Mel Gibson's Apocalyptic Stupidity

Human Events.com ^ | December 13, 2006 | Ben Shapiro

[Twinkie]

So, if Mel were a Mayan of that day, he would still be refusing to see what or who his real enemy was - which was the corrupt, evil priests of a pagan religion hellbent on grabbing power, bloodlusting to behead people and attacking innocent people to garner more victims. So, instead of fighting the real enemies, the gentle hunter gatherers sat around the campfire singing cumbayah and burning their spears in unison, so when the evil priests came after them they had no guns . . er . . spears and were so weak from eating a diet of mostly tapir testicles they couldn't escape the imams . . er . . pagan priests nor protect their women from the terrorists . .er . . . rapists and pillagers. Mel is the perfect liberal Democrat, even if he isn't yet aware of it.

[Dr. Scarpetta]

We saw The Nativity last w/e and it was excellent - not Hollywood'sh at all. We saw it instead of the Danny DeVito or Mel Gibson movies and do not regret. One of my teens said she actually had tears at the birth of Christ - it was surely the most touching scene in the movie and NOT overdone....very simple but it grabbed your heart. Don't know how else to explain it.

I also had tears at the birth of the baby Jesus in The Nativity Story. It was a stunning, exhilarating moment.

[TheBattman]

So - are you agreeing with me?

[saradippity]

I also had tears at the birth of the baby Jesus in The Nativity Story. It was a stunning,exhilarating moment.

I would have preferred the actual birth of Jesus remain a miracle and a mystery. Although I very much enjoyed the movie and would recommend it to any adult,I would never take my grandchildren to it.

They are all under ten and I have no interest in spending any time discussing childbirth with them,neither generally,or specific to Mary or Elizabeth.

I also found both labor scenes just a little too pedestrian for an event like the birth of Jesus,or to a lesser degree,John.

[Reagan Man]

Just in case anyone forgot. Here's a picture of three of Mel Gibson's favorite people.

I love the Three Stooges too. Great comics.

As for Mel Gibson? Phooey!

[huldah1776]

Mel was probably sober, therefore, facing the world without a crutch, and nervous.

[stockpirate]

Well I did actually see the movie so yes I am agreeing with you.

I do find it interesting that people who have not seen the movie are judging it already.

I think Mel's comments will get liberals to go see it, but they will not leave with the message they came for.

[TheBattman]

From the video clips I have seen, the Mayan city depicted in this movie most closely resembles Tikal in Guatemala, but unfortunately, that isn't located near the sea...

And yes, I have been to Tulum as well. It's been five and a half years ago. Although the ruins are nowhere near as spectacular, the view from the cliff is breathtaking.

[DCPatriot]

Yes the views of the sea from Tulum are terrific.

I agree that the pyramid in your graphic more closely resembles the one in the movie.

[TheBattman]

I took those photos in the summer of 2005. After sweating my tail off climbing to the top of one tower, I was amazed at the true scale of the whole Grand Plaza. And more than creaped out at the thought of the very real human sacrifices done on the many altars around the plaza.

[lentulusgracchus]

Thanks for posting.

You might notice my limiting adverb, "sitewise".

Yes, the pyramid more resembles the big one (which I haven't seen in person) at Coba, which is farther inland than Tulum. And the pyramid and other main buildings appeared to be architecturally up to the standards of the classical Mayan cities, whereas Tulum is not.

Thanks for the photo of the Mexican conservators' marker, which is newer than my visit (in 1980) and gives the original name of the city, Zama' or Zoma' (can't quite make it out on my 12" 800x600 VGA+ screen, thanks to the font they used).

[lentulusgracchus]

I think he's deeply anti-Semitic and at the same time doesn't think he is.

He was raised by an antisemite. How does he get rid of that influence on his own life?

OTOH he has tried, apparently, to live it down, as witness his prompt apology when sobered up, which gainsays the second half of your statement.

To try to ride him down on everything now because of his father's unseemly passion strikes me as vindictive, as if his father's antisemitism is deemed by Gibson's critics to have worked "corruption of blood" in Mel Gibson and his family, to borrow the language of the Constitution (forbidding such punitiveness even for treason).

[lentulusgracchus]

I'm happy to bash Gibson

Then you can't possibly object, can you, to his getting drunk again and yielding to his antisemitic upbringing, can you?

Everyone to his own passion (or whatever), right?

[DoctorMichael]

".............Rousseau-ian values Gibson sees............."

To Mel: Please see 'Lord of the Flies'

[lentulusgracchus]

So, instead of fighting the real enemies, the gentle hunter gatherers sat around the campfire singing cumbayah and burning their spears in unison, .....

I guess you missed the parts where some excellent fighters from the village killed several of the raiders very promptly and efficiently, and our man Jaguar Paw put a big hurt on the sadist -- whereby hangs a plot thread.

[DoctorMichael]

A further criticism:

"....."Apocalypto" opens with a quotation from historian Will Durant: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it destroys itself from within."....."

To Mel: Durant associated the horrors of the French Revolution on Rousseau.

[Twinkie]

No, I didn't miss any part. I haven't seen, nor do I intend to see, the movie, "Apocalypto". I was just writing the plot through a liberal's eyes with modern day liberal flights of fancy.

[Guenevere]

bttt