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'Apocalypto:' Avoiding the Bitter End?
"After what I experienced with The Passion [of the Christ], I frankly don't give a flying..."
Obviously Mel Gibson didn't care much for the disparaging reaction from movie critics before the release of 'Passion of the Christ.' But these same critics are singing a different tune for Apocalypto after the success of his first subtitled biblical epic that bankrolled more than a billion bucks in ticket sales. There's no doubt that this guy is a great movie director and has become Hollywood's newest visionary. A billion bucks says so.
"The fear mongering we depict in this film reminds me a little of President Bush and his guys," says Gibson of his new action epic. The "fear mongering" that Gibson is referring to relates to the Mayan empire's conviction that human sacrifice will satisfy the thirst of the Gods and save their dying agricultural crops.
Extreme? Yes. Unfathomable? No. The Holy Bible and many other religious texts are filled with stories of animal and human sacrifice as a means to please the powers that be. But let's face it, even without recreating the story of Jesus Christ and depicting the barbaric practice of human sacrifice, Mel Gibson has been the ongoing centerpiece of Hollywood talk.
After his DUI arrest this past summer (where Gibson rambled off some anti-Semitic remarks to arresting officers) Gibson shares sympathy with Seinfeld star Michael Richards. "I feel really badly for the guy. He was obviously in a state of stress. You don't need to be inebriated to be bent out of shape," said Gibson of Richards' racist rant at the Laugh Factory.
With the release of Apocalypto nationwide, the question is whether his recent remarks will affect opening weekend box office sales.
Personal conduct aside I'll give credit to Gibson for filming another movie in native dialect and casting actors that are indigenous Mayans. I'm reminded of all the movies that miserably failed at maintaining cultural identity: 'The Mexican,' starring Brad Pitt, 'The Last Samurai,' starring Tom Cruise - and my all time (fictional) favorite: 'The Last Black Man on Earth,' starring Tom Hanks. Paul Mooney was dead on with that one!
While the story line was true to any action epic -- love, war, and heartwarming triumph -- the movie didn't touch on the highly debated subject that arises from the Mayan calendar: What will happen on October 21, 2012?
According to the Mayan calendar on this date the winter solstice sun will align itself with the 'black hole' in the Milky Way. Many theorists translate this prophecy as a fiery end for planet Earth. Again, religions worldwide have predicted similar apocalyptic endings, but we are talking about one of the most accurate calendars known to modern day science. It has never, NEVER faltered.
As our Entertainment Newswire guru Karu Daniels would say:
Ummmmmmmmmm...
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I had mixed feelings about viewing this film given Gibson's obvious issues with certain ethnic groups, his tendency to explore levels of physical and mental torture that border on obsession, and widely conflicting review from critics.
Despite all of the above I saw the picture and 4 themes stood out:
1. Survival for Men- stop being afraid and do whatever you have to do to survive; don't give up - keep going until you can't -
2. Community - belonging and being part of a community may be your key to survival during times of extreme duress and life threatening events
3. Worthlessness - some civilizations value people based solely upon their contributions to them and if that contribution costs people their lives, so be it because they are worthless unless they have something to contribute
4. Survival for Women - stop being afraid and do whatever you have to do to survive; don't give up and keep going until you can't -
This just in from AOL Movies... top 10 box office numbers for the weekend:
1. "Apocalypto," $14.2 million.
(...It was a modest haul compared to the $83.8 million opening weekend of Gibson's last movie, the 2004 religious blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which went on to do $370 million domestically...)
2. "The Holiday," $13.5 million.
3. "Happy Feet," $12.7 million.
4. "Casino Royale," $8.8 million.
5. "Blood Diamond," $8.5 million.
6. "Unaccompanied Minors," $6.2 million.
7. "Deja Vu," $6.1 million.
8. "The Nativity Story," $5.6 million.
9. "Deck the Halls," $3.9 million.
10. "The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause," $3.3 million.
12/24/06 10:40 PM