206 replies to this topic

[Peter T Chattaway]

'Apocalypto' now for Mel
Gibson will not star in "Apocalypto" and may not use a star for the film, which is set in an ancient civilization some 3,000 years ago. The title is a Greek term which means "an unveiling" or "new beginning." Consistent with such Gibson films as "Braveheart" and "Passion," the script depicts abundant action and violence. Gibson has already begun pre-production; he is setting locations and has already begun casting.
Variety, July 22

[Overstreet]

Ha! After all of those rumors about St. Francis, the Acts of the Apostles, etc.... Mel goes for a big burly action movie epic set in ancient times. Brilliant. How long before we see Christian chat room players mulling over whether or not he's wandered from the faith...?

Edited by Jeffrey Overstreet, 22 July 2005 - 10:27 AM.

[Ron Reed]

How long before we see Christian chat room players mulling over whether or not he's wandered from the faith...?

And others reading religious significance into every detail...?

[Denny Wayman]

I am not surprised. Mel is a violent-film-maker. I am not sure he would have the eye for St. Francis - except maybe to show the violence of the crusades that became the catalyst for Francis' turning to being an "instrument of His peace."

Denny

[Peter T Chattaway]

Hey, look, Slate links to my blog post on this bit of news.

It's nice to see all the money raised by all those churches who bought out entire theatres going to good use, isn't it?

[Peter T Chattaway]

It gets better!

- - -

Mel tongue-ties studios
'Apocalypto' to be filmed in obscure Mayan dialect
Variety, July 24

Edited by Peter T Chattaway, 25 July 2005 - 01:39 AM.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Mel Gibson speaks!

[Overstreet]

The trailer.

That's what I love about Mel. He can be such a goofball.

[MichaelRay]

The trailer.

That's what I love about Mel. He can be such a goofball.

Some of those images reminded me of Malick.

[Jeff]

I heard the trailer premiered at (it pains me to say it) Harry Knowle's "Butt-Numb-Athon". Mel Gibson is the only guy in Hollywood who can market his products to both right-wing Christian audiences and a presumably foul-smelling room packed with anime-loving geeks who haven't showered for eons. What a contrast, when you think about it.

[Peter T Chattaway]

Click here if you want to spoil the teaser's subliminal surprise. :" border="0" alt="twisted.gif" />

[Peter T Chattaway]

Apocalypto teaser had a different cinematographer from the actual film -- does this mean none of the footage in the teaser will end up in the actual movie?

[David Smedberg]

Here's an article from Time magazine (found through JO's blog) on Apocalypto and Gibson. The "liberal vs. conservative" angle gets played up a bit much for my taste, but it's still an interesting article.

Edited by GreetingsEarthling, 21 March 2006 - 01:07 PM.

[Overstreet]

And the conservative disillusionment with Mel Gibson has begun...

Here’s the problem, however: a great many of President Bush’s supporters in The Passion’s audience just made Mr. Gibson a very rich man, essentially purchasing the creative freedom he now enjoys to make Apocalypto, and is it asking too much that he not now gratuitously insult their sensibilities? Gibson did not mind appearing on Rush’s show and Hannity’s show and O’Reilly’s show, etc., in order to promote his product at the time. He cried ‘persecution’ at the hands of the Hollywood system and then threw himself on conservative audiences to bail himself out. Are we to assume now those audiences are no longer ‘useful’ to him?

[Jakob Christopher]

I think this film definitely has a lot of potential. We really need a new, big epic (hopefully it wont be overdone with useful crap like king kong ). I dont really like the whole Mayan language idea...at all. Still, The Passion was good and put lots of faith in Gibson as a director.

[Jeff]

FWIW, the release date has been given a major push. The film will now be out on December 8 instead of next month...hmm. Will Mel be able to garner those end-of-year nominations, given his outlaw status among the Hollywood elite?

[Peter T Chattaway]

Yeah, the release has apparently moved from April to August to December. (One of my editors assigned this film to me back when it was supposed to come out in April; I don't recall ever hearing about a June release date.) I hear the weather is holding things up on the set (and I hear the sets are MASSIVE).

I don't think Mel Gibson cares too much about the awards. He's ALREADY an Oscar-winning director, after all.

[Overstreet]

[SDG]

Shouldn't that be "No one can outrun HIS destiny"?

Other grammatical alternatives:

"No one can outrun destiny."
"You can't outrun your destiny."
"People can't outrun their destiny."
"Outrunning destiny? Fuggetabbatit."

etc.

[Nick Alexander]

Destiny.
When you try to run but you can't go on
It's Destiny
When your race has died and you wonder why...
It's hard to bear when the folks all around you
Are goin' nowhere