So, what did you think of the Mel Gibson interview last night?

[Deb in IA]

Mel was on a Diane Sawyer special Primetime interview, talking about his new movie, "The Passion of the Christ", of course, but also talked about his troubles with addiction in the past, and answered some pretty tough questions about anti-Semitism, the graphic violence in the movie, and his interpretation of the Bible.

He seemed sincere, and I thought gave pretty reasonable answers to Diane's questions. He looked really nervous and uncomfortable talking about his addictions.

But I was also impressed that he drew the line when Diane attempted to push him to comment about his father's religious extremism. (Hutton Gibson, Mel's 80'sh dad, has published books and newletters claiming, among other things, that the Holocaust was exaggerated, and thinks that maybe less than 6 million Jews were killed). You know that if he had said ANYTHING less than supportive of his dad, the headlines would have read, "Mel thinks Dad is nuts", and he was very careful NOT to do that.

So, what did you think? And are you going to see his movie that comes out next week (Ash Wednesday)?

 

[chell]

Unfortunately I was only able to catch part of the interview. Now I wish I had asked someone to tape it for me. What I did see I was very impressed.

Yes, I plan on seeing the movie. It's amazing to see how many local theaters it will be hitting right from the beginning.

 

[dizneenut]

I thought it was a good interview and he did seem very nervous talking about his addictions. DH & I will be seeing the movie with a group from church when it comes out.

 

[binny]

I thought it was a great interview.

I apreciate the fact that he didnt let her push him around.

He stood up for what he believes in and didnt faulter from it. I admire that!


I agree about his hesitation to talk about his addictions but I wouldnt be too proud about that either so I think maybe thats where he was coming from.


All in all I really liked the interview. and I had to LOL at his response when she was pestering him he said something like " Read the Gospel Dianne, its in there!"

LOL

 

[Pete's Mom]

Here is a link to the Primetime Interview

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/Primetime/Entertainment/mel_gibson_passion_040216-1.html

 

[Feralpeg]

I saw the interview and I thought Mel did a great job. He was open and sincere. I admire the way that he would not talk about his father.

I would really like to see the movie, but I'm a little nervous about the extreme graphic nature. I have a hard time handling this kind of thing. If I see it, it will bother me for days. After seeing Private Ryan, I had a really hard time sleeping for a week. I just keep seeing it run through my mind. I guess I will wait until I hear the reaction from others who've seen it.

 

[olena]

I'll wait til it hits cable to see it and decide whether or not I should be outraged.....

Throwing his father in his face like that was tasteless. Reminded me of how Arnold was slammed because of his father.

 

[Blondie]

But I was also impressed that he drew the line when Diane attempted to push him to comment about his father's religious extremism.

OMG, did you see the look on his face when he said "you gotta leave it alone Diane." The look alone said "don't even go there!" And she immediately backed down! He looked very intimidating! I'm a bigger Mel fan now than I was before!

DH thinks the movie will be too graphic, my opinion is there's a whole audience out there that demands gore and violence, and the more the better (not myself however.) Face it, Christ wasn't treated with kid gloves, he was brutally beaten and crucified.

I'll withhold further comments on the film until I can see it for myself. But I do have a feeling that the movie will have a great impact on thousands of people who will see it.

 

[Fishbone†]

Ditto to everyone here. I was very impressed with the stand he took, and the way he handled her. He's pretty sharp.

I got the impression that he backed down from talking about his addictions because it seemed like he was dwelling or bragging on them. I know he wasn't, but he's not proud of them, and I don't think he wanted it to seem like he was. Plus, why give the media any more ammo - they just run with stuff like that. "He who is without sin......."

I can't wait until it comes out... I've heard some good things from spiritual leaders whom I have great respect for.

 

[gina2000]

I didn't see the interview but will probably see the movie, if, for no other reason than to decide for myself. I figure this movie will be talked about for a pretty long time....and I'd like to form my own opinion about it.

 

[binny]

oh and ROFL at Mel when he said " That Beacon of Journalistic Integrity, the New York Times"


Did anyone else think that was hilarious?


agree with Blondie too, he was very intimidating when he said that and I have even more respect for him than I did before.


I think youre right FP, that sort of thing relaly bothers me too. I have the same reaction to fictional movies, I cant imagine how this would affect me. I mean this is personal for me. It would be really hard to watch but at the same time I think its really important!

 

[Deb in IA]

Yeah, I heard that, binny.

I think he is still really pissed that the NY Times went after his dad.

