Filmmaker Mel Gibson has dismissed claims his movies are excessively violent, insisting they only appear that way because of their detailed characterization. Gibson, whose controversial projects include The Passion Of The Christ and his new Apocalypto, lays the blame with Hollywood product starring action heroes such as Jean-Claude Van Damme.

He says, "Everybody likes to beat up on me for the violence, but I think people think it's more violent because I fool them into caring for the characters. When it matters, when they give a s**t, it seems more violent. When you're watching Jean-Claude whatever his name is, you don't give a shit. If you watch 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre Part 4,' you don't care about the pimply teenager on the meat hook because you don't know who he is."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)