I think he is on the cutting edge of what might be called mainstream "violence porn", outside of a horror-movie context. He needs to take some time to relax and do something like Kindergarten Cop. For the moment I can't recall the last gentle romance film he was in, can anyone think of any?
He is a brillant director but as you said the his work now is very close to violent porn.
By the way, I am not criticizing a movie about the Siege of Vienna per se, it sounds interesting...it's Mel that is becoming the distraction.
He was in a chick flick six years ago, I believe. Forgot the name of the movie though.