 
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
|
|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
207.178.211.68
Gibson created a fascinating and completely believable Pre-Columbian world...then proceeded to reshoot "Naked Prey". What a disappointment. It's a pretty good action movie, but how often does a film maker get a chance to make a film about pre-Columbian culture in America? "Apocalypse"? well, if you say so, but I didn't see much about deep cultural issues (beyond the obvious). I'd love to see a film with the resources of this one based on Gary Jennings' amazing novel "Aztec".Spoiler warning--they may have got the Mayan look right, but the technical advisors blew much. The opening hunt scene was grossly wrong. Its very unlikely that the Mayans, among the best early astronomers, would have been surprised by a solar eclipse. No one whose just taken an arrow clear through his side (after being starved for a week) is going to outrun anyone, let alone a mad jaguar. The poison dart bit was unbelievable.
I think Mel should abandon directing and focus on his true talent as a cinematographer. He does work magic with a lens but seems to turn interesting scripts into comic books.
Edits: 06/22/07Follow Ups:
I despise Mel Gibson as a person and was predisposed to dislike this film. However, I found it riveting, eyes glued to the screen for the duration. Great film-making. A little shallow, not perfect and I watched it the day after slogging through the INCREDIBLY overrated The Queen. Doesn't take anything away from the fact that Gibson knows how to tell a visual story.
I'm not sure how much they could have rolled into the movie given the movie was from the point of view of the "victims". I'd have to do some research to evaluate the historical authenticity of the movie.
SPOILER
I agree the chase scenes, post grievous injury) were a bit much... It might have been more believable if the injury hadn't been so seemingly severe. Even so, not being about to lose the pursuers in the jungle, especially at night....
Religion. Social structure. Economy. Warfare. Aside from the chase, what the hell was Apocalypto about? And at that, a chase that anyone who made Second Class Scout would rip apart technically? A huge civilization that captures sacrificial victims but the happy forest dwellers are oblivious to it? Fleeting glimpses of a complex Mayan culture as we're taken through the market? That's it? Gibson just a provided few enticing crumbs to fulfill the exotic theme he promised, then moved on to a standard formula action movie.
I'd like him to have explored the irony of a culture that, on one hand, had the only indegenous written language in the Western Hemisphere, high art, and a sophisticated economy, but on the other had wholesale human sacrifice at the center of its value system and didn't perceive the wheel as a tool.
You are right Mel glossed over Mayan culture in favor of portraying the primitive life in the jungle and tossing in a wildly unlikely chase scene. I'm not sure how else you make this movie while making it exciting. Perhaps a Middle Class Mayan family force by injustice to flee into the jungles ? Maybe not a enough blood for Mel.
xc
a
With a great title like "Apocalypto" and after reading a few critics' reviews touting a death-of-culture plot, I was expecting something more than another good-guy-chased-by-bad-guys movie. And after the "Passion", I thought maybe Mel G had moved beyond typical action flick stuff.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed "Apocalypto", but was led to expect more a thoughtful story about Mayan culture. But all Gibson did was use it as a backdrop. Actually Cornel Wilde's "Naked Prey" in the 60s was a whole lot better as a story.
:o)
.
- http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?forum=films&n=51795&highlight=apocalypto+clarkjohnsen&r=&session= (Open in New Window)
;0)
d
In poker it's a phrase often used by one gambler to prompt another to back up his claims through raising the ante (you are familiar with the concept of poker, aren't you?). I knew you had the cards in this instance, but by challenging you to share your review I made you show your hand to all the players, as intended. If you had been bluffing, as has often been the case in the past, my call would've made you sh*t or get off the pot (another colloquialism that's a rather unattractive mixed metaphor even in a poker context, but entirely suitable when applied to our esteemed Wordsmith).
AuPh-edersein ;O)
...boring us.
clark
Don't ever get into a game of Texas Hold'em with me or any of my friends (writers & screenwriters) because you'll be at a loss for more than words. ;0)
AuPh
It's supposed to have a pretty decent story line and excellent audio/video quality on Blu-ray.
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/apocalypto.html
xd
a
I assume he must a have a talent with lenses and hardware to be so consistent.
| FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
