Posted on 12/09/2006 3:38:57 AM PST by Mel Gibson
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.
St. Paul in his Letter to the Phillipians, Chapter 4, Verse 8
Does your Mommy know you're on the 'puter' again?
Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus
In the final analysis, the only person who can accurately represent Mel's artistic goals for this movie is Mel himself - and I think Mel knows that a large part of his last movie's success was from the church community.
That is why he shows Jaguar Paw near the end, on his knees in the sand, facing the Spanish with their cross. Mel has put other religious symbols and sounds from the Passion, as other posters have noted, in this movie such as the withered baby from the temple sacrifice scene - the symbol of Satan being present in the crowd. Ironically, to gain acceptance for the movie from the Hollywood crowd, I believe Mel may be touting the movie as being about the environment instead of the depraved (sin) nature of man.
Again, you may be right in your interpretation - perhaps Mel will have an interview where he discusses these issues about the movie.
The film was shot mostly in the Vera Cruz area of Mexico--here is an interview with Gibson and his co writer.
http://www.movieweb.com/news/23/15923.php
WOW, even with Bill McCuddy at FOX news calling for an outright BAN and BOYCOTT.
I wonder if McCuddy boycotted brokeback mountain?
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I was defending Mel Gibson as a fellow Christian (because he is one, however imperfect) when Solarstorm showed up with a Catholic chip on his/her shoulder, which I flicked off. You then accused me of saying things I never said, and Naps showed an embarrassing lack of bible knowledge and seemed to indicate he/she felt only Catholics were going to heaven.
The three of you are pretty typical of all Catholics I have ever dealt with, and it started with me defending a Catholic.
1 Corinthians 2:2
2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
John 17:21
21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.
Romans 15:5-7
5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.
You guys need to knock off the Catholic stuff and stick to the Christian stuff. It's all about Jesus.
John 4:23
23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.
I prefer to think of art as in eye of the beholder...
- and I think Mel knows that a large part of his last movie's success was from the church community.
I'm not sure that would necessarily induce Gibson or anyone else in his position to pander to any one segment of a population. That would seem boring, especially if the person has reached a level of success that money might no longer be the primary motivator. In any case, Gibson is trending unmistakably more away from mass entertainment of any type. (Personally, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing at all. Who wants to go see something that that does not expand one's sensibilities or knowledge?)
That is why he shows Jaguar Paw near the end, on his knees in the sand, facing the Spanish with their cross. Mel has put other religious symbols and sounds from the Passion, as other posters have noted, in this movie such as the withered baby from the temple sacrifice scene - the symbol of Satan being present in the crowd. Ironically, to gain acceptance for the movie from the Hollywood crowd, I believe Mel may be touting the movie as being about the environment instead of the depraved (sin) nature of man.
Or maybe Gibson is just having a chuckle. In any case I think some of this approaches playing a Beatles record backwards and hearing a message that Paul is dead. Symbolism is OK up to a point, but I think it is safer to stick with primary themes rather than allusions which may or may not be intended.
Again, you may be right in your interpretation - perhaps Mel will have an interview where he discusses these issues about the movie.
Yeah, well, if it is unclear, perhaps he should be. Perhaps he thinks it is clear, and one of us is wrong (or both).
Mel's Latest: Brilliant Film, Inane Interpretation
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752125/posts
The movie struck me as having a strong underlying Christian message from beginning to end--The horror of fallen humanity without a Savior, destroyed by sin. It was a very deep movie with very important messages. There were many parallels, much like our man-worshipping society today, or what we see in Islam.
I was amazed how two of the horribly brutal kidnappers who survived to the end, had heard the prophecy spoken from the sick girl, and unknowingly led by Jaguar Paw to the ships where Christ's Good News was being brought ashore. I imagine they went to those ships and were converted, all part of God's plan. He is in control even when we don't recognize it.
"Maybe not church groups, but for those who can bear the reality, this is a deeply Christian film."
I totally agree.
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