Mel Gibson: A Controversial Figure
I have never really been a fan of Mel Gibson's (or of any actor for that matter) but having watched and rewatched a number of movies recently I realised that Mel Gibson had a hand in a number of them. This prompted me to make a lens on my favourite Mel Gibson movies; 10 of the best.
I have used the trailers for these movies to illustrate the lens.
Mel Gibson Biography from Wikipedia
Mel Colm-Cille Gerard Gibson, AO (born January 3, 1956) is an American Australian actor, film director and producer and screenwriter. Born in Peekskill, New York, Gibson moved with his parents to Sydney when he was 12 years old and later studied acting at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.
After appearing in the Mad Max and Lethal Weapon series, Gibson went on to direct and star in the Academy Award-winning Braveheart. Gibson's direction of Braveheart made him the sixth actor-turned-filmmaker to receive an Academy Award for Best Director.1995 Academy Awards In 2004, he directed and produced The Passion of the Christ, a controversialJesus helps Mel hit No. 1: Controversial film gives Gibson the most weight on Forbes power list; Britney off the chart again June 18, 2004 but successfulBox Office Mojo.com Domestic Total Gross:$370,782,930...
1. The Passion of the Christ
This Mel Gibson movie is entirely in Latin and Aramaic, the languages spoken at the time, but this should not put anyone off as the drama is enthralling and has a very realistic feel about it. In fact, the brutality inflicted upon Jesus is so realistic, so graphic and so prolonged that at times it is difficult to watch, but at the same time mesmerising.
A number of Jewish groups have complained that Jews are depicted in bad light in this movie; they are, but then the Romans are not exactly sweeties in this film and the disciples don't come across as very morally strong either so I don't feel that there is any bias against any one group here. I will let you decide for yourself.
This is an amazing piece of movie-making but anyone who cannot stand violence should not watch.
The Passion of the Christ on DVD
The Passion of the Christ (Full Screen Edition)
Amazon Price: $13.99 (as of 11/28/2009) 
2. Braveheart
Something tells me that as an Englishman I should be offended at the way the English are depicted in this film, but in fact I love the way they are painted almost as pantomime villians, stopping at nothing to further their evil aims.
This movie has a real feeling of "boo the villians" and "cheer the heroes" but the ending is wonderful with Mel Gibson's character being tortured to death to the glee of the jeering English.
This is a really great Mel Gibson Movie.
Braveheart on DVD
Braveheart (Special Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
3. Mad Max 3; Beyond the Thunderdome
The beginning of the movie, with scenes from the Thunderdome, is quite apocalyptic and latter parts of the movie are more reminiscent of a typical good guy versus the bad guys movie. Much of the acting in this movie is camp and straight out of a pantomime with Tina Turner giving a performance that would make her the wickedest stepmother of all wicked stepmothers.
This movie is enjoyable for all its faults and the character of "Master-Blaster" is so bizarre as to be quite memorable.
Mad Max 3 on DVD
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome
Amazon Price: $8.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
4. Apocalypto
The latter stages of the movie are in the form of a chase and the the tension builds as the hero picks off his pursuers one by one.
This is an amazing movie, terrifying at points with some brutal violence but the story is enthralling.
Apocalypto on DVD
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $17.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
Apocalypto
Amazon Price: (as of 11/28/2009)
5. Conspiracy Theory
This movie is quite dark and Mel Gibson's character is a lonley, shadow of a man, driven to distraction by his numerous, and seemingly crazy conspiracy theories. Towards the end of the movie, Gibson becomes the hero as he attempts to escape from those intent on silencing him.
I like this movie because it at first paints Mel Gibson's character as a nutcase, someone who has been driven from mainstream society because of his beliefs, but towards the end he is proven to be correct.
Conspiracy Theory on DVD
Conspiracy Theory
Amazon Price: $12.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
6. The Patriot
This Mel Gibson Movie has a great story, superb action scenes and a whole load of heroes and villians to sneer at and hope for.
The Patriot on DVD
The Patriot (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $5.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
7. The Bounty
There have been so many remakes of this story because it is such a gripping one and in this version there is some good acting and excellent action, along with some very beautiful scenery.
To this day, families of many of the people involved in the real mutiny on the Bounty cannot agree on exactly what happened, but what is known is that most of the mutineers met very horrible ends rather than living out long lives in paradise.
