Dear Jo
I knew this shit would resurface. First off, I am not a Mel Gibson freak although I was baptized Roman Catholic I have alot of differences with the religion itself also. But, this is an open letter to you Jo about your battering and problems with Gibbers. I think his films are of a high class and he deserved an Oscar for 'Braveheart' - although I personally think that both follow-up films from Braveheart were alot better. I stated that "because of Gibson's anti-semetic views - if indeed they are true?" may deter you from watching the film. I specifically used the word 'view' because it is something that he has strongly denied - and so may - or may no be - true.
Mel Gibson did confess he made Anti-Semetic comments and apologised for those comments because he does not agree with the comments, and his apology was accepted by the Jewish Community. The Rehab he had to attend was because of his drink problems - not because of his Anti-Semetic statements. If you were brought up by a fucked up Father like his - with all the books his Father has written he knows a fair bit of Jew-bashing info - you may state some drunken crap when blasted out of your skull.
Although, on his fathers views, Mel Gibson states that his father views do not amount to Holocaust Denial. Hutton Gibson, according to Wikipedia states "He questions aspects of the Jewish Holocaust, especially the commonly accepted statistic that between five million to seven million Jews were killed, arguing that it would have been impossible for the Nazis to have disposed of so many bodies. He further claims that most of the Holocaust was "fiction," that the thousands of Jews who disappeared from Poland during World War II "got up and left", and that census statistics prove there were more Jews in Europe after World War II than before (a claim that is disputed by historians)."
Personally, I think Hutton Gibson is a loon because he also believes "the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were not carried out by Islamist terrorists aboard the planes, but rather by an unknown party using a "remote control,"." and, furthermore, that "every Pope elected since Pope John XXIII have been illegitimate anti-popes".
Its funny, because Hutton thinks that Jews want to take over the world and have a 'one world religion', which is really, I imagine, what most people - including Traditionalist Catholics such as Hutton - with a conservative, religious stand think.
In conclusion, I think Mel Gibson has had a fucked-up family background and with his Christian belief that stresses "Honour thy Father and Mother", Gibson has a tough cross to bear. This difficult strain to his life will, inevitably, affect his attitude when drunk and his reputation in due course but it is important to remain neutral and respect his films for what they are - and not use money-spinning material on his Father and his personal honest mistakes to be a part of the artistic judgement.
I personally wanted to find out what the big deal was and what specifically was the problems and I think this sums up a fair bit.
From, Simon
Sunday, January 07, 2007
New Year and New Plans ...
Okay, first off the recent news:
Apocalypto
I watched Apocalypto at the cinema and I really liked it - the obvious comparison with the pride and possible slow-destruction that we may be inflicting on our own society is an interesting idea. visually it is amazing, although I am told they do take liberties with various types of art that are separated by hundreds of years shown in the same place. I think it has to be seen as a 'inspired by true events' type of story to set up an allegory on our own civilisation. I won't go into too much depth though because I can imagine people not watching it because of Gibson's anti-semetic views - if indeed they are true? or the extreme-graphical violence depicted. If you're brave, I think as long as you can sit through the destruction of the little village in the first 20 minutes, you should be okay for the rest of the film. Although I think I am going to change my MSN name to Jaguar Paw - Rudy Youngbloods performance is brilliant!
Rear Window
I had never seen this film and only watched it recently through my 'rental' list. What a great film!! James Stewart is so cocky and Grace Kelly is, indeed, quite beautiful. I think I am going to go through a Hitchcock period - maybe get Vertigo, North by Northwest ... etc etc next. Peter Bogdonavich explained on the documentary his style and technique and how he uses it throughout his own career.
