Your thoughts, please? Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" is screening on Tuesday, Dec. 5th...

[Radio_Lady]

Do you think I should bother?

Frankly, I could care less, but my spouse wants to go.

Here's the archived thread developed a few months ago:

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/Radio_Lady/47

I guess I'll knuckle under and appease my husband. Yikes.

[frankenforpres]

1. i seperate art and the artist, so i would go(n/t)

[Radio_Lady]

3. Thanks for your suggestion.

I'm committed, unless I develop streptococcus of the derriere from sitting so long....

[Skittles]

10. I don't

Gibson can go f*** himself

[Karenca]

12. Read my post #11. nt

[Radio_Lady]

19. Yeah, I read it. I'm ignoring it.

[Karenca]

34. I wasn't speaking to you Radio.

You seem to have a problem with me.

[Radio_Lady]

35. The "dialogue" here is interspersed as it flows in. You're in a thread that I started.

Stop being so egocentric!

[Radio_Lady]

36. PS. Downthread, did you refer to me as an anti-Semitic Jew, or was I just

picking up something you meant for everyone?

This comment refers to all Jews?

"I find it odd that a Jew would think nothing of giving their (sic)
hard-earned money to a Jew-Hater that thinks he can rewrite history."

[Karenca]

40. No, I was speaking

for myself.

I have no idea what religion/ethnicity you are,

[Radio_Lady]

41. I apologize, Karenca.

[Radio_Lady]

28. Here is some background from Wikipedia in case you're interested.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apocalypto

Apocalypto is a 2006 film directed by Mel Gibson set in Mesoamerica 600 years ago during the decline of the Maya civilization just before the Spanish colonization of the Americas. The film will be released on December 8, 2006. It is rated R in the U.S. for sequences of graphic violence and disturbing images.

[TheFriendlyAnarchist]

26. Well said in my opinion.

[XemaSab]

2. I think it could be a really cool movie

I am totally looking forward to it. :D

[Radio_Lady]

5. Go to rottentomatoes.com and see what's been said already.

"A true masterpiece with a savage beauty that is rare in films today."

"Mel Gibson is always good for a surprise, and his latest is that 'Apocalypto' is a remarkable film."

[kwassa]

24. I am just interested in the history, having visited Mayan ruins

I think Mel is a talented filmmaker, even if he is a tightly-wound conservative Catholic. It is certainly an area of history that, not being about white people, is rarely seen on screen, if at all. I commend his effort to make it in the native language.

[deadparrot]

4. Apparently, American Indian groups have given it the thumbs-up.

http://www.edmontonsun.com/Entertainment/Showbiz/2006/12/03/2606256-sun.html

It's worth a shot, I suppose. If it's awful, you can always walk out.

[Radio_Lady]

7. Interesting article. I decided to post the paragraphs you refer to:

Native leaders praise Gibson
By AP

GOLDSBY, Oklahoma -- Mel Gibson's effort to find an indigenous cast for his new movie Apocalypto, which depicts the end of the Mayan civilization, is drawing praise from American native leaders.

Gibson wanted an indigenous cast for the film, which opens Dec. 8, and found people from the Yucatan, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Xalapa, Veracruz and other spots. Three of the cast members are from Canada, two are from the U.S., and the rest hail from Central America.

"It is very important to note that Mr. Gibson has gone to great lengths to cast indigenous people in this film," said Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Nation.

"This not only helps make the film more realistic, it serves as an inspiration to native American actors."

[Flaxbee]

6. I have heard it is pretty graphic... you might not want to eat

beforehand, if you get queasy from blood and guts...

I'll be very interested in your opinion if you go see it. I didn't see "The Passion..." - too much gratuitous whipping for my taste.

[Radio_Lady]

8. Thanks for the suggestion. I skipped "The Passion of the Christ" also.

I'll try to post a quick review, but we are headed to Chicago this weekend to see the King Tut/Egypt exhibit.

[bridgit]

9. we're going, as voiced elsewhere, sometimes it is the song & not the singer...

Gibson may well be diluting himself with his 'apocalypto' handle and all that, but my hope is that he handles the subject matter as the vital premise it is...we'll see

[Karenca]

11. I try hard to avoid businesses that support Repukes. And I won't use cosmetics

or toiletries that test on animals.

I wouldn't buy clothing that is produced by sweat shop workers.

