New Film May Harm Gibson's Career [H'wood Bigs vow revenge]

NY Times ^ | 2/26/2004 | SHARON WAXMAN

[Denver Ditdat]

I remember hearing a Paul Harvey segment about a young boy of 12 (I think) who was walking home through a real rough section of town one night. He was set upon by a group of hooligans, beaten mercilessly and left for dead.

But he didn't die. He survived and spent months in the hospital where doctors had to reconstruct his entire face...

Guess who it was? Yep, Mel.

(Haven't seen this posted, sorry for a double if'n it was.)

I did a quick Google search to find out more about this incident and found The text copied below:

Expert:The Mel Gibson Fans Mailing List
Date:7/1/2001
Subject:injuries

Question
I was told that at a young age, Mel Gibson recieved injuries to his face and there was a reconstruction operation done. I would like to know if this is true and if so the details of the incident.

Thank you,
Bert

Answer
Bert,

Mel Gibson did suffer some injuries during a barroom brawl, but they did not require reconstructive surgery.

An internet rumor states that Mel was brutally beaten while working on the docks as a young man; that abeneficiary paid for surgery because the damage was so severe. The story was attributed to Paul Harvey, but Mr. Harvey has denied authoring the story. He did author a related story about the real injury, but like many internet rumors, it evolved to something totally foreign from the truth.

Hope this helps!

Lisa Hightower
Mel Gibson Fans Listowner/Webmaster

[Doctor Raoul]

Hollywood hates God almost as much as Hollywood hates America.

[lonestar]

Are they going to ....blacklist him?

They would probably love to crucify him--nail him to a cross!

[Miss Marple]

You know, if Mel located a production company in the heartland, and issued stock, I bet he would have millions of backers and a ready made audience.

Besides films based on religion, he could make some movies based on the conflicts in Iran and Afghanistan, the heroism of September 11, the stories of everyday heroes in our country, historical dramas of great people, etc.

There is such a need for this. I think he could change the course of the entire industry.

I derive great pleasure of thinking of the media people having to trek to Indianapolis or Columbus. HA!

[atomicpossum]

Well, if you really don't want to see the violence (and I'm not sure I do, either), go buy a ticket and don't go in. You'll still be making your statement.

[jwalburg]

My daughter wants an escort, so I'll go, but I'm not sure my eyes will be open the whole time.

[sharkhawk]

I wondered if anyone else would bring up Polanski. I guess Mel should have drugged and raped a 14 year old girl. Than all Hollywood would be honoring him.

[El Conservador]

Well, if this movie aces the box office in the way it's predicted, look forward for all Hollywood studios to line up for distribution rights!!!

[atomicpossum]

HEEEEEEY, MOBY!

[Bobibutu]

"Somehow, I don't think Mel is shaking in his boots."

Right .. and who are these ratbags who protest? Who? Eh? Who?

Get off your collective @sses and make your own "Passion" if you dont care for this one -- Oh you don't like the financial risk involved in such a venture? Then shut TFU!

Mel Gibson is a household name, now more than ever.

He is now in a class all his own - he has transcended Hollywood and the no-names who lust for power and the ability to stuff crap into our and our childrens minds.

[tracer]

Screw the Hollywood Left. There are more of us than there are of them, and they may yet taste the boot of econmic backlash in their venom-spewing mouths. But, hey, at least they're not anti-semites.

This kind of crap, the legislating courts, and the "gay marriage" thing may just be the last straws to energize and galvanize a dormant albeit fed-up middle America into purifying itself though the vote, the power of the purse, and the general repudiation of the liberal cancer by a society that hopefully still is One Nation Under God..........

[Dr. Eckleburg]

this will crack a billion dollars...

That would truly be a miracle. The most lucrative movie of all time, "Titanic," only recently passed the billion dollar mark.

But we can hope.

[hoyaloya]

Hollywood is a close-knit world, and friendships and social contact are critical in the making of deals and the casting of movies. Many of Hollywood's most prominent figures are also Jewish.

This, from an article titled "New Film May Harm Gibson's Career?" Jewish people for ages have had to deal with the perception that they've conniving for their benefit behind the scenes. Now, the NY Times prints this article . . . which essentially says . . . "Jewish leaders in Hollywood are going to see to it that Mel Gibson 'won't work here again.'"

If I was Jewish, I'd be really pissed at these people (both the Geffens of the world and the NY Times for trash like this - which only enforces stereotypes).

[ChicagoHebrew]

I think this is just the flip-side of the backlash many of us right-wingers have taken part of against Lefty Hollywood types. Just as many of us, on principle, wouldn't patronize a Jane Fonda, Barbara Streisand or Martin Sheen, it shouldn't suprise some of us that leftists would stop seeing Gibson products. Quite frankly, the Passion makes him less marketable.

[atomicpossum]

Quite apart from all the very interesting issues raised here about secularism and faith in our society, isn't what we are seeing at the theaters across the nation in part the demonstration that Mel Gibson doesn't need these people to make big, big movies that gazillions of people go to see? Does anyone really think that after this movie and the response it's getting, Mel Gibson would have trouble getting investment and distribution for any movie he wants to make, even if it's a remake of No Time for Sergeants?

Hey, that's a classic! But nobody can do it like Griffith did!

[flying Elvis]

I'm anxious to see how it does in Central and South America and other countries were Catholicism is the dominant religion.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

LOL. Maybe Gibson will expand his production company into "Icon Studios."

BTW, one of my all-time favorite films was an Icon production, "Immortal Beloved," a suspense/biography/romance/musical about Beethoven. It was glorious, and completely over-looked by Hollywood.

[Miss Marple]

It makes him less marketable according to the Hollywood template. But should he make a movie about the war in Afghanistan or the prophet Nehemiah, do you not think he could make money and get a huge audience?

[atomicpossum]

this will crack a billion dollars... That would truly be a miracle. The most lucrative movie of all time, "Titanic," only recently passed the billion dollar mark.

But we can hope.

Titanic, though, cost somewhere over $200 million-- this thing could blow it's cost-to-profit rationto shreds.

[Miss Marple]

I really like the idea of a studio located somewhere other than Hollywood. Indianapolis is my hometown so I chose that...but what about Dallas, Atlanta, Talahassee, or Omaha?

I just think that this film has the potential to not only invigorate Christianity but also chage the media, film in particular.