U2
Okay, I do-o-o-o go on a fair bit about U2, but I have been reading the 'U2 by U2' book and I am in awe. Bono explains how alot of people want to take away your dreams when they have given up on theirs. I think that is true - as I head towards my own dream - I can only really agree if I reach it. Larry Mullen Jnr explains how he had the 'Jnr' part added to his name because when they released 'Boy' (The first U2 album) the tax forms were coming through to his house and his Dad would have to explain to the tax office how it wasn't HIS tax, but his Sons. Adam Clayton is a bad ass - he was told it wasn't worth him sticking school out because he was obviously going to fail. He used to set up a coffee canister in his lessons. Edge, on the other hand, nearly left the band - with Bono -after releasing 'Boy' because crazy Christians who Bono, Larry and Edge were praying with were telling them that being in a rock-band and being a christian is not really possible. Crazy fucking Christians may be the worst group of people in the world - they could easily have deprived the world from the best rock band ever. Madness.
Secondly, go to the U2 website and check out both videos to 'Window in the skies' - someone has mixed footage from loads of great musicians - Kurt Cobain, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, etc - to make it look like 6they are singing the song - which i great in itself. The second video just has a really cool 'slide-player' showing loads of pictures from the ol' days when U2 were starting out.
The Future
So, yeah, Pete and Rebeccas wedding coming up, putting together some short-films hopefully, learn Italian, go T-total for a few months and get a job teaching in London. Thats the future. If anyone can help me out with these goals, throw me a 'line'.
It'd be nice to write a script and rewatch Rocky I to V, finish reading John Dickie's 'Cosa Nostra' book and Julian Spaldings 'The Art of Seeing/The Wonder of Art'.
Apocalypto
I watched Apocalypto at the cinema and I really liked it - the obvious comparison with the pride and possible slow-destruction that we may be inflicting on our own society is an interesting idea. visually it is amazing, although I am told they do take liberties with various types of art that are separated by hundreds of years shown in the same place. I think it has to be seen as a 'inspired by true events' type of story to set up an allegory on our own civilisation. I won't go into too much depth though because I can imagine people not watching it because of Gibson's anti-semetic views - if indeed they are true? or the extreme-graphical violence depicted. If you're brave, I think as long as you can sit through the destruction of the little village in the first 20 minutes, you should be okay for the rest of the film. Although I think I am going to change my MSN name to Jaguar Paw - Rudy Youngbloods performance is brilliant!
Rear Window
I had never seen this film and only watched it recently through my 'rental' list. What a great film!! James Stewart is so cocky and Grace Kelly is, indeed, quite beautiful. I think I am going to go through a Hitchcock period - maybe get Vertigo, North by Northwest ... etc etc next. Peter Bogdonavich explained on the documentary his style and technique and how he uses it throughout his own career.
U2
Okay, I do-o-o-o go on a fair bit about U2, but I have been reading the 'U2 by U2' book and I am in awe. Bono explains how alot of people want to take away your dreams when they have given up on theirs. I think that is true - as I head towards my own dream - I can only really agree if I reach it. Larry Mullen Jnr explains how he had the 'Jnr' part added to his name because when they released 'Boy' (The first U2 album) the tax forms were coming through to his house and his Dad would have to explain to the tax office how it wasn't HIS tax, but his Sons. Adam Clayton is a bad ass - he was told it wasn't worth him sticking school out because he was obviously going to fail. He used to set up a coffee canister in his lessons. Edge, on the other hand, nearly left the band - with Bono -after releasing 'Boy' because crazy Christians who Bono, Larry and Edge were praying with were telling them that being in a rock-band and being a christian is not really possible. Crazy fucking Christians may be the worst group of people in the world - they could easily have deprived the world from the best rock band ever. Madness.
Secondly, go to the U2 website and check out both videos to 'Window in the skies' - someone has mixed footage from loads of great musicians - Kurt Cobain, Elvis, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Bob Marley, etc - to make it look like 6they are singing the song - which i great in itself. The second video just has a really cool 'slide-player' showing loads of pictures from the ol' days when U2 were starting out.
The Future
So, yeah, Pete and Rebeccas wedding coming up, putting together some short-films hopefully, learn Italian, go T-total for a few months and get a job teaching in London. Thats the future. If anyone can help me out with these goals, throw me a 'line'.
It'd be nice to write a script and rewatch Rocky I to V, finish reading John Dickie's 'Cosa Nostra' book and Julian Spaldings 'The Art of Seeing/The Wonder of Art'.
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