And I most certainly would not spare
a cent for someone whose racial and/or anti-semitic hate
speech comes pouring out of their mouths when they think someone
is looking at them the wrong way.

I'm very careful as far as how I spend my money---I wouldn't want to be supporting
those that practice unfairness, hate or cruelty.

I find it odd that a Jew would think nothing of giving their
hard-earned money
to a Jew-Hater that thinks he can rewrite history.

[ghostsofgiants]

13. In other words: Download it.

[UndertheOcean]

14. By that criteria , all of Wagners Operas should never be performed....

Only then we'd be more the poorer.

[Karenca]

17. The difference lies in the fact that Wagner has been dead for 123 years.

:silly:

[Radio_Lady]

18. Um... Karenca, go peddle your wares elsewhere, please.. especially with the religious twist.

In case you are wondering, the movie previews are free, and I am volunteering at the radio station (I don't get paid for reviews) and so I am not receiving or spending money on anything. Also, it is playing in the middle of the day at a local cinema where we don't even have to pay for parking.

I haven't wasted any money on Mel Gibson except to watch him put on women's pantihose in one of his other movies.

My hesitancy on seeing this film is more about avoiding the guts and gore. Good bye.

Radio_Lady in Oregon

[Karenca]

32. I don't care what you pay to see a film.

I'm stating how I feel about supporting the works of a man
who is an known anti-semite..

And my opinion has every right to be stated in this forum as much as your opinion does.

[spillthebeans]

15. go see a movie and not some Holly Crap nt

[Radio_Lady]

20. Not sure what you mean by HOLLY crap...

Would that be "Deck the Halls"?

[spillthebeans]

25. The normal stuff that comes from Hollywood the

supposed Magic factory is normally inferior to stuff Mel does



holy wood





Go see it

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

37. Inferior to the stuff Mel does.

I honestly can't think of anything that Mel's done that's any better than the rest of the usual Hollywood crap.

[spillthebeans]

38. oh there is a lot of crap in Hollywood

He directed only 5 movies and they were not bad, I would say.

Braveheart is still one of my favorite

[jobycom]

50. It's an illiterate Frank Barrone!

:rofl:

[noonwitch]

16. Mel makes interesting movies

I saw "The Passion Of The Christ" and appreciated it.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

21. I'm not going to see it.

I was somewhat interested in it awhile ago.

I'd hoped Gibson would divorce himself from the project. Maybe let Alan Smithee direct. But nooo, he's got to attach himself to the title. "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto." Who the fuck does he think he is? Ingemar Bergman? No thanks.

I'll probably catch it on cable.

[MrCoffee]

30. Alan Smithee...lol

as though the King of the Three-Quarter Profile Shot would dream of it.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

22. I'm looking forward to it

I spent part of this spring hiking around the Mayan ruins and pyramids and was looking forward to seeing this well before MG's infamous rant.

And as someone upthread mentioned, you've got to separate the art from the artist.

[Kutjara]

23. Well, whatever else it is...

...it'll probably be the best film in Mayan this year.

[Az]

27. Yawn

Without the religious right bussing people to see his movies it is likely Mel is going to be a bit suprised at the lack of turnout for this flick.

[Radio_Lady]

29. You may be right.

There's a long discussion about "Bigotry and the Box Office" at this link:

http://www.topix.net/content/kri/0789408453277030252807856508193838706578?threadid=H4S59IRF1UA2GOM1

[spillthebeans]

31. oh ,and being anti war

I don't know how this people can call themselves christians...



Mr. Gibson’s antiwar remarks immediately raised a red flag for conservative fans of his “The Passion of the Christ.”

In a phone interview today, the conservative radio talk show host and columnist Michael Medved said: “If these antiwar comments are the beginning of an ill-considered, organized campaign to get back into the good graces of the Hollywood establishment that gave him the Oscar for ‘Braveheart,’ so he can show he’s not different from them and march arm-in-arm with Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon, there will be a great deal of disgust from the people who have enjoyed Mel’s movies in the past.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/26/movies/25cnd-mel.html?ex=1316923200&en=3f7ac465644ab991&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

[Taverner]

33. Looks good, actually

But looks long...which means I'll rent it and watch it in parts. I'm a parent - I never have 2+ contiguous hours of time to myself.

