I will admit that as far as Mel Gibson films are concerned, I’ve only ever sat down to watch The Passion of the Christ. Not because I had any interest in seeing it, mind you, but because I went to a Catholic high school and it was required viewing for a paper I had to write. I can tell you right now that it wasn’t a fun time. However, even with only one film with his name on it under my belt, I can still tell you that the man seems to have an interesting approach to violence in his films.
Despite his films being rather blood-happy, Gibson himself isn’t a fan of how violence is handled in more mainstream films. Recently, he took a jab at the Marvel Cinematic Universe for this – and it actually wasn’t his first.
In an interview with The Washington Post promoting his recent film, Hacksaw Ridge, Gibson stated in regards to the popular movies:
“They’re more violent than anything that I’ve done, but [in my movies,] you give a shit about the characters, which makes it matter more. That’s all I’ll say.”
Those who know me personally know that I’m not the biggest fan of the MCU. No offense who anyone who genuinely likes it. It’s just not my thing. However, even I, as someone who doesn’t watch these films religiously, could tell you that Gibson’s comment is…questionable. The biggest problem being his statement of the MCU films being more violent than his. Typically, from what I’ve seen, Gibson’s films are quite bloody and gory. It doesn’t hesitate to show some really violent stuff and they truly earn the R ratings attached to it.
While the Marvel films have a lot of action, I wouldn’t say they’re too violent. They manage to keep it at a PG-13 every film and any blood is minimal. Say what you will, Gibson, but unless the day comes when we have Iron Man brutally torturing and crucifying Captain America in slow motion like the Jesus icon he is, the MCU films will never even be close to the violence of your films.
Source: The Washington Post