Apocalypto anyone?

[masswriter]

I saw this film on Saturday and have to applaud Gibson's impressive directorial effort. The attention to detail, narrative economy, and extracting superb acting performances from non-English speaking actors through an impentrable language barrier (if the press is correct) makes this a fave film that I eagerly await to own.

By the way, the blood and gore the whiney critics are wetting their panties over is not gratuitous. In order to convey any kind of convincing accuracy over the barbaric nature of hunters, warriors and the almighty sacrificial altar, this kind of violence is not only warranted, but necessary.

[Hawkman]

I saw this film on Saturday and have to applaud Gibson's impressive directorial effort. The attention to detail, narrative economy, and extracting superb acting performances from non-English speaking actors through an impentrable language barrier (if the press is correct) makes this a fave film that I eagerly await to own.

By the way, the blood and gore the whiney critics are wetting their panties over is not gratuitous. In order to convey any kind of convincing accuracy over the barbaric nature of hunters, warriors and the almighty sacrificial altar, this kind of violence is not only warranted, but necessary.

I'm going to see it next weekend. Because of the scandal over the summer, Roger Friedman of Fox News is particularly interested in seeing it fail and is doing the best he can to wish it so. Almost to the point of seeming obsessed by it. It truly is pathetic. It's been getting generally good reviews (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/apocalypto/). I would see it anyway because the subject matter looks very interesting. I'm not worried about the violence. I'm sure that I've seen worse on cable. I object to the critics who wonder if 'the audience' can handle 'subtitles'. What a bunch of self-righteous bastards.

[masswriter]

I keep looking at th enames after reading the blurbs, intentionally after I finish the article so that I can guess who would have written it. Everytime I thought it was some old woman, it was some little male pansy of a movie critic simpering about the violence . . . truly pathetic. I really do think that in America, all the women have the balls now (except for Mel Gibson apparently). The beauteous thing is that he is so bloody wealthy, he doesn't have to give a crap about reviews. I wish I had that kind of power.

[bldg blok]

I object to the critics who wonder if 'the audience' can handle 'subtitles'. What a bunch of self-righteous bastards.

I'd like to believe that's not accurate too, but I've been proven wrong before.

I tried to convince friends that we should watch the sub-titled versions of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Life Is Beautiful" only to be shot down. The reason? They wanted to be able to see the emotion in the actors faces, not to be reading dialog. Never mind the fact that the words they're hearing aren't really tied in to the emotion being displayed on the screen since they were recorded on a soundstage after the fact. :rolleyes:

[Ron Stone]

. . . I object to the critics who wonder if 'the audience' can handle 'subtitles'. What a bunch of self-righteous bastards.

I dunno. How many foreign language films have been a hit in the USA other than PASSION OF THE CHRIST? I don't mean every film with some subtitling, like SOPHIE'S CHOICE and other World War II related films, but subtitled all the way through?

I don't think the observation that American moviegoers have a low tolerance for foreign languages and subtitles with our popcorn makes the reviewer self-righteous.

[heaudio]

I dunno. How many foreign language films have been a hit in the USA other than PASSION OF THE CHRIST? I don't mean every film with some subtitling, like SOPHIE'S CHOICE and other World War II related films, but subtitled all the way through?


How about La Vita E Bella (Life Is Beautiful)?

[jamesc]

This does look like an interesting film. I'll probably wait for the DVD though.

As for Gibson, if I based my purchases of music and films on what an artist says and does, I wouldn't be buying much.

[Captain Groovy]

How about La Vita E Bella (Life Is Beautiful)?

:righton:

My FAVORITE foreign language film...

I'm interested in seeing this film, Gibson can be a good director... but as a Jew, I just can't give him money. At least not right now. I can't support him.

So, Apocalypto, No.

Jeff

P.S. Doesn't the title sound like it should be a Jimmy Buffett song??

[masswriter]

Gad, does that mean you won't listen to Wagner? Or read T.S. Eliot? separate the art from the human frailties . . . . believe it or not, Mel doesnt need your money anymore.

[Larry Mc]

I just got back from seeing this movie. It was a great, beautiful movie.

[townsend]

I saw Apocalypto Saturday. I encourage the forum member who wants to wait until it comes out on DVD not to; this movie is best viewed on a BIG screen. The cinematography is breath taking.

YMMV, but I'm a great fan of historical epics done right. I want to be transported back in time several centuries & experience (as an observer) a different culture. Mel has gone a fantastic job in this movie, in recreating the Mayan civilization and that of native people in pre-colombian South America.

In the last couple of years, a number of these "historical epic" type movies have flopped, and rightly so. The only one I enjoyed was Troy (despite numerous criticisms). OTOH, movies such as King Arthur, Alexander, The New World, and even Kingdom of Heaven (I'm referring only to the theatrical cut; haven't seen the unbutchered, longer director's cut on DVD yet) didn't hold my interest.

The violence and gore portrayed in the movie is not gratuitous, though it may be too strong for some moviegoers. SPOILER--when individuals meet their end with knifes or spears, it might--it just might--be gruesome to some. Caveat emptor.

[heaudio]

This film is going to have a very poor box office compared to what he spent. Investors will be losing money on this movie. Gibson went over schedule and budget.

So Gibson does need our money. Or he doesn't get to make the movies with the budgets he wants.

So, I enjoy this smack-down. He deserves it.

