I may actually have to go to see this film...

I think of Mel Gibson as the anti-Bruce Willis.   Both are originally from the Northeast (Willis from New Jersey, Gibson from upstate New York).   Gibson started off small, edgy and with cult appeal in Mad Max.   Willis started off starring in a TV sitcom (Moonlighting... with former-model-phenom-turned-talentless-actress-turned-mature-comedienne Cybill Shepherd).

In the beginning, I liked Mel Gibson, thought he was cute, sexy and interesting.   On the other hand, Bruce Willis was crass, commercial and a wise ass.   Over time, however, my opinions of each of them flip flopped.   I began to appreciate Willis' macho humor that didn't take itself too seriously while getting increasingly nauseated by Gibson's shortcomings as a comedic actor.   (Think any of the Lethal Weapon films or the atrocious Bird on a Wire.)

Based on my low opinion of Gibson and all the talk about the sadistic violence in The Passion, I was prepared to give it a miss (or at least wait until I saw the DVD on sale at Sam's Club).   Now I may actually have to go out and see it...