this in the theater

[Virus]

Speaking of the View, and for the definitive record I don't watch but I do have ears so I hear things, can someone please tell Elizabeth that her husband is a garbage NFL QB and that he is one more bad pass, in practice mind you, away from moving to Berlin when the only job he can get is as a backup in NFL Europe. I've heard that she goes on and on as if she was married to Peyton Manning. Shut up already.

I totally agree. Shes super-duper hot and cute but she needs to keep her mouth shut. Especially after she broke down in tears about the morning after pill. Talk about not knowing your facts and a looney.

Back to Mel....

[Master Magnus]

I wouldn't call it more violent. I would call it more accurate. I repsect the fact that he took a topic as highly regarded as the final hours of Jesus' life and made it more realistic. I mean do you think that they just slapped Christ on the wrist a couple of times and put him on the cross. Kudos to Mel for making a much more accurate take on the death of Christ than we have ever seen before.
Really? I beg to differ. There are quite a few things that aren't included in the Bible that the movie has been embellished with. Among those are non-Biblical elements taken from Emmerich's The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, other scenes such as Satan tempting Jesus in Gethsemane, children who appear to be demons is the reason Judas committing suicide, Jesus being beaten by fellow Jews etc. are nowhere to be found in the Bible. Another thing, Pilate was renowned for his cruelty, he was even recalled to Rome for it. He wouldn't have objected to the scourging (or even bothered about individual executions).

[Miasmo]

Looks kinda dull. I most likely will NOT see this in the theater
I don't think I could stand the people in the theatre reading out loud. You know it'll happen.

[DblDwn]

I don't think I could stand the people in the theatre reading out loud. You know it'll happen.

Now that's a great point.

[T-bone]

yea - easy now.

[Javen]

I wanna see the video of this tirade. All police cars have it. So where is it? If it doesn't show up, even though Mel owned up to some things it is also mostly hearsay since no video, no audio.

[P-Ray]

Really? I beg to differ. Another thing, Pilate was renowned for his cruelty, he was even recalled to Rome for it. He wouldn't have objected to the scourging (or even bothered about individual executions).
Actually his portrayal in "The Passion" was accurate according to Luke 22 & 23 of the NIV Bible.

[P-Ray]

This article about Mel in Lethal Weapon 5 has to be a joke.

http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270338&obj_id=51926

[Miasmo]

It doesn't sound right. Too soon after the incident. I wouldn't read too much into it for now.

[P-Ray]

It doesn't sound right. Too soon after the incident. I wouldn't read too much into it for now.
I agree! There's no way especially this soon.

[Miasmo]

Although it's the perfect time to start a rumor like that. ;)

[empire21]

I agree! There's no way especially this soon.
Same here, but it would be nice to have another Lethal Weapon movie.

[Master Magnus]

Actually his portrayal in "The Passion" was accurate according to Luke 22 & 23 of the NIV Bible.
Perhaps if we look at the Bible, but the movie has been embellished further (and then there are other things to consider which has no place in this thread).

This article about Mel in Lethal Weapon 5 has to be a joke.

http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial...8&obj_id=51926 (http://www.cinescape.com/0/editorial.asp?aff_id=0&this_cat=Movies&action=page&type_id=&cat_id=270338&obj_id=51926)
Great find, P-Ray! Hmm... it's hard to tell one way or the other.

[DblDwn]

I remember reading that he would only agree to do Lethal Weapon 4 if they killed Riggs off at the end. That way he wouldn't have to deal with the possibility of a 5th installment in the series. That is why I expected him to die when he was pinned underwater at the end of LW4. Obviously he did not and we got the more traditional happy ending of child birth and everyone celebrating in the hospital. With that in mind I think it would be a complete shock if he signed on to do a LW5. He certainly doesn't need the money. Although perhaps it would help to replenish his image if he were to go back to what worked before. The real question isn't whether or not Mel will eventually do a LW5 but rather can they get Danny Glover, Renee Russo, Chris Rock, Joe Pesci, etc to sign on for another go around because, where I really have no problem with what he did because everyone makes mistakes and I don't feel that we should suffer forever over an isolated incident amid a night of poor judgement, perhaps any or all of these other actors will refuse to work with him now that this has happened.

