Thoughts On All The Mel Gibson Movies

Agent Game (2022) My thoughts:  This is not very good.  Nowhere near the highlight of Mr. Gibson’s career.

Air America (2006) My thoughts:  Remember when Mel was the superstar and Robert Downey, Jr was the one struggling in his personal life?  As for the movie, not the best from either actor.

Apocalypto (2006) My thoughts: The fourth movie Mel directed.  I had high expectations for this movie but the movie did not meet those expectations.  And looking at the massive 2nd-weekend dropoff, I was not the only one thinking that way.

Attack Force Z (1982) My thoughts: I watched this movie many times in the mid-1980s, as it was in heavy rotation on HBO.  As a teenager I thought it was pretty good….have yet to see it as a smarter wiser adult so I am not sure it is still a “pretty good” movie.

Bandit (2022) My thoughts:  Awesome movie.  Bandit made my Top 10 list of favorite movies seen in 2022.  Mel has a supporting role.  Worth checking out.

The Beaver (2011)  My thoughts: This is one strange movie that starts dark and ends up evener darker…not a movie that I will ever watch again.  Jodie Foster was the director and to date the last lead role for Gibson.

Bird on a Wire (1990) My thoughts: Despite being his 11th biggest box office hit this movie is pretty bad.

Blood Father (2016) My thoughts: Mel’s newest starring role movie is getting some solid reviews and the trailer looks promising.  Looking forward to this one.

Boss Level (2020) My thoughts:  Trailer for this one looked promising.  Movie was not nearly as good as the trailer.  In the end, I thought it was ok….just not enough Mel in the movie.

The Bounty (1984)  My thoughts: The fourth film version about the mutiny of the Bounty.  Gibson follows in the footsteps of Errol Flynn, Clark Gable, and Marlon Brando as he plays Fletcher Christian.  A good movie with Anthony Hopkins stealing the movie and keep an eye out for a very young Liam Neeson.

Braveheart (1995)  My thoughts:  Let’s see how did Braveheart get this top-ranking?  First of all, it is one of his biggest hits.  Secondly, it is one of his best-received movies according to critics and audiences.  Thirdly it got some serious Oscar® love….10 Oscar® nominations and 5 wins.  And finally, Mel Gibson got not one but two Oscar® wins for the movie.  One was for Best Director and the second was for Best Producer…which he won when Braveheart won the Best Picture Oscar®.  Kind of hard to top those accomplishments.

Chicken Run (2000)  My thoughts: Granted Mel Gibson only provides his voice in this computer-animated stop motion movie, but it is a very entertaining movie that both parents and kids can enjoy.

Conspiracy Theory (1997) My thoughts:  Mel and Julia Roberts team up for one of his biggest box office hits.  Patrick Stewart as the villain actually outshines both Mel and Julia.

Daddy Home 2 (2018) My thoughts: Movie has some funny moments, but overall, this is a pretty

Dangerous (2021) My thoughts:  Mel literally phones in this performance.  He plays Scott Eastwood’s shrink.  Mel’s entire role takes place on a phone.  Pretty forgettable.

Dragged Across Concrete (2019) My thoughts: Looking forward to seeing this movie. The director was the man behind Kurt Russell’s Bone Tomahawk and Vince Vaughn’s Brawl In Cell Block 99….both have a nice following.

Edge of Darkness (2010) My thoughts: This was Mel’s return to acting in front of the camera after 7 years away.  A pretty standard action piece that did not bring Gibson back to his glory days.

The Expendables 3  (2014) My thoughts:  It could have been a great movie with all the in front of camera talent….instead this turned out to be a pretty bad movie.

Father Stu (2022) My thoughts:  Mel and Mark Wahlberg play father and son again. This based on a true story movie, is ok….it just never gets going.  Mel is probably the best part of the movie.

Fatman (2020) My thoughts:  Loved this movie.  I loved it so much, that I went out and bought it for my collection.  Mel as Santa is AWESOME!

Force of Nature  (2020) My thoughts:  Ok…Mel is the best part of the movie.  Sadly, he is only in a supporting role, and even more sad, the rest of the movie is horrible.

Forever Young (1992) My thoughts:  It has probably been 20 years since I saw this romantic time travel movie.  Forever Young was a box office hit and made during the career peak of Mel.

Gallipoli (1981) My thoughts: I recently re-watched Gallipoli…it was much better the second time around.  I can see why it got a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Foreign Film.

Get The Gringo (2012) My thoughts:  One of Mel’s better movies of the 2000s.  This Video on Demand movie is fun and entertaining. It is a very gritty movie.  Mel is a blast to watch as we watch him maneuver through one bad spot after another.    Sadly this movie is rarely talked about. Worth checking out.

Hamlet (1990) My thoughts:  This is actually one of the few versions of Hamlet that I have ever seen.  If you like Shakespeare then you will probably like Mel’s Hamlet.  As for me, I have always found it very hard to get into the language of the great William Shakespeare….so it was not a fun movie-going experience for me.

Hacksaw Ridge (2016) My thoughts:  The return of Mel Gibson is complete. This is one of his best movies period.  Great action, great drama…great movie period.

Hot Seat (2022) My thoughts:  Dumb action movie. Mel plays second fiddle to Kevin Dillon.  How is that possible?  

