I used to be 30% insane. Now I'm only 20% insane.
Mel Gibson
Interview British Sunday Times January
2007 |
I wanted to see something visceral and brutal, and at the
same time full of emotion and healing.
Mel Gibson
On movie 'Apocalypto' which he directed,
interview British Sunday Times January 2007 |
The Mayan culture is shrouded in mystery and myths. I didn't
show half the stuff I read about. I read about an orgy of sacrifice:
20,000 people sacrificed in four days. They were also very fond
of impaling genitals and torturing people for years on end.
For instance, if they captured a king or queen from another
place, they would humiliate them for a decade. They would cut
off their lips, have their tongues ripped out, they would have
no eyes and no ears. Oh, and they would chew their fingers off.
The guy would be alive but was just a babbling mass of nerve
endings, then they'd roll him up in a ball after nine years
of this stuff and roll him down the temple stairs and pulverise
him. He'd probably be grateful. So I went easy on people. I
think it's less violent than Braveheart or The Passion, but
some people say it's a blood bath. It was not designed to be
a feelgood movie - it was designed to get your heart pumping.
Mel Gibson
On his movie 'Apocalypto', interview British
Sunday Times January 2007 |
There are people who do not want people to see it. Bitter
people. Certainly, some of the same voices came out that criticised
'The Passion of the Christ.' My concern is not them. My concern
is to tell a good story and be happy with it myself. That is
my art.
Mel Gibson
On detractors of his movie 'Apocalypto',
interview British Sunday Times January 2007 |
Most of the criticism came months in advance, from people
who hadn't seen it. The more noise that was made seemed to propel
it further. There was no stopping it.
Mel Gibson
On movie 'The Passion of the Christ' which
he directed, interview British Sunday Times January 2007 |
I just have a lot of creative energy, and if it doesn't eke
out somewhere, it forms some kind of disorder. It's going to
be this chaotic ping-pong ball that flies around until you challenge
it and it ekes itself out in art.
Mel Gibson
Interview British Sunday Times January
2007 |
Fucking Jews. The Jews are responsible for all the wars in
the world. Are you a Jew?
Mel Gibson
To police officer James Mee, after arrest
for drunken driving in Malibu July 2006 |
I acted like a person completely out of control when I was
arrested and said things that I do not believe to be true and
which are despicable. I disgraced myself and my family with
my behavior and for that I am truly sorry. I have battled with
the disease of alcoholism for all of my adult life and profoundly
regret my horrific relapse.
Mel Gibson
Apologizing for anti-Semitic remarks made
when arrested in Malibu for drunken driving July 2006 |
The tenets of what I profess to believe necessitate that I
exercise charity and tolerance as a way of life. Every human
being is God's child, and if I wish to honor my God I have to
honor his children. But please know from my heart that I am
not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes
against my faith.
Mel Gibson
Second apology for anti-Semitic remarks
made during his arrest for drunken driving in July 2006 |
Anti-semitism is not only contrary to my personal beliefs,
it is also contrary to the core message of my movie. The Passion
is a film meant to inspire not offend.
Mel Gibson
Denying claims his 2004 movie 'The Passion
of the Christ' is anti-semitic |
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