[Saranac]

idk generally the acting community huddles together, i think alot of actors have too much respect for him already to just go ahead and blacklist him. People will probably forget alot of this in like 2 years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5248516.stm

[DblDwn]

If not sooner. There is already a growing support group in Hollywood which seems to get bigger by the day.

[P-Ray]

The real question isn't whether or not Mel will eventually do a LW5 but rather can they get Danny Glover, Renee Russo, Chris Rock, Joe Pesci, etc to sign on for another go around because, where I really have no problem with what he did because everyone makes mistakes and I don't feel that we should suffer forever over an isolated incident amid a night of poor judgement, perhaps any or all of these other actors will refuse to work with him now that this has happened.
Very true and I agree completely! He shouldn't have to pay for this forever.

I've heard some of the things said about Mel from other actors, etc. and it's annoying because he is well respected so everyone's going to immediately badmouth him. And not only that, many of the people bad mouthing him have possibly done far worse and it's been overlooked or forgiven.

[P-Ray]

Same here, but it would be nice to have another Lethal Weapon movie.
Yes, it would. I love those movies!

[P-Ray]

If not sooner. There is already a growing support group in Hollywood which seems to get bigger by the day.
That's definitely good to hear.

[P-Ray]

If not sooner. There is already a growing support group in Hollywood which seems to get bigger by the day.
Her's an article about it!

Mel Gibson’s Hollywood Friends Speak Out
Mel Gibson’s numerous Hollywood friends have started to publicly speak out on his behalf.
Actor Patrick Swayze told the UK’s GMTV that Gibson is “a wonderful human being. He is not anti-Semitic.”
Swayze, who is starring in the West End production of "Guys and Dolls," said, "People say stupid things when they happen to have a few, and especially if you don't drink any more, or have limited your drinking for a long time and all of a sudden you decide to have one too many with the boys — you are stupid.”
Jodie Foster, who starred with Gibson in the film “Maverick,” told the Los Angeles Times that when she first heard the news about Gibson’s arrest, and the statements he had made, she refused to believe it.
“Someone told me what had happened, and I said, ‘That is just so not true,’” she explained.
After confirming the accuracy of the story, Foster evidently felt deep sadness that a man she considers “one of the nicest, most honest men I have ever met” had fallen in this manner.
“Is he an anti-Semite? Absolutely not,” Foster insisted. “But it's no secret that he has always fought a terrible battle with alcoholism. I just wish I had been there, that I had been able to say, 'Don't do it. Don't take that drink.’”
"Mel is honest, loyal, kind, but alcoholism has been a lifelong struggle for him and his family,” Foster added.
Producer Dean Devlin spent the afternoon prior to the arrest with Gibson. Devlin worked with Gibson on “The Patriot” and “Braveheart.”
“I have been with Mel when he has fallen off,” Devlin said, “and he becomes a completely different person. It is pretty horrifying.”
“I consider Mel one of my best friends in Hollywood,” Devlin revealed.
“The day this happened, my wife had gotten this long letter from Mel full of congratulations [for the birth of the Devlins' first child] and talking about the joys of being a parent,” Devlin explained.
He then contributed a unique perspective on the issue of anti-Semitism: “She's Jewish. I'm Jewish. If Mel is an anti-Semite, then he spends a lot of time with us, which makes no sense. But he is an alcoholic, and while that makes no excuse for what he said, because there is no excuse, I believe it was the disease speaking, not the man.”
Devlin remembers that, while working on "The Patriot," Gibson went to a small South Carolina town and provided the financing to build a battered women's shelter.
“He does things like that all the time,” Devlin said. “When my parents were dying from cancer, Mel called me two and three times a week from on set, sent me names of doctors, books. He was totally there for me.”

[P-Ray]

This one made me laugh!

