Apocalypto - the new Mel Gibson film

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So...what's the opinion on this? I heard that Gibson had some trouble finding someone to distribute his latest dead-language film, which is no surprise, considering it's filmed entirely in some obscure Mayan dialect and starring real Natives.

Even though a lot of people say they think it looks boring/stupid/silly/whatever, I'm really looking forward to it. As much of a hispanic/mexican/south american presence as we have in the US, Hollywood really hasn't done much to attract that particular niche audience by creating historical films based around the mythology or history of those cultures. Since I've been in love with Aztec, Mayan and Inca mythology/history for years, I'm really excited about the film. I think the best and most broadly appealing way to get the history out there on the big screen would be to adapt Gary Jenning's historical novel Aztec into a film... but for now I'll be happy with Apocalypto and Antonio Banderas' current project, Conquistador.

I only wish that the name were different...it reminds me of an old Animaniacs joke talking about a remake of Apocalypse Now! called Apocalypso >__>...

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I'm looking forward to this movie for a number of reasons. I've been interested in the Mayan/Incan/Aztecian mythology for a long while, and even if the movie doesnt follow it closely, it'll still be an interesting thing to watch.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I saw a trailer for this movie when I went to go see The Sentinel last month, and it did look interesting. I don't know if I'll go see it at the movies, but I may check it out on DVD whenever it comes out.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I have to admit, I am of the "This looks boring" contingent. And, after watching the trailer for a second time just now, my opinion hasn't swayed. It's Mel Gibson that's turning me off, rather than any language issue. I hold no interest in that man's films.

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After The Passion of the Christ I really find myself hard pressed to respect Mel or look forward to anything he directs.

I was speaking idiomatically.

I'm really not a Mel Gibson fan, but this has been holding my attention eversince it was first announced. It's true that I'm quite fascinated in the ancient south american civilizations in the first place. I just hope it will be an honnest movie.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

LOOK at this man. LOOK AT HIM:



Who cares if his films aren't 'honest', or 'self-indulgent'. With the shit doing the rounds these days (Da Vinci Code, X3), I'm fucking glad we have a loaded nutter like Gibson making films. At least they're different.

FELIPE NO

i read an article about it in Time. apparently most of the cast are natives to the region and have no idea what a "movie" even is. despite that, i have high expectations for the film and will probably line up opening night

How ya doing, buddy?

I know a lot of people are probably turned off that it's being filmed in the dead Mayan dialect, but that's a huge selling point for me.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Yeah, I was wondering about that. Does the American public actually get shitty over subtitles, or is that a myth?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah, sometimes. :/

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Yeah, they do. It's kind of like the whole 'no foreign-language music' thing... my dad is a good example of it. He refuses to see movies with subtitles and really doesn't like when I put on music in other languages around him (although he just has to deal with it).

At least my mom is more open-minded about it. But I'm really excited about it being filmed in the dialect as well; at one point I wanted to learn Nahual, so this is really intriguing for me.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Just out of curiousity, did anyone catch that single frame of Mel Gibson in the teaser trailer? The pic looks like the one Cal posted, and for some reason I just find it really hiliarious.

It's about 3/4th of the way in, shortly after the pregnant woman, and the scene right after where the guy gets captured by a net, and right before a monkey howls in the trailer. Not sure if this was intentional or accidental, but it's really funny, and if you catch it, totally ruins the "suspension of belief" in the trailer.

I was speaking idiomatically.

The more I read about it, the more I'm exited about that one. In the latest article I read, they were talking about Gibson's approach on the whole thing being influenced by the latest historical discoveries. As in, the end of the Maya civilizations caused by the corruption of values and lack of respect for their own environment. Add to this Gibson's apparent despiction of recent Hollywood's CG special effects, and man am I sold! =p

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I saw the trailer abuot a month ago on the INHD channel, and I must say, it looked like a visually gorgeous film, especially the last part where the chief grabs the sun in his hand and then the large crowd below cheers. In high-def, that scene just looked, how can I say, PRETTY.

I've always been fascinated by the ancient Mayan ways, so I am looking forward to this film. I don't understand why most American audiences don't like films with subtitles, it's not like the entire world speaks English. Damn Americans and their closed-world views!!

Gecko3, no I didn't even notice that Mel threw himself in the trailer haha. I'll have to check that out for myself. Seems like a move which would be typical of a director like James Cameron =p

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If this movie is anything like the pile of crap that The Passion of the Christ was, I have no interest in it. I liked Braveheart though. Maybe I'll watch it when it comes on HBO or something. I'm sick of subtitle movies though, if I want to read the whole time, I might as well read a book instead. I will only watch an English dubbed version of this, unless it turns out to be the most critically acclaimed movie of all time, then maybe I'll watch it with subtitles.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by ShinBojack

I don't understand why most American audiences don't like films with subtitles, it's not like the entire world speaks English. Damn Americans and their closed-world views!!

The funny thing about subtitles when it comes to movies like this are the fact that this is an American made movie, by someone who speaks perfect English, and probably did most of the work (not shooting) in the United States. Given that, movies having subtitles strike me as a bit silly.

Although, I guess in this case it's different, because he's trying to capture the Mayan culture as realistically as possible. In that case, I should probably be thankful for subtitles. Mayans didn't have them back then.

On a more serious note, however: I find it funny that he cast a bunch of non-actors (who apparently never even heard of a thing called a "movie"), to act in a movie.

Religious preference has nothing to do with the reason why Mel Gibson can't get anyone to back his films; it's shitty film making.

Jam it back in, in the dark.