Gibson says his movie is 'very violent'

HOLLYWOOD, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- Actor-director Mel Gibson says his controversial movie "The Passion of the Christ" is full of violence to push the viewer "over the edge."

"I wanted it to be shocking and I also wanted it to be extreme," he said in an interview with Diane Sawyer to be telecast Monday on ABC's "Primetime." "I think it pushes one over the edge. So that they see the enormity of the sacrifice. To see that someone could endure that and still come back with love and forgiveness."

However, he said the scenes of the Crucifixion scenes may be too extreme for some, the New York Daily News reported. "If you want to leave halfway through, go ahead. You know, there's nothing that says you have to stay there."

Gibson said he was not anti-Semitic and added that being anti-Semitic is a "sin" in his religion.

Asked who killed Jesus Christ, he said, "The big answer is, we all did. I'll be the first in the culpability stakes here, you know."