Apocalypto Now

[thebitterguy]

Okay, I'm kinda planning on seeing it anyway, but the reviews I've seen of Apocalypto are kind of perplexing. People refer to it as overly bloody, and someone mentioned Gibson's tendency to violence porn.

It's possible that he does enjoy making very violent films. There may be something inside him that enjoys very visceral stories. He can get a lot of that with historical movies, though. It could be very violent back before guns. Well, personally violent, anyways.

But the Aztecs, man, they were kind of the kings of that. The whole "if we don't cut out your heart, the sun don't come up!" thingy is kind of the main example of that. Plus sticks with hunks of Obsidian in them. Overall nastiness.

Apocalypto has looked gorgeous to me ever since I saw the second flyer (the one with more than just the lineup photo). It's entirely possible that I am just flashing on fond memories of Maztica, but I want to see an Aztec movie made by the guy who made Braveheart.

Next Friday, probably, if I can find a Cineplex showing it.

Review by Rob Vaux.

Review by Joseph Rocchi

Comments

[easyalchemy.livejournal.com]

I think Apocalypto looks beautiful, and I've heard that it's a fine movie, but I wish they would stop associating Mel Gibson's face with it in all of the comercials. I neither want to hear nor see that guy; even his name is enough to give me pause. It's like saying "Brought to you by the racist, homophobic fucker who threw a gay guy out of a window in Braveheart! Now with more skin!"

Somehow, it just doesn't sit well with me.
Also, some of the recent commercials I've seen have him doing the patriarchal white-guy-leading-the-natives thing, which is contributing to the false note I'm hearing in the publicity, I think.

Seeing his face just turns my stomach, honestly. He's the Catholic Tom Cruise. It's gross.

[athelind.livejournal.com]

What EasyAlchemy said.

I'd love to see an Aztec movie made by the buy who made Braveheart, but I don't think that Mel's in the house anymore. What you're going to get is a look at Mesoamerican culture by the racist, homophobic, hyperconservative snuff-flick panderer who made The Passion of the Christ.

I'll be blunt.

[anidada.livejournal.com]

I'm boycotting all things Mel until the asshat is dead (and beyond, frankly). Though I did actually want to see the (apparently craptacular) Million Dollar Hotel, I despise him.

But you have fun with that. (And maybe this comment will post, this time. LJ no mi amo.)

[brand-of-amber.livejournal.com]

Costumes!

[oakthorne.livejournal.com]

More specifically, you are seeing a film that is about the Mayans, made by someone who is apparently unsure what the difference is between all those brown people over there - his depictions are apparently far more in line with what the stereotypical Aztecs were like. Anthropologists and people of Mayan heritage are *quite* upset, because he's completely dropped any pretence of historical accuracy in favor of making those savages, you know, savage.

Fuck Mel Gibson.

Joe

[thebitterguy]

Wait, did the Mayans ever perform human sacrifices? That is kinda annoying, especially from the guy with the (theoretical) huge hardon for historical accuracy in Passion.

[oakthorne.livejournal.com]

Oh, they did, but not as Mel would have us believe.

For starters, the Maya only sacrificed those willing to be sacrificed, who were often treated like kings before it happened, or whose families were given some sort of reward. You see, part of Mayan religion held that sacrifices were messengers to the gods - so, you don't send the unwilling or the angry to deliver your message. They'll just piss off the gods.

You send people who've been essentially worshipped as the god they are going to see. So, you put them up in the temple, feed them the best foods, offer them many praises, give them what they want for a year. Then, when that time is up, you have this well-spoiled person go to the god and say "You know, these guys treated me really well - and that's nothing compared to how they worship you."

*shakes head*

Joe