He's a bad boy beyond just the utter stupidity of what he said.

Now executives have a strong financial reason not to work with him again - and they will be able to show another reason why it's not smart business to make Mel Gibson-directed movies.

Three day box office is $14.2M, which works out to a respectable $5K/screen. The budget was $40M, so this movie won't lose money. Mel Gibson makes profitable movies, so studios will always work with him, especially since he's proven he can do it without them if necessary. Morals and ethics are one thing, money's quite someting else-- it's pretty obvious which is more important to Hollywood.

[rburly]

Jeff makes a good point. I was going to say, and still am, that I think Gibson is sweating this one out to see how much damage he's done to himself.

If this film does well at the box office for several weeks, and the overall take after several weeks or months makes money for the movie and it's investors, he'll feel vindicated. I think he'll always have to "watch" the movies he makes, with his behavior this year in the back of his mind.

It's an interesting situation. I tend to watch movies on TV/DVD anyway. But there are many people who'll go see one of his movies if they look interesting. Many people won't, no matter what.

[Paul Chang]

I think the thread title means "has anyone seen Apocalypto?" and "what do you think if you have seen it?" I'm planning to see it this week and hope this thread will stay open until then. :)

[ronbow]

Saw it Friday night. Gibson is quite a film-maker. And the movie is wonderful.

Gory? Yes. But it is appropriate to the context. What it is really amazing is his ability to tell a story - and this is a great story - and put it into a detailed historical context.

The sequence where the captives move thru the various neighborhoods into the center of the empire really provides a cross-section of Mayan society and the most compelling visualization of the culture I yet come across.

And besides, when was the last time you saw a big-budget movie about the Mayan empire?

[heaudio]

Jeff makes a good point. I was going to say, and still am, that I think Gibson is sweating this one out to see how much damage he's done to himself.


You think? If so, he's hiding it well. Calling the film "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto" seems to me a confident move.

[Sgt. Pepper]

I'd like to believe that's not accurate too, but I've been proven wrong before.

I tried to convince friends that we should watch the sub-titled versions of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and "Life Is Beautiful" only to be shot down. The reason? They wanted to be able to see the emotion in the actors faces, not to be reading dialog. Never mind the fact that the words they're hearing aren't really tied in to the emotion being displayed on the screen since they were recorded on a soundstage after the fact. :rolleyes:

Actually, I get more emotion hearing the original language and reading the subtitles because I am hearing the actor and actresses own voice, and not someone else doing the dubbing.

[rburly]

I think the thread title means "has anyone seen Apocalypto?" and "what do you think if you have seen it?" I'm planning to see it this week and hope this thread will stay open until then. :)
Paul, I didn't mean to thread crap. I was pointing out that "Yes" may not be the answer. The thread title probably could have been written differently to ask solely for opinions about the movie. As it is, it could go in different directions. I think respect is the key word here. That should be a given in this Forum, but I do know sometimes it isn't.

[Paul Chang]

Rick,

I perfectly understand that the thread title could be interpreted differently from what I suggested. But it probably won't be the case for any other movie opening this weekend, or any other weekend as long as Mel Gibson is not involved. It's been like that since Gibson made his last film.

[rburly]

You think? If so, he's hiding it well. Calling the film "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto" seems to me a confident move.
Gee, just haven't seen, or didn't see Mel on the usual tour of shows to promote the film. If you think he's not watching the numbers, your kidding yourself.

I know he made more than a ton of money on "The Passion.." but no one wants to end their career the way he did. I'm sure everyone (in Hollywood) will be watching how much this movie makes, particularly Mel.

I'm done with the politics of the movie.

[whiskerbiscuit]

This does look like an interesting film. I'll probably wait for the DVD though.

As for Gibson, if I based my purchases of music and films on what an artist says and does, I wouldn't be buying much.


I'll be seeing it on dvd, too.

[heaudio]

Gee, just haven't seen, or didn't see Mel on the usual tour of shows to promote the film. If you think he's not watching the numbers, your kidding yourself.



Well, he was on the Tonight Show last week. But of course he's "watching the numbers"-- who doesn't? My point is, if he was worried about his association with the movie hurting its chances with the public, he probably wouldn't have called it Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, and appeared in all the ads.

[Captain Groovy]

Three day box office is $14.2M, which works out to a respectable $5K/screen. The budget was $40M, so this movie won't lose money. Mel Gibson makes profitable movies, so studios will always work with him, especially since he's proven he can do it without them if necessary.

This is an incorrect statement. That is the budget they advertise. That was not the final production budget.

$5K is not respectable anymore on that amount of screens with that kind of advertising. Also, prints and advertising is about double the budget - and the theaters take at least half of the box office.

Simply put: This movie will be in the red for a very long time - if it ever gets out.

Jeff

[Lord Hawthorne]

This is a thread about the movie, not the personal life of anyone involved or their political views. No more threadcrapping.

[jamesc]

I saw Apocalypto Saturday. I encourage the forum member who wants to wait until it comes out on DVD not to; this movie is best viewed on a BIG screen. The cinematography is breath taking.

I've gotten frustrated with the "movie going experience" over the years. I've set up a half way decent projector/ht system and rarely see films in the theaters anymore but I do make exceptions. In terms of cinematography, this one seems to be one that really benefits from a cinema presentation.

It just so happens that I live in Plano as well. Where did you see it? Cinemark?