George Bush Blamed for Mel Gibson’s Problems?
Media critic Neal Gabler has come up with the ultimate lefty explanation for Mel Gibson’s drunken ramblings from the back seat of a squad car.
Writing for the Salon Web site, Gibson’s problems are President Bush’s fault, according to Gabler.
Along with the hurricane devastation in New Orleans and skyrocketing gas prices, Gabler ties Gibson’s tirade-under-the-influence to the radicalization of America “since the election of George Bush.”
Gabler writes that “the merger of evangelical Christianity, which has long had a tinge of racism and anti-Semitism, with right-wing Republicanism has had many effects on American culture and politics, but perhaps the foremost among them is that it has legitimized attitudes that were previously considered illegitimate by the custodians of the social order.”
According to Gabler, Gibson has been the beneficiary of the Bush “radicalism” and has courted “those for whom extremism in the defense of their version of liberty is no vice.”
Although Gabler admits that Bush has not actively sanctioned hate speech, he claims that by “fomenting the culture wars” and “polarizing the country” Bush “has given license to hate-mongers under the cover this time of an impending cultural Armageddon.”
To support his contention, Gabler cites Tony Snow’s use of the term “murder” in relation to abortion or embryonic stem cell research and Karl Rove’s labeling of Democrats as treasonous and weak on terror.
This, writes Gabler, is feeding “the hate machine.”

[Justin]

Same here, but it would be nice to have another Lethal Weapon movie.
Actually I'd much rather see a new Mad Max movie. That would be awesome.

[Virus]

^nah, he's past his prime for both. Time for something new. But I agree that I would rather see another Mad Max than another Lethal Weapon movie

[Justin]

I don't think that can be said for a Mad Max movie. What happens to Mad Max when he's 50? Surely he would still be a badass and going on adventures, ha ha.

[Virus]

I don't think that can be said for a Mad Max movie. What happens to Mad Max when he's 50? Surely he would still be a badass and going on adventures, ha ha.

True.

Funny about all this cause just before this happened I watched Max Mad beyond Thunderdome. Just an average movie but nothing comes close to how good Mad Max 2 (The Road Warrior).

[DblDwn]

I've rewatched Mad Max a few times in the last couple of months on cable, and Thunderdome is on all the time but not that great of a movie in my opinion, but you bring up a good point Cyrus. I need to track down The Road Warrior and watch that again. That one is a classic.

[Miasmo]

Do they not offer a Mad Max trilogy set? I can't find one. If that's the case, seems kind of odd. Though it would probably have to to with rights and contracts and ultimately $$$.

[Saranac]

Not only do they not have a boxset, they don't even have a special edition of Road Warrior on dvd, how sad. It was one of those early ones released at the beginning of the dvd revolution, with those crap menu's.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0790729342/sr=8-1/qid=1155152863/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-5605798-1494358?ie=UTF8

[Virus]

Road Warrior is one of the best movies of all time. It has a great plot from the beginning to the last scene. The acting is just fine and Gibson is the man in this film.

As Saranac has stated, these movies are in a desperate need of a trilogy boxset or even individual special editions. I have The Road Warrior on DVD (at least you can buy it really cheap) and it is very very below average especially when it sits near my Matrix, LOTR and Star Wars trilogies DVDs. But if you truely love this movie, it is a must for you DVD collection.

[P-Ray]

Interesting reading that we may not see on the news!

Mel Gibson: My Wife a ‘Saint'
Two blonde women who were with Mel Gibson before his DUI arrest and anti-semitic remarks said he spent an hour talking to them about his family and declared that his wife Robyn was a "saint."
Julie Smith, 27, and Kimberley Lesak, 29, said they were at Moonshadows bar in Malibu when an intoxicated Gibson entered. The women befriended him and asked him to pose with them for a photograph.
"He stopped off to sober up – he was probably terrified about what his wife would say if he arrived home in that state," Levak told the Daily Telegraph in Australia, where Gibson was raised.
"He floated around talking to everyone. We know now he was over the legal limit – but at that point he was not stumbling drunk."
Said Smith: "He wasn't an angry drunk saying anti-Jewish things when we saw him."
Levak said she was standing with Gibson at the back of the bar when he began talking about his family.
"He had his head in his hands and he was running his fingers through his hair saying, 'Oh no.'
"It was probably because he was thinking to himself, 'What am I doing here?'
"Earlier I was talking with him about his family and his kids, not in detail, but he did say his wife was a saint."
The women said several people offered him a lift home.
Gibson opted to drive, and was pulled over for speeding with an open bottle of tequila on the back seat about 30 minutes after he left the bar.
He reportedly told the arresting officer: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world." He later issued an apology.

