Mel,
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.....
Posted on 09/24/2006 8:40:30 PM PDT by paltz
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Mel Gibson has returned to the spotlight to promote his upcoming movie "Apocalypto," and to criticize the war in Iraq, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Almost two months after he railed against Jews when he was arrested for driving drunk in Malibu, the actor made a surprise appearance Friday at Fantastic Fest, an event in Austin, Texas, devoted to new science fiction, horror and fantasy films, the trade paper said in its Monday edition.
He presented a work-in-progress screening of his Mayan adventure tale, and then took questions. About one-third of the full house gathered for the film gave him a standing ovation. The film is scheduled for a December 8 release via Disney.
In describing its portrait of a civilization in decline, Gibson said, "The precursors to a civilization that's going under are the same, time and time again," drawing parallels between the Mayan civilization on the brink of collapse and America's present situation. "What's human sacrifice," he asked, "if not sending guys off to Iraq for no reason?"
Appearing alongside Rudy Youngblood, one of the film's actors who hails from the Austin area, Gibson said he plans to make further trims in the film, which ran more than two hours. The print shown did not include sound effects and score, and some visual effects have not yet been added.
Gibson's appearance at the festival, co-founded by Harry Knowles, was reminiscent of a similar appearance he made at Knowles' Butt-Numb-a-Thon, which offered one of the first public previews of "The Passion of the Christ."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Such is life...
I was wondering how he was going to get back into the good graces of the Hollywood crowd. A good career move, but I thought he was made of better stuff.
As others have pointed out, this isn't new. Many just chose to ignore his view on the war because they thought he was on their side in other battles.
He's been full of this stuff since the war began.
Lol! ... and all along I thought it was just me that he had always rubbed the wrong way.
Has it been the headline on Drudge before today?
Drudge posted it last night, during his radio show. It replaced the Clinton explosion.
Absolutely! I got ripped big time when I stated this here after seeing the Primetime and several other interviews back in 2004.
Over 2 years ago anytime he got the chance, he was slamming W and "the lie over no WMDs"...and this was before and during the reelection campaign.
A lot of us are willing to forgive very large failings, so long as they come from people we think are friendly.
It's a bad policy, and this is why.
Geez, Mel - have you completely lost your mind?
..wonder if that will wash well with Murdoch now.
Wonder if Murdoch will still want to be contributing financially??????
"Mel is a troubled and sinful man, just like the rest of us."
Isn't that the truth. I'm sure that his harsh critics, though, have never said anything they didn't mean when they've tied on one too many, though.
Or just maybe, maybe... they don't have what they say publicized in every media outlet in the country.
Or maybe their sins aren't as sinful as Mel's. Who knows.
All the time, I go to see movies, listen to music, and enjoy all sorts of art that is done by people whose political, social, and moral views I find repulsive. But if they make a good product, I enjoy it. I hope that those who plan to boycott Mel for saying something about Iraq are also boycotting every other media product produced by people opposed to the war. They will live pretty peaceful and media-free lives -- reading lots of old books. Which isn't half bad.
I've always enjoyed Mel's products. Can't think of one I didn't (although I don't think I would have cared for "the Passion" -- most Orthodox I know didn't particularly.)
Only if they don't look into how the authors of the time lived! Of course, a quiet evening with some old books is a great thing to do at times.
My wife and I watch The Passion once a year around Lent. It is good to reflect on what Jesus went through. But you are right that the Orthodox don't look at the Crucifixion in the agonizing detail the way most Western Christians do. We were at a local Greek Orthodox church's Greek fest, and I bought a small crucifix. On one side it has the baptism of Jesus, on the other the crucifixion. I liked the contrast. Also bought a beautiful icon of Noah's Ark.
The west also ended the practice of setie (or is that seti?) in which the indian widow was thrown ALIVE on the burning funeral pyre of her husband.
You are not alone.
Many Christians just go into denial on someone's personality or character as long as they produce a Christian movie or a Christian book or tv show.
Troubled an sinful, but arrogantly denying this.
I think this is PR spin on many levels.
This is the SPANISH on a bunch of canibal human sacrificers.
So unless the islamic world is a bunch of bbloody primitives who have a death based religion this is not going to be relevant.
oh yeah, ...
well it is still spin to get a distribution buzz.
Frankly I think Mel’s time would be better spent if he did a movie that carries the hatchet for Carrie Nation.
I guess he`s drinking again?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.