Remember Mel Gibson, the Oscar-winning actor-director who's always about fighting injustice and has filled his resume playing vengeance-seeking characters? Mad Max, Lethal Weapon, Braveheart, Ransom, Payback and The Patriot all come to mind.

Or is it "Mad Mel" whom you remember, the one who grabbed headlines with his controversial The Passion Of The Christ, his anti-Semitic outburst during a DUI (driving under the influence) arrest, and his act of leaving his wife for Russian model Oksana Grigorieva, with whom he recently had a daughter?

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then, and now Gibson is back in the limelight for the right reasons.

He has returned to the familiar revenge drama territory with Edge Of Darkness, in which he plays a detective who goes on a vengeance-fuelled hunt for whoever killed his daughter.

This action-thriller is directed by Martin Campbell of Casino Royale fame, who incidentally is also the brains behind the original acclaimed '80s British mini-series of the same name.

The big question

The question is, can 54-year-old Gibson, a one-time holder of the Sexiest Man Alive title, still open a US$80 million ($112m) movie?

No doubt the gritty flick is already attracting the mean. But what about the primary drivers of Gibson's box-office success - women who adored him in such films like What Women Want?

After all, it's been seven long years since we saw him on the big screen. And let's be honest, Mother Nature hasn't been too kind to him.

Gibson agreed that age has taken a toll.

"I ordered a chiropractor for the day after (each action scene), because I knew I would wake up feeling like roadkill, and I did," said Gibson at a recent press conference in Los Angeles for Edge Of Darkness, which opens today.

"That guy (you're fighting) is 25, and he's taking it easy on you. Yeah, that's not a pleasant experience. You don't pop back the way you used to. But as long as it looks good."

MEL GIBSON

SEXIEST MAN ALIVE HONOUR: 1985

CHICK MAGNETISM: He was the first person to win People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive title. Darn those clear blue puppy dog eyes that make women go weak.

From wearing tight leather pants to sporting a mullet to wearing kilts, Gibson was every inch a sex symbol - and a very successful one too.

The late '80s to mid '90s were Gibson's golden years. His vehicle to international fame was the Mad Max series of movies. Buddy cop movie Lethal Weapon and its sequels made him a movie star. He was virtually a walking Fortune 500 company as his movies were huge box-office winners.

So is his heyday of being a demi-god over? As charming as those blue peepers still are, Gibson hasn't aged well and looks worse for wear - perhaps it's all the late nights thanks to the new baby.

But judging from the recent jibe that he got from host Ricky Gervais at the Golden Globe Awards about his drinking habits, Gibson shows he still has a great sense of humour - and that's always a winning quality with women.

GEORGE CLOONEY

SEXIEST MAN ALIVE HONOURS: 1997, 2006

CHICK MAGNETISM: The big 5-0 is looming, but Clooney is still one smouldering hot fella. Like fine wine, he just gets finer with each passing year.

Compared to his rather sleazy look in those early Return Of The Killer Tomatoes! (1988) days, Clooney definitely looks better with silver streaks in his hair.

Along with those trademark "character" lines on his forehead, that sparkle of mischief in his eyes and his sharp dressing, Clooney is a true class act.

The reputed jokester is also a powerful figure who easily summoned an army of who's who in Hollywood to help out his Hope For Haiti fund-raiser.

Career-wise, Clooney has proven to be a crowd-pleaser and has a good mix of mainstream (the Ocean's Eleven franchise) and independent movies (the upcoming Up In the Air) in his bag.

Along the way, he dabbled with script-writing and directing, winning accolades and even the Oscar for his endeavours.

How can you possible say no to a man who has power and killer charm rolled into one package?

HARRISON FORD

SEXIEST MAN ALIVE HONOURS: 1998

CHICK MAGNETISM: It says a lot when you win the title of Sexiest Man Alive at age 56.

It's that roguish smirk of his, we tell you, that draws women to his movies.

Ford is among the rare few in Hollywood who have three successful franchises - Star Wars, Indiana Jones and the Jack Ryan movies.

And don't forget the fact that Ford has played one of the most memorable US presidents (Air Force One) in cinematic history.

Being a "senior citizen" hasn't dampened his popularity though.

His latest Indy outing was a huge box-office hit, proving he still packs a mean punch and is forever the hero in the eyes of the fairer sex.

BRAD PITT

SEXIEST MAN ALIVE HONOURS: 1995, 2000

CHICK MAGNETISM: No matter what

Pitt plays, be it a serial killer, a cowboy, a mountaineer, a terrorist, a Nazi killer, a Greek god or even Death himself, he still manages to ooze sex appeal.

Pitt had been hailed as a sex god ever since he gave Geena Davis the best night of her life in Thelma & Louise back in 1991.

Legends Of The Fall (1994) cemented his status as a sex symbol.

Perhaps he knows his looks can be the bane of his professional existence, which is why he has uglified himself in roles so as to be taken seriously.

But it seems that reel has become a little too real. Now Pitt sports an unsightly and untidy beard that hides his gorgeous genes.

Even though leading a jet-setting life and being a hands-on daddy to his six children have resulted in eye bags and wrinkles, Pitt is still one sexy leading man specimen.

Here's hoping his preferred beard-andbeanie look is for a new movie, and we'll see the clean-cut Pitt once again.

JOHNNY DEPP

SEXIEST MAN ALIVE HONOURS: 2003, 2009

CHICK MAGNETISM: There's no disputing that Johnny boy is one of the world's most desirable men.

He's the Peter Pan with killer cheekbones and smouldering eyes. He's the epitome of rock 'n' roll coolness. He's also a man of style, albeit of a whimsical nature. Wear a blue tuxedo to the Oscars? Not everyone can pull that off!

Depp became a pin-up idol after the 1987 TV series 21 Jump Street, and carved a niche playing eccentric characters from Edward Scissorhands to Willy Wonka. His next role fits him to a T - the Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's version of Alice In Wonderland.

How does Depp stay eternally youthful? Certainly no thanks to his rum and Cuban cigars!

Has Depp signed a pact with the devil? Or is blissful family life with longtime partner Vanessa Paradis and his two children on their private Bahamian island the key to his fountain of youth? We prefer to think it's the latter.