Unseen Movie Review: Apocalypto

Movies Columns

By Robert Dixter Dec 5, 2006, 0:15 GMT

There were only 2 things I wanted really badly when I was in high school. The first was to finally get hair on my chest so I could walk around with four buttons undone on my shirt, the second was to see ‘Lethal Weapon.’ I never did see ‘Lethal Weapon’ in the theater since it was rated R and my parents felt that such violence is better experienced on television in the home.

Over the years I have always enjoyed Mel Gibson’s films. I thought ‘Lethal Weapon 2’ was better than the first and I was blown away by ‘Braveheart.’ Even his more trivial films like ‘Maverick’ and ‘Payback’ seemed like a night of doing ex-lax shots. Fun while you were doing it but usually left you with an empty feeling later.However in all his films, Mel never really seems like he’s acting. It always seemed like his real boisterous personality that you could watch in interviews coming through on the screen. You tell me if you see a difference in his performances in ‘Conspiracy,’ ‘Maverick,’ ‘Payback’ or even ‘What Women Want?’I’m not saying that’s bad. In fact most Hollywood celebrities have made careers out of their true personalities and playing the same character over and over again. Vin Diesel, Sylvester Stallone and Elmo (really, that little red guy has no range whatsoever).But little did the unsuspecting public realize that Mel’s true character would shine through when he was arrested for drunk driving and went into a crazed rant about how Jews were responsible for starting all the wars. At first I thought I could separate the man from the art, because even though Mel always plays the same character on screen, when he directs films he has a very sure idea of what he wants and is very talented in this area. And I wanted to continue to enjoy watching his movies. In the past celebrities’ actions have never bothered me to the point of boycotting their works. I was upset when Woody Allen started dating Soon Yi and thought it was very creepy to say the least, but I could always put it outside my mind when I was watching his movies. I can’t seem to do that with Mel. Over the past few months whenever I come across a Mel Gibson movie on TV I change the channel. It used to be that whenever I came across ‘Braveheart’ or ‘Payback’ I would get sucked in and end up watching at least a half hour of the film. Now I just change over to whatever the Tennis Network is showing (amazing isn’t it? A while network devoted to tennis and balls).This week Disney is releasing Mel Gibson’s ‘Apocalypto,’ and the advance buzz on the film is that it’s pretty good. But I won’t be seeing it and I’m sure a lot of other people won’t be seeing it either based simply on Mel’s drunken outburst. I would have thought that after such a dumb public display of hatred on Mel’s part, Disney would have been smarter than to sell the film as ‘Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto.’Why are they pushing his name so much for the film? Do they think that the crowds that turned out for ‘Passion of the Christ’ will think this is the sequel? Passion brought in audiences who wanted to see that particular subject matter, they won’t follow a filmmaker on to his next movie unless that movie was called ‘Passion 2: More Christ.’Disney is trying to sell a movie by an anti-Semite (Hey Patrick Swayze and Dean Devlin, I don’t care what you say. If Mel is yelling about Jews starting wars he’s an anti-Semite) that has no stars and is not in English. The funny thing is that the only person who loses in this whole equation is Disney. They’ve backed a turkey for a film while Mel is still living off the fortune he made from ‘Passion of the Christ’ and apparently if you watch the arrest film drinking enough booze to make Peter O’Toole stop and say “Wow, now that’s a party”.

View blog reactions

If you liked this story please support M&C and Buzz the site on Yahoo.

Latest Headlines in Movies

Talkback

Add your comment (no registration required)

page: 1

DukecitymomDec 4th, 2006 - 18:25:30

I like Mel Gibson and all of his work. I will go see his new film, and his drunken tyraid has nothing to do with his films! Have you ever said anything at all while you were drunk that you didn't mean? Of course you have! If you haven't, then you really have never been drunk! LOL. I think people need to step back, take a breath and stop taking everything so seriously! What ever happened to grace and forgiveness! I am a minority so this is not coming from someone who does not know about discrimination. All I am saying is that if people are constantly running around being afraid of what some drunk guy is spewing, than we are in serious trouble.

Report this comment

RDec 6th, 2006 - 19:42:53

'If Mel is yelling about Jews starting wars he’s an anti-Semite'

Have you ever heard of Israel... have you seen how many wars they have started? Yeah, quite a few... Consequently, is what he saying so untrue...

Report this comment

page: 1

Add your comment (no registration required)

Latest from M&C Blogs

Debate: did McCain do enough? - Global Eye on September 29, 2008 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBacks (1)

Should Sen. John McCain's health records be made public? - Global Eye on September 15, 2008 8:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (49) | TrackBacks (0)

Propaganda and the campaign for president - Global Eye on September 9, 2008 7:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

London Film Festival - Dean Spanley - London Calling on October 6, 2008 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Raindance Film Festival: Gardens Of The Night - London Calling on October 6, 2008 9:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

London Film Festival - IL DIVO Review - London Calling on October 1, 2008 3:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Devotee to Chinese Shrine of Sapam has face pierced - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Indian Muslims offer prayers on the occasion of Eid-al-Fitr - The World in Pictures on October 2, 2008 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Movies

Unseen Movie Review: Apocalypto

Movies Columns

Latest Headlines in Movies

Talkback

Latest from M&C Blogs

Apocalypto

Related Articles

More about Mel Gibson

External Links

In Monsters and Critics

Corporate

The Fine Print