'Look in there' he pointed/gestured (Version 2, lol)

[99bottles]

First of all, I apologize. The need you to construction doesn't sound rude in sentences I read in dictionaries. If you don't believe me, check Longman and Macmillan.

Anyway, back to the topic. I want to know the difference between the verbs point and gesture as well as the difference between the prepositions that come after them (to/towards). How do I sort out the sentence below? I would appreciate it if someone helped me.

'Look in there,' he pointed/gestured to/towards the box.

 

[99bottles]

Also, to avoid another huge misunderstanding, I specify that I studied the use of need someone to do something BEFORE you told me it was rude -- I'm not doubting you or anything. I was about to go to bed and it suddenly occurred to me that you might misinterpret the OP, so I turned on my laptop just to write this. :loling:

 

[Tarheel]

Well, pointing is a kind of gesture. That's why you can use either one.

I don't see what's wrong with "I need you to do something" (or a similar construction).

 

[Tdol]

It'd not be rude if you need someone else- I need a dentist to fix my teeth.

 

[Tarheel]

When I posted that I hadn't seen the original. (Context matters.)