The Bounty trailer 1984
En 1787 el gobierno britanico envia una expedición rumbo a Taiti, al mando del capitán William Bligh, el objetivo era recoger arboles del pan y enviarlos a la isla de Jamaica para alimentar a los esclavos, pero la tripulación dejada llevar por el relajamiento y cansados del largo viaje deciden rebelarse contra la autoridad del estricto capitán Bligh. Al mando de Fletcher Christian un grupo de marineros toma el Bounty, arrestan a Bligh y lo envian en un bote junto con sus partidarios a su suerte. Christian y sus hombres se refugian en una isla de nombre Pitcairn, la cual no se hallaba en los mapas geograficos ingleses de manera exacta, por tanto era desconocida su ubicación real, en cuanto a Bligh logro salvarse llegando a la isla de Timor, en Inglaterra tuvo que rendir cuenta al Almirantazgo de la pérdida del barco, a la final no se le culpo del incidente.
Runtime: 131
7712 views
6 Comments:
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The Bounty on DVD
The Bounty
Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
8. Payback
Payback is a pretty dark movie, with no good guys, just bad, badder and baddest. This movie is all action and the viewer is carried along by wondering what dark deed Gibson's character is going to stoop to next in his quest for revenge.
This is an exciting and at times failry shocking film.
Payback on DVD
Payback - The Director's Cut (Special Collector's Edition)
Amazon Price: $10.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
9. Ransom
The turning point, and the thing that sets it apart from simialr movies, is when Gibson's character goes on TV to put his own ransom, in fact a bounty, on the kidnappers, thus turning the tables on them. From then on Mel Gibson's character is in control and his anger begins to show.
The first time I saw this movie I didn't expect much from it, but it turned out to be a very exciting film indeed.
Ransom Trailer HQ (1996)
Director: Ron Howard Cast: Mel Gibson, Rene Russo, Brawley Nolte, Gary Sinise, Delroy Lindo, Lili Taylor, Liev Schreiber, Donnie Wahlberg, Evan Handler, Nancy Ticotin, Michael Gaston, Kevin Neil McCready, Paul Guilfoyle, Allen Bernstein Plot: When a rich man's son is kidnapped, he cooperates with the police at first but then tries a unique tactic against the criminals. Genre: Action / Crime
Runtime: 150
12266 views
24 Comments:
curated content from YouTube
Ransom on DVD
Ransom (Special Edition)
Amazon Price: $13.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
10. We Were Soldiers
The movie is based on a true story, although it has apparently been heavily adapted for effect. This should not detract from movie-lovers appreciation of what is a very stirring and, at times, touching war movie. The scenes in which the wives of the deceased soldiers are told of the loss of their loved ones, along with the horrific battle scenes really serve to illustrate how brutal and stupid war is.
Although not particularly well-acclaimed, I think this is one of Mel Gibson's best movies.
We Were Soldiers on DVD
We Were Soldiers (Widescreen Edition)
Amazon Price: $9.49 (as of 11/28/2009)
We Were Soldiers
Amazon Price: $7.99 (as of 11/28/2009)
Which Is The Best Mel Gibson Movie?
Other Mel Gibson Movies
Mad Max (Special Edition)
Setting Mel Gibson on a sure path to superstardom, more...1 point
What Women Want
A Chicago advertising exec Nick Marshall (Mel Gibs more...1 point
The Year of Living Dangerously
Guy hamilton is a journalist on his first job as a more...1 point
The Road Warrior
Mad max battles to survive in a post-apocalyptic w more...0 points
Lethal Weapon (Director's Cut)
With over seven minutes of previously unavailable more...0 points
Lethal Weapon 2 (Director's Cut)
Riggs wows the pretties of a hotel spa before gett more...0 points
Lethal Weapon 3 (Director's Cut)
Riggs meets someone he never expected to find: his more...0 points
Lethal Weapon 4
This sequel involves an action packed battle with more...0 points
Tequila Sunrise
The mix is dangerous the romance is sizzling the a more...0 points
Bird on a Wire
When the man he put in jail is released, a man hid more...0 points
Air America (Special Edition)
A young pilot finds himself recruited into a cover more...0 points
Forever Young
Just prior to World War II, a man believes his swe more...0 points
Pocahontas (10th Anniversary Edition)
All the music, adventure, and colorful fun of Disn more...0 points
Signs (Vista Series)
From M. Night Shyamalan, the writer/director of TH more...0 points
The Man Without a Face
A boy, struggling to pass the entrance exam to his more...0 points
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What do you think?
Here is the spot for your comments on this lens and Mel Gibson's movies.
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Reply
- Light-in-me Light-in-me Oct 27, 2009 @ 12:28 am
- I walked out of the theatre stunned and numb after watching Passion of the Christ. and Braveheart I cried so hard and to this day will not watch it again. It was good though. I really like many of his movies.
Great lens,
Robin
About The Lens Author
Lensmaster nickupton has been a member since June 23 2007, has rated 146 lenses, favorited 71, and has created 63 lenses from scratch. This member's top-ranked page is "The Sneetches by Dr Seuss". See all my lenses
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