[empire21]

Where did you find that P-Ray?

[P-Ray]

Where did you find that P-Ray?

Newsmax.com if I remember correctly.

[empire21]

Cool, thanks buddy.

[P-Ray]

Cool, thanks buddy.
No problema (T2 reference of course:D )

[P-Ray]

. Mel Gibson’s Arresting Officer Under Investigation

Deputy James Mee, the arresting officer in the now famous Mel Gibson DUI case, is the subject of an investigation.

The investigation involves the possible leaking to the media of confidential information relating to the pending (at the time) investigation of Gibson.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has confirmed to the entertainment reporting network TMZ, that a search warrant was obtained for a raid of Deputy Mee’s residence. The search took place on Sept. 13, and Mee's computer, phone records, and other documents were seized.

Evidently, the Sheriff's Department conducted the search because of a belief that Deputy Mee was the person who leaked four pages of Gibson's original arrest report to TMZ.

According to the Sheriff's Department, it is a crime for a law enforcement officer to leak confidential material during a pending investigation.

The contents of the warrant and the results of the search have not been made public.

[P-Ray]

Apocalypto review!


http://www.aintitcool.com/node/30843

[Virus]

This movie is kinda growing on me....I would like to see if but will probably wait till DVD

[P-Ray]

MEL GIBSON FEELS 'KRAMER'S PAIN


Though he's lost many fans after being captured on video hurling racist epithets at a comedy club audience, Michael Richards has an ally: Mel Gibson. "I felt like sending Michael Richards a note," Gibson says in an interview in Entertainment Weekly's Dec. 8 issue.
"I feel really badly for the guy. He was obviously in a state of stress. You don't need to be inebriated to be bent out of shape. But my heart went out to the guy."
The 50-year-old actor-director added: "They'll probably torture him for a while and then let him go. I like him."
After his Nov. 17 tirade became known, Richards apologized on David Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS, saying his remarks were sparked by anger at being heckled, not bigotry. He also apologized to the Rev. Al Sharpton and on the Rev. Jesse Jackson's syndicated radio program.

Gibson, star of the "Lethal Weapon" movies and director of "The Passion of the Christ," was mired in a scandal of his own this summer for anti-Semitic comments he made to police in Malibu, Calif., during his arrest on suspicion of drunken driving. He publicly apologized.
Are people refusing to work with him?
"No, people aren't like that," Gibson tells the magazine. "Those are just the headlines: Mel ostracized by Hollywood! Hollywood is what you make it. There is no great pooh-bah up there saying, `Go! You are condemned!'"
Gibson says he's not anti-Semitic.
"I never have been and never would be," he says. "But (the incident) hit this fear thing in me. My god, I made people afraid. ... And it was a horrible feeling. That's when I said, `My god, I don't want to be that monster.'"
His new movie, "Apocalypto," from The Walt Disney Co.'s Touchstone Pictures, opens Dec. 8. It is a Mayan-language epic filmed in Mexico chronicling the decline of the native civilization.

He's confident his past remarks will not hurt the movie at the box office. "It's primarily entertainment," he says of his production. "An 18-year-old college guy, out with his buddies, he's going to get into the chase. The movie will stand on its own, regardless of any unfortunate experience I may have stumbled upon."