Last Looks (2021) My thoughts:  Mel gets caught up in a murder.  Is he an innocent viction or the villain?  Really enjoyed this one, and would watch it again.  A nice surprise.

Lethal Weapon (1987) My thoughts: I find it shocking that this movie is almost 30 years old.  We got this classic in 1987 and Die Hard in 1988…those were the days.

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) My thoughts: Not as good as Lethal Weapon, but a very good sequel.  Joe Pesci made a very nice addition to the series which is Mel’s 2nd biggest box office hit.

Lethal Weapon 3 (1992) My thoughts: After hitting two home runs with Lethal Weapon 1 and 2 part 3 was a double at best.  That being said it is his 4th biggest box office hit.

Lethal Weapon 4 (2000) My thoughts: The fourth and final movie in the Lethal Weapon series.  Made a ton of money but they probably should have stopped as a trilogy.

Machete Kills  (2013) My thoughts: I will not be going to the theaters to see this movie, but it does seem to be the start of the return of Mel Gibson.   After his turn as the villain in Machete Kills he will be the villain in Expendables 3.

Mad Max (1979) My thoughts:  The first of the Mad Max movies is my least favorite of the trilogy…but it is worth viewing to see the beginning of Max’s story.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) My thoughts: The biggest box office hit of the Mad Max trilogy.  The first half is awesome but falls apart when he leaves Bordertown.  The final chase is weak compared to the chase in The Road Warrior.

The Man Without A Face (1993) My thoughts:  Mel Gibson’s directorial debut is an entertaining movie and one of my favorite Gibson movies.

Maverick (1994) My thoughts:  Mel takes over the Maverick role in this western box office hit.  Added bonus we get James Garner and James Coburn in supporting roles.  A movie I can watch repeatedly.

Million Dollar Hotel (2001)  My thoughts: Mel has the best part in the movie,  but that is not saying much as this movie is pretty bad.  Rockstar, Bono, provided the story and was one of the producers.

Mrs. Soffel (1984)  My thoughts: One of Mel Gibson’s first American produced films.  Mel plays a prisoner and Diane Keaton plays the warden’s wife that falls in love with Mel….not a very believable story…but Keaton did earn a Golden Globe® nomination for Best Actress for her role in the movie.

Panama (2021) My thoughts:  Weak action movie.  Mel only has a handful of scenes.  He is fine is his role, but this one is very forgettable.

The Passion of the Christ (2004) My thoughts:  Not only is it Mel Gibson’s biggest box office hit, it is one the biggest box office hits of all-time.  I just recently watched this movie for the first time and I’m still trying to figure out if I liked the movie or not.

The Patriot (2000) My thoughts: I actually did not like this movie on my first viewing but it has gotten better on repeat viewings.  Gibson’s 10th biggest box office hit of his career.

Payback (1999) My thoughts:  Another one of my favorite Gibson movies.  I love the very small part of James Coburn.  But caution to all..it is a pretty violent movie.

Pocahontas (1995) My thoughts:  Another voice-only role…this time it is for Disney Animation.  Pocahontas was one of his biggest hits and won two Oscars

The Professor and the Madman (2019) My thoughts: I liked the movie, but it was a lot more violent and gory than I was expecting. Mel is good in the movie….but Sean Penn is better.

Ransom (1996) My thoughts: A pretty intense movie from director Ron Howard.  Mel is excellent as the dad fighting to get his son back.

The River (1984)  My thoughts:  Mel does a good job playing a farmer dealing with floods, greedy banks and the evil rich neighbor, Scott Glenn.  Sissy Spacek plays Mel’s wife at the height of her career.

The Road Warrior (1982) My thoughts: The second part of the Mad Max trilogy is my favorite of the three movies. The final action scene is one of the best-filmed action scenes ever….and done without computer help.

Signs (2002) My thoughts:  M. Night’s last good movie, Mel’s 2nd biggest hit, and one of his better-reviewed movies puts Signs into Mel’s Top 5.  This movie seriously freaked my now 19-year-old daughter out….she made it to the scene where Mel is looking under the door with the knife…11 years later and she still will not watch the end of the movie.

The Singing Detective (2003)  My thoughts:  While it is nice to see Robert Downey, Jr. and Mel in another movie together, this pretty depressing story about a writer with a skin disease is not a fun movie to watch.

Tequila Sunrise (1988) My thoughts:  I love this movie, the three leads (Mel, Kurt Russell, and Michelle Pfeiffer) are outstanding.  No idea why critics and audiences only gave it a 54% rating.  Repeat viewings only add to the depth of the story with lots of subtle hints about the character’s actions and decisions.

Tim (1979) My thoughts: Only his 3rd movie.  I saw this movie many years ago.  Mel plays a role unlike any other in his career as he plays a young man with below-average intelligence.  Piper Laurie gets top billing but it was Mel that stands out in this movie.

We Were Soldiers (2002) My thoughts: Tells the story of the first major battle in Vietnam.  The first half of the movie is a family drama while the second half is a war movie…that combination might not suit many viewers…but I liked the movie.

What Women Want (2000)  My thoughts:  I like this movie, but my wife loves this movie.  It is the 5th biggest box office hit of his career.

 The Year of Living Dangerously (1983)  My thoughts: I have seen this movie but it has been almost 30 years since my last viewing.  The only thing that really sticks out in my memory is Linda Hunt playing a man in her Oscar® winning performance.

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