www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Mel Gibson Interview with Sean Hannity - Mentions East

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,236557,00.html

If you look to the right of the screen, you can actually watch all the different parts of the interview. In one part, he discusses his faith, and even makes mention of the Eastern tradition of married clergy (specifically the Maronite and Melkite Churches).

Hey - I think it is a good thing when Eastern Catholic Churches receive positive national media attention!

He also mentions that he is weighing a "Life of Christ" film, along the lines of the "Passion".

God definitely works miracles through broken vessels.

God bless,

Gordo

In earthen vessels not made of gold we hold a treasure
Christ the Lord.
Stephanos I
Oppps sorry I felt like singing this morning.

I look forward to the next movie related to the Passion...I also see his leaning to the ancient rite of married priests...it popped up in the notes of the Life of Antony...I have no problems with the tradition.

james

what does he have to say about the gratuitous violence in his present film??

I believe he said that it represented as close to an historically accurate portrayal of the level of violence close to the fall of Aztec civilization. He also said it was no worse really than Braveheart.

WARNING - some movie content revealed...

I went out and saw the movie on late Friday night. The level of violence is very, very strong, especially considering the fact that it portrays human sacrifice. I will say, though, that when it comes to scene of the temples of the Aztec's, very clearly one gets the sense that one has entered the depths of hell made manifest in the City of Man. There is NO glory in what one is witnessing, only darkness and raging fearful bloodlust. The protagonist, Jaguar Paw, is taken from his paradise of innocence in the rainforest and thrown into the midst of this hell. He eventually escapes through a providential act and seeks to return to "Eden" to be with his pregnant wife and child, but must undergo the ordeal of the "chase" and a "leap of faith" down a waterfall into the river below. After the leap, he realizes his true identity when he reaches the land of his ancestors - the name given to him by his father - and he takes on his identity of "father" and "protector" of his family and land of his ancestors.

The symbolism is very powerful. At the end of his chase, both he and two of the brutal Aztecs who are chasing him reach the shore only to see three tall ships with Spanish conquistadors and a monk carrying his tall cross about to land on the shore. The two Aztecs leave the man and go in almost childlike amazement to the ship. It is a scene that reminds me of both the movie and the book, "The Lord of the Flies" when a chase scene ends up on the beach where the "adults" arrive and the murderous Island warriors become Emglish children again.

One gets the very strong sense that this is the end of the hellish civilization of the Aztecs.

At the same time, after rescuing his family Jaguar Paw has a choice to either go to visit the men from the ships, or return to the forest. After a pause, he tells his wife that he wishes to go into the forest to make a "new beginning". One wonders what message Mel is sending through this act...perhaps European culture - despite its Christian and missionary strengths - is also to a certain extent the "City of Man" best avoided in deference to the primordial innocence of the rainforests? I'm not sure.

Anyway, I share this only to say that there is more to the movie than just "violence" - to read the liberal press, you would think not! The violence is excessive because the culture was excessively violent. (The question is - does one need the brutal images of the violence to be disgusted by it?) There is also some native nudity, but it is not sexually charged. I would say - "Approach with caution!". In retrospect, I think the "Nativity" is a much better choice for moviegoing, especially during this fasting season in anticipation of the Feast.

God bless,

Gordo

Gordo, your review of the movie is what I saw. Thank you for describing it, so well!

I haven't seen the movie, but isn't it about Mayans, and not Aztecs.

Fr. Jim,

Thanks for your comments!

Lawrence,

You are correct - my bad. It is about the Maya.

Gordo

You are both right, actually. The movie is about the Maya, but factually speaking, some of what is depicted applies only to the Aztecs: leaving one to wonder whether the blending of the two is accidental or intentional.