Mel Gibson's Movie on Judah Maccabee May Kick Some Dust

Mel Gibson isn't really known for his religious tolerance, or even for being polite to police officers when they catch him for misdemeanours. His drunken tirade in which he ranted about Jews being responsible for all wars, drew sharp criticism and disgust from around the world. That was an unfortunate incident, for he did not really get criticised enough, and instead got a lot of publicity which helped his name to become more common, more heard and more popular.

This was several years ago, and human memory fades away quickly. For instance, until I read about Mel Gibson's plan to make a movie about Judah Maccabe I had almost forgotten Hollywood's most controversial actor. It is only natural that he attempts yet another time to rake up a little dust, and anger a few people so that he can the publicity he needs to stay in news. I feel guilty myself, to write about him especially when he doesn't need the attention that we all give him.

Before I digress, Mel Gibson seems to have a strange fascination for the great hero of the Hanukkah story, Judah Maccabee. Stranger is the fact that Warner Bros. have begun to think about signing Gibson in for the new movie that would feature the tale of Maccabee and his struggle for religious freedom. Judah Maccabee was perhaps the world's first leader of a religious revolt and thanks to him, many countries still do get a holiday on Hanukkah.

Mel Gibson revealed in an interview to The Atlantic that he not only plans to make a movie on Maccabee, but also plans to sell it to the mainstream audience. When questioned about his questionable opinions about other religions and the possible motivation for money, he denied cash being a motivating factor and insisted that he simply liked the Book of Maccabees because it reminded him of all the heroes that he had created in his mind. Of course, Judah Maccabee's story correlates to Mel Gibson's heroes in several of his movies. Perhaps it is the staunch attempts by Judah Maccabee to fight for his religion that inspired Mel Gibson to think of making a biopic on Maccabee.

A strange pre-occupation with circumcision practiced by Jews was noticed by the interviewer, as Mel Gibson recoiled at the thought of how circumcised Jewish but Hellenic men tried to restore their foreskins after undergoing the procedure. Mel noted that viewers would get to see the actor's face and not his foreskin, which again hints at a family friendly, mainstream movie that would be inspired by a Jewish hero.

Of course, the audiences would love it when the movie would be complete and launched. However, the irony is that Hollywood's most controversial star shall make a movie dedicated to Judah Maccabee. Jewish organizations all over the world would protest against the movie, and help him get free publicity that he requires, and he probably already has anticipated so. Perhaps it is time for Jewish organizations to just ignore him and concentrate more on the state of affairs in Israel, than helping him get the publicity (even if it is negative, it is publicity nonetheless), which he desperately needs at this time.