By the way, I just noticed your countdown clock. Have a GREAT time in Hawaii!!! Which islands are you going to? (and do you have any extra room in your suitcase for a stowaway? )

 

[ZachnElli]

Dh and I watched it and were very impressed by Mel Gibson! I'm so glad he has stood by his beliefs and not backed down! Really, all I can do is echo what everyone else is saying on here. We are planning to see the movie. I don't know when, but we will see it, even though I really don't like the graphic stuff Mr. Gibson usually does.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I keep wondering if the movie will really seem anti-semitic. I guess I'll have to see it to judge.

I only saw a few minutes of the interview, so I'm not sure if it's fair for me to comment. If he just found religion because of his drug addictions, I find that to be a little less than sincere. Why do people always turn to "Jesus" after they have screwed up? Oh well, it should be interesting!

 

[Tiggeroo]

If he just found religion because of his drug addictions, I find that to be a little less than sincere.

It's been 13 yrs. since the addiction problems. If this was a drug addict conversion it would have been over by now. I can't see it being anti-semitic. Jews were involved with the crucifixion, as were the Romans. Just a historical fact. If you believe the bible Jesus died for everybody's sins. He could have spoken up, defended himself and not been crucified. So there is no blame. I wonder if the folks who are crying anti-semitism feel that no movies depicting the holocost should be shown? Should we not show movies like Roots as it will cause people to think ill of southerners.
I don't agree completely with Gibson's religious beliefs but I have great respect for the man now. I am going to the movie, if for nothing else, then to lend support to him and to help him show Hollywood he doesn't need them. I suspect he will not be getting much work there now.

 

[Disney Doll]

The story is what the story is. The people who were leaders of the Hebrew faith in Jesus' time wanted Him dead because they were afraid He would usurp their power. It's not pro-Semitic or anti-Semitic, it is what it is. No one who practices a Christian faith that believes in the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus is going to blame their Jewish next-door neighbor. We who choose that as the basis of our faith know that it happened the way God intended it to. Jesus was going to have to die for our salvation, regardless of who "instigated" it.

 

[Kallison]

I don't think he backed down about talking about his addictions at all, he was upfront and honest and even joked a little bit. He also didn't seem nervous to me, that is his personality in every interview I've ever seen, he is kind of high strung.

I agree with him saying that Schindler's List doesn't mean you hate all Germans, or how about making Roots and all blacks hating all whites. I think the anti-semitic worries are unfounded. I'm not sure if I want to see it or not, just the previews were pretty upsetting. I've kind of made a pact with myself to no longer see blood, guts and gore, although I think some films are really important to see such as Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryand and Sophie's Choice.

 

[minniepumpernickel]

Originally posted by Tiggeroo
It's been 13 yrs. since the addiction problems. If this was a drug addict conversion it would have been over by now. I can't see it being anti-semitic. Jews were involved with the crucifixion, as were the Romans. Just a historical fact. If you believe the bible Jesus died for everybody's sins. He could have spoken up, defended himself and not been crucified. So there is no blame. I wonder if the folks who are crying anti-semitism feel that no movies depicting the holocost should be shown? Should we not show movies like Roots as it will cause people to think ill of southerners.
I don't agree completely with Gibson's religious beliefs but I have great respect for the man now. I am going to the movie, if for nothing else, then to lend support to him and to help him show Hollywood he doesn't need them. I suspect he will not be getting much work there now.

In the transcript provided he uses his episode of hovering on the abyss of despair as the catalyst that lead to his conversion.

Jews would want people to see how horrible the Nazis were, so they would want people to be aware of the atrocities through film and literature.

The southerners who supported slavery were awful.

It depends on what interpretation Mel decided to depict. I'll leave my verdict out until after I see the film.

Why would Mel be shunned from Hollywood now?

 

[CRB#33]

Originally posted by minniepumpernickel
If he just found religion because of his drug addictions, I find that to be a little less than sincere. Why do people always turn to "Jesus" after they have screwed up? Oh well, it should be interesting!

The only thing I can say to that is you never know how much you need Christ until Christ is all you have got.

God wants us to turn to Him in our troubles. He wants us to depend on Him. Just like any father does his children

 

[Beast]

Well, first off, I bought my ticket about two weeks ago. I'll be at our local theatre next Wednesday night.

Our Senior Pastor was invited to a screening about three weeks ago in Chicago and since he was going to Indiana at that time, he went to see it. He doesn't know why he was invited, he just was. He said it is VERY graphic but that every person should see this film. He does recommend that no one under 12 years old be allowed to see it though.

I suspect that if people WANT to see it as anti-semitic they will and you won't be able to convince them otherwise.

One other thought. I've studied a lot on what is involved in a crucifiiction. Although this depiction may be graphic, it's probably not as bad as it actually was. (I'm not saying they should have made it even more gruesome) That may be hard to believe but it's highly likely that Jesus was bearly even recognizable. I will see for myself next week but from what our Pastor told us, you can't see this movie and not deal with what was done for us.