Mel Gibson criticizes Iraq war at film fest

[estranged4life]

Troubled filmmaker draws parallels to collapsing Mayan civilization

LOS ANGELES - Mel Gibson criticized the war in Iraq while recently promoting his new film "Apocalypto" at a Texas film festival.

Gibson, 50, drew parallels between the collapsing Mayan civilization depicted in the movie and the United States at a screening Friday at the Fantastic Fest in Austin, the Hollywood Reporter said Monday.

"The precursors to a civilization that's going under are the same, time and time again," the actor-director said after a screening of an unfinished cut of "Apocalypto," his first directorial effort since "The Passion of the Christ."

"What's human sacrifice if not sending guys off to Iraq for no reason?" he said at the festival, which is devoted to new science fiction, horror and fantasy films.

The surprise appearance was one of the first times Gibson has spoken in public since his racial slur-laced tirade while being arrested for drunk driving in June. At a screening of "Apocalypto" last week in Oklahoma, Gibson ducked the press and entered wearing a mask and wig so he wouldn't be noticed.

On Aug. 17, Gibson pleaded no contest to a charge of drunken driving in Malibu. He volunteered to do public-service announcements on the hazards of drinking and driving, and to immediately enter rehabilitation.

During the arrest early in the morning of July 28, Gibson made anti-Semitic remarks to the arresting deputy and later apologized.

"Apocalypto" is scheduled to be released Dec. 8.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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I wonder how the Chickasaw tribe were able to get Crazy Mel to preview his movie at the RiverWind Casino this past weekend?

Funny, according to reports the press were not allowed to interview him at all. Other local reports said the press were allowed inside but were kept in a room off from the location where Crazy Mel was, and that the press members were kept behind a shaded partition never knowing Crazy Mel would not be available for comment.