[Sam]

A must-read article about how historians are reacting to Apocalypto.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/08/AR2006120801815_pf.html

[kopernikuz]

Well, for what it's worth... I never felt for a moment that I was supposed to be watching an historical epic. It was an action adventure film set against a dark and brutal period in a great empire's reign. We don't see any of the positive aspects of the Mayan empire, because Jaguar Paw's character doesn't... and he's the one we see everything through. It just isn't part of the story being told.

I mean, seriously, must we find some way to be offended by everything these days? Are we seriously worried that people will leave the theater going "Those frikkin Mayans..." lol. Seriously, though it makes great gossip... Mel Gibson is not out to "get" the Mayans now. He hasn't moved to the next race of people he wants to disgrace on his hit list. There is no hit list. It's just a movie and a pretty jaw-dropping one at that.

I remember history class. I remember all the cool things the Mayans invented that are still used today in various respects. I remember their contributions to culture... I also remember they cut hearts out of living people for church service, okay? It ain't pretty... but I don't sit around (and I'm betting neither does Mel) thinking... wow, the Mayans were all a bunch of wackos! Nor do I assume that any living people descended from Mayans are awful people. Unless they're engaging in human sacrifice, which I'm sure we'd have heard about if they were... so everything is cool.

It's just a movie... and not a history text. And there are subtle parallels to political views of the day written into the film that I figured the Washington Post would eat up, not interview historians to try and discredit it's accuracy, which is unecessary. Seriously... a society headed by a leader committed to a religion who rounds up young men and sends them off to be slaughtered? I can't believe a liberal hasn't said this is analagous to Bush sending soldiers off to Iraq and praised Mel for his artistic sensibilities.

But no... Mel's the target of the moment... we must allow the media their fun.

In the end, here's my non-political view of the film... it's a non-stop action fest that's a brutal onslaught to the senses. You can't help but root for Jaguar Paw to escape his fate and get back to rescue his wife and sons. It is really brutal and tough to watch... and I don't mean the human sacrifice scenes, some of the other stuff is tougher... but there were about four people together who left the theater when that began... they'd had enough. It's a violent film. I don't remember hearing anyone leave a SAW movie because it was too violent... so I assume people just didn't know this was going to be? I dunno.

I thought it was well crafted and well-acted and a thrill ride. Historical accuracy: D... Action-filled Thrills: B+

I wonder what Mel would have done with "Last of the Mohicans"... certainly a more faithful adaptation than the Daniel Day-Lewis one, eh? That's a brutal book.

[Miasmo]

It's just a movie... and not a history text.

That's the thing. Any move Gibson has made since passion hasn't been 'just' anything. It's been looked on with a much more critical eye than is probably deserved. I say it's mostly the mood of people these days.

I personally couldn't give a rat's bum, but I can see where people may have issues. Maybe their realization of what Mel was really trying to do with Apocalypto will soften that critical eye for his future projects.

But I guess I'd still like to hear what he has to say about the accusations.

[kopernikuz]

But I guess I'd still like to hear what he has to say about the accusations.Accusations? What's he accused of now? Anti-Mayanism?

[Javen]

Accusations? What's he accused of now? Anti-Mayanism?
:lol:

I'm sure that is next.

[kopernikuz]

Seriously... there's nothing to accuse... unless they truly believe that he has it in for the Mayans. He's either has an anti-Mayan agenda he's pushing with his film... or he's a poor historian. The latter isn't a punishable crime... there are a plethora of them in Hollywood.

Gladiator portrayed the Romans as violent blood-thirsty people who craved brutal and torturous entertainment. Was it true? For some, yes... but let's not forget the roads, the aqueducts, architecture, and everything else the Roman empire brought the world (anybody see the Life of Brian? If you did, you're chuckling right now).

Thing is, nobody accused Ridley Scott of trying to paint them in a bad light. There are also a good handful of historical inaccuracies in his film as well... it won a freaking Oscar.

I'm not discounting these historians' points. They're right about the history. But let's be frank... if this were not Mel Gibson... this would not be an issue. Period.