[Radio_Lady]

44. It is long -- 138 minutes long. And it feels it, too.

[NoodleBoy]

39. saw it-- for free

good movie, portrayed very accurately, but, the ending sucked.

[Radio_Lady]

42. UPDATE: Heading for the theater now; review will be posted on Thursday evening.

[Radio_Lady]

43. AFTER VIEWING THE MOVIE: It's bloody and boring.

The cinematography is swell. The casting is accurate. The jewelry and makeup are amazing. I guess the dialogue coach was OK (???) -- after all, the native speakers do their job. The script is VERY thin, and I'm checking on much of its accuracy in a real timeline.

I'll fully review it on Thursday evening. Thanks for your interest.

http://www.comcast.net/entertainment/index.jsp?cat=ENTERTAINMENT&fn=/2006/12/05/535064.html

[izzybeans]

52. You might check the the Nation link I posted down thread. It has some interesting

info. about casting. The author claims that not one Mayan was cast. If this is true I suppose the dialog sounds to a mayan very much like what American movies about the Soviet Union sounded like to Russians; very bad caricatures.

[martymar64]

45. I saw it

It was technically excellent. The cinematography, editing, sound, wardrobe, makeup were worthy of an Oscar. I think it will do well in the Box Office. The story was riveting. There were very few spots that I found any fault with, the ending being one. Everything else was a tour-de-force. Even though I didn't appreciate his rant, I know great filmmaking when I see it. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Radio_Lady]

46. Thanks for posting, MartyMar64.

To me, it was one big chase with a very thin story line. I'm not sure about box office draw. What audience will this impact?

This film certainly isn't for the squeamish, men or women. This film will be terrifying to children, and not even sure if middle schoolers should be exposed to it. There's more animal and human blood and organs -- than I can recall in even a slasher movie.

I'm also wondering whether it should have been released this close to Christmas. I know they have to screen it somewhere before 12/31/06 to get Academy consideration.

I saw it with about six other Portland reviewers, and no one seemed positively overwhelmed with the movie. People over at Newsweek (where it was reviewed for the magazine's Dec. 11 issue) had other issues with the film. David Ansen said this:

The film is mostly successful in transporting the viewer to another age: the costumes, the body markings, the fierce Mayan masks, all feel right. And keeping the dialogue in subtitles was a smart move. Even better are the faces, which never fail to fascinate. But for all the anthropological research that went into the movie, what is Apocalypto trying to say?

When I start looking at my watch and wondering about the make-up, jewelry, CGI effects, etc. I always find fault with the story. Movies that capture my interest don't ever have that effect.

But I've certainly been wrong before. We'll see.

Appreciate your comments.

[martymar64]

47. Your're welcome.

A couple parts did make me squirm. When the marauders attacked the village and the one guy took the baby from it's mother's arms, holding it by one leg, I felt myself go white. Also the scene where the guy had to watch his wife being raped was also hard to watch. Those emotionally raw moments affected me way more than any of the gore. It really made me think about how brutal people can be to one another. The scene with the same man's mother in law after she was released also tore at my emotions, as did the scenes of the children left behind.
I've previously read about the conquest of Mexico by Cortes and accounts of the sacrifices done by the Aztecs. What was shown in Apocolypto was fairly accurate in depicting the mechanics of how it was done.
I wouldn't take kids to this, it's too much for them to deal with. I'm still pissed with people that took their kids to see Passion. I think the innocence of children should be preserved until they have the ability to deal with the harsh realities of life.
As far as technical aspects, I always look at that. I used to work in Hollywood so I can't escape thinking about it. Despite whether one loves Gibson or hates him, Apocalypto was excellent filmmaking.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

49. Sounds like a slasher version of Malick's New World.

Only even more boring. Yeesh.

[Radio_Lady]

48. One of Portland's other female reviewers was sitting behind us... get this!

Dec. 5th, 2006 at 5:05 PM

Dawn Taylor's haiku review of "Apocalypto"

All you need to know about 'Apocalypto'

Mel Gibson's new film, reviewed in haiku form:

Bad Mayans attack
Good Mayans become chattel
Stab, bash, gore, repeat

http://dtaylor.livejournal.com/708666.html

[izzybeans]

51. The Nation really ripped it apart as racist.

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20061218/shorris

I haven't seen it, but...this review makes me not want to.

[Radio_Lady]

53. Fabulous link! Thanks SO much for pointing it out!