12 Times Mel Gibson went Historical
With Mel Gibson’s newest directorial outing, Hacksaw Ridge, he looks to get back within the good graces of a Hollywood that has spurned him for the last decade. It’s about time, if you ask me. Mel has always been a master filmmaker and to see his career get buried after his drunken outburst is very sad. Well, fast forward almost ten years and now the liberal Hollywood-ites are shifting in their seat to hide their boners after seeing this new Gibson flick. Good for him! It’s definitely not the first time, though, that Mel has made or starred in a rad historical movie. Let’s take a look a few of those bad boys…
Attack Force Z (1981)
Mel and a group of Aussie Commandos launch a secret mission against a Japanese force. Also stars the always amazing Sam Neil. Speaking of Sam Neil, has anyone else watched the New Zealand film Hunt for the Wilderpeople? That one is just pure fun!
Gallipoli (1981)
Filmed before Mel ran off to fight the Japanese in WW2, Gallipoli tells the story of the epic campaign in Turkey during World War 1. The characters are purely fictional but the craziness that happened during the long campaign were all too real for the Australian forces involved.
The Bounty (1984)
A few years after Mel’s busy year in 1981, he starred alongside Anthony Hopkins and Laurence Olivier in the story of the mutiny onboard the H.M.S. Bounty. This movie holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first books that I became addicted to as a kid. The film also features Daniel Day-Lewis and Liam Neeson.
Air America (1990)
One of Mel’s earliest attempts at some comedic tones in a movie, Air America puts him in a cockpit with a young and probably coked out Robert Downey Jr. The two are involved in a CIA operation over Vietnam and Laos, transporting everything from soldiers, to food, to opium.
Hamlet (1990)
In what could only be considered as a very unexpected role for Gibson to take, Mel stars as the vengeful Hamlet in the classic Shakespearian tale that has been told countless times. I actually enjoyed this take on it more than many of the other actors who have played the role. Especially if you watch it before a Lethal Weapon marathon!
Maverick (1994)
In what I would easily call one of my favorite Mel Gibson roles, he plays the gambling gunslinger Bret Maverick. The film also stars Jodie Foster, Alfred Molina, and the original Bret Maverick James Garner. It’s a very enjoyable movie.
Braveheart (1995)
You may have heard of this movie before. Even though the historical accuracy is on par with Superman: The Movie, Braveheart had enough slayings, horse killings, and amazing Scottish accents for the awards peeps to overlook that and give the film ‘Best Picture’. It’s Gibson’s best role ever (arguably).
The Patriot (2000)
No one kills British soldiers like Mel Gibson! This movie is almost exactly like Braveheart only it’s an American during the Revolutionary War. I still love it! There are very few war movies that feature a guy getting tomahawked in the forehead that I don’t enjoy.
We Were Soldiers (2002)
Mel returns to Vietnam but this time as Lt. Col. Hal Moore. He leads his group of young and inexperienced soldiers into battle alongside the manliest man of all time, Sam Elliot. This film has enough heartfelt moments in it to make any military veteran shed a tear and enough hardcore battles to get the attention of any war buffs.
The Passion of the Christ (2004)
I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried like a little girl when I saw this movie for the first time. It’s an unbelievable theatrical experience to see it on the big screen and also one of the most financially successful films of all time.
Apocalypto (2006)
There aren’t many movies that can star ethnic actors speaking ancient languages and still make piles and piles of money. Apocalypto is a real tour de force for director Mel Gibson since there wasn’t a whole lot of movies running around about the Mayan Civilization and I certainly didn’t hear people clamoring for someone to make one. The final 30 minutes of the film remind me a lot of Predator, and no greater compliment could ever be given to a film.
Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
He’s back. It’s not Martin Riggs, but Mel Gibson is back with this World War 2 film about a conscientious objector who is also a medic and the first objector to win the Medal of Honor. It’s getting some kickass reviews to this point and we can all hope that it’s the one that brings Mel back for good.
What historical era would you like to see Mel in next?