Accusations? Look... if there is $10 in someone's pocket... and they don't like the history... they can go see Deck The Halls. That's the beauty of America and capitalism... we can speak with our wallets. Just ask Tom Cruise, the Dixie Chicks, and soon Michael Richards who have all felt or will feel the sting of disagreement through monetary means. But they all moved on... (we've yet to see what Richards will do).

It just seems silly to harp about this... Mel Gibson could make a film about fluffy bunnies dancing in a field for two hours... and someone would complain that he made the bunnies the wrong species to hang out in that kind of field. Let's forget that bunnies can't dance. It's sad really.

Just spend $10 elsewhere. Donate it to charity.

[Tovor]

Accusations? What's he accused of now? Anti-Mayanism?
Well I heard that he shuns mayonaise on his sandwiches, but that may be due to the high fat content rather than racism...or mayonism, as it were.



Just sayin'.

[Miasmo]

Apparently I shouldn't have used the word accusations ...

[kopernikuz]

No, it's cool... I'm curious what you mean... do you feel he needs to answer for something with the film? I only shared how I feel about it... doesn't mean you can't, lol.

Besides... it isn't your wording... in fact it isn't anything to do with you at all. I just watch the media fall over themselves to paint him in a bad light... and trust me, I have no love for some of his behavior... but it just seems like overkill...

[Miasmo]

I was kind of referencing the people that the article was referencing. The people that might be offended or angry that it's not historically accurate. I don't know that it will actually come to anything very big, but we live in times of fickle attitudes.

I do agree, the media eats this stuff up.

[P-Ray]

Apocalypto gets top spot!

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=17919

[Virus]

I rented Apocalypto and I must say that this was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Just about everything this film has to offer is top-notched and perfect. 9/10

[empire21]

Is it subtitled, Virus?

[Javen]

Yes. Although I am not Virus. I play one on TV.

[empire21]

Damn! I hate reading when watching a movie. :ohwell:

Thanks Javen!

[Virus]

Damn! I hate reading when watching a movie. :ohwell:

Thanks Javen!

Its not that hard. :giveup: :banghead:

Just try it and it is well worth it for this movie

[empire21]

It's not that it's hard it's just annoying, but i'll probably still check it out.

[Justin]

I rented Apocalypto and I must say that this was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. Just about everything this film has to offer is top-notched and perfect. 9/10
I watched it yesterday night and I agree, it was awesome. It was like Die Hard in a Jungle, ha ha.

[kopernikuz]

Yeah, I went to this opening night at the theater and it was a phenomenal action flick... very brutal, not for the faint at heart... but just well-paced and exciting.

As for the subtitles, you're missing out on a lot of great movies if you don't watch the subtitled ones... Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for example... and I think filming in the original languages of the culture you're depicting does alienate the "I don't want to read the movie" crowd, it actually makes the films more powerful for me... I think it takes you out of it a little when ancient peoples speak the King's English, lol... While Ben-Hur and Ten Commandments are pretty good flicks, no one for a second is really "drawn into" the world being portrayed when they hear Charlton Heston speaking English, lol... you just know it didn't go down that way :)

Of course we are on a message board where our favorite movie series has an entire Empire that only recruits officers from the UK, lol.

[Virus]

I watched it yesterday night and I agree, it was awesome. It was like Die Hard in a Jungle, ha ha.

Definitely. But I love movies like that where it becomes one vs many. Such as First Blood, Omega Man (kinda), Die Hard, and theres some others but my mind is blank now.

Still....this is just a great movie with awesome pacing and it never lets down. Plus its really nice to see what a "real" film without the studios butting in on the work. Mel was able to finance the entire film and it shows that it looks perfect (Sam Raimi, take note).

[DblDwn]

I'll be honest. I'm not a fan of subtitles either. I've never seen CT,HD or Passion of the Christ because of it. Based on the recent statements here I'm thinking that I may need to check out this film once it hits cable.

[Virus]

I'll be honest. I'm not a fan of subtitles either. I've never seen CT,HD or Passion of the Christ because of it. Based on the recent statements here I'm thinking that I may need to check out this film once it hits cable.

Rent it now cause its amazing and will have you on the edge of your seat.