Mel Gibson commits movie suicide!

[Neville]

No, I haven't been re-watching "Lethal Weapon", I am speaking of his last  movie as a director. It is no secret that the man is a christian fundamentalist, so he has decided to make a movie on the life of Jesus. Jim Caviezel ("The thin red line") is to play Jesus. Until here everything seems normal. But here comes the big issue: Gibson plans to shoot the film in Latin and Arameo (the language spoken in biblical times in Galilea) WITHOUT SUBTITLES!

Apparently the idea is that the movie should speak by itself, as many silent movies do. I'll confess a part of my admires Gibson for considering such a daring idea. If he had been that brave with his acting career, he probably would be better considered. However, the bigger part of me remembers of similar star ego trips, such as "Battlefield Earth".

[raj]

It'll probably do well with priests, etc., i.e. folks who know Latin & Aramaic, even in Latin America (sorry, old Dan Quayle joke).  Probably subtitles will be added later on, to make it more accessible.

There is acertain charm to silent movies, when facial expressions meant a lot more.  It'll be interesting to see, and I don't count myself a Christian.

[Chris K.]

Neville wrote:
>
> It is no secret that the
> man is a christian fundamentalist, so he has decided to make
> a movie on the life of Jesus.

That's funny, considering that his "Christian" views obviously didn't stop him from sterotyping the British in both BRAVEHEART and THE PATRIOT (sorry, just a stupid comment I had to make there). Anyway, I hope Gibson doesn't muck it up with his typical "it has to be full of action" crap. And I hope he takes time out to read the Bible in order to GET THE HISTORY RIGHT THIS TIME (again, if you have seen BRAVEHEART and THE PATRIOT then you know what I meant by that).

> I'll confess a part of my admires
> Gibson for considering such a daring idea. If he had been
> that brave with his acting career, he probably would be
> better considered. However, the bigger part of me remembers
> of similar star ego trips, such as "Battlefield Earth".

Yes, I do agree that this upcoming Mel Gibson "epic" is just another ego-trip for the macho actor. But hey, as long as Gibson isn't playing the role of Jesus then I'll give it a shot.

[AndyC]

Chris K. wrote:
>
> I hope Gibson doesn't muck it
> up with his typical "it has to be full of action" crap.

I'm just trying to imagine an action-packed movie about Jesus. Maybe he could be driving an armoured donkey loaded with lamp oil across the desert, fighting off Romans in chariots.

Seriously though, I suppose the movie might develop a bit of a cult following in the art film crowd, although I think Gibson's name will probably count against it there.

[Chadzilla]

Andy Campbell wrote:
>
> >
> > I hope Gibson doesn't muck it
> > up with his typical "it has to be full of action" crap.
>
> I'm just trying to imagine an action-packed movie about
> Jesus. Maybe he could be driving an armoured donkey loaded
> with lamp oil across the desert, fighting off Romans in
> chariots.
>
>
Jean Claude Van Damme IS Jesus Christ in Mel Gibson's The Man Who Was the Bravehearted Savior!

Oh man, SOMEBODY GET ME A BUDGET!!!

[Dano]

This is one of those ideas that sounds interesting to me, but I'll probably never actually see it because it just doesn't sound terribly enjoyable.  As a kid, my dad would take us to a church in our area that still did Latin masses every Easter.  Seems like it might have been a neat experience, but mostly I just zoned out.  Languages you cannot understand are hard to listen to.

If it is going to work in any sense (and let's face it right now - this will not be a box office success), he'd better keep it short.  None of this 2:45 stuff.  I'd also like to know who Gibson will play.  Probably John.

I wonder, if they film this abroad, will it be considered a "foreign film" in terms of Oscar contention?  I know Mel was born here but I think he is an Aussie citizen.  Or does "foreign film" mean the nationality of the studio that produced it?

I never knew Gibson was a fundamentalist.  Something about the Lethal Weapon body counts must've threw me.  I wonder what 2 hour blood-bath he signed on for in order to get this idea funded?

[Fearless Freep]

I never knew Gibson was a fundamentalist. Something about the Lethal Weapon body counts must've threw me

Me neither, I was pretty surprised to read that here.  It certainly doesn't fit his movie selection

[Chadzilla]

It was my understanding that he is a devout/conservative Catholic.

[nshumate]

You're casting Van Damme, and you think someone will give you a budget?

[BoyScoutKevin]

From Andy Campbell: "I'm just trying to imagine an action packed movie about Jesus." Try "Jesus Christ, Vampire Hunter." Reviewed at this site. Enjoy!