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Usenet Posted 19 years ago
Screenwriting
Just saw Apocalypto, no spoilers.
I liked it. Bloody and gory, yes, but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time - the casual cruelty of one set of people, the need to hunt animals for food and taking pleasure in a successful kill, the thin line between life and death - which was taken matter-of-factly. Also nicely conveyed is life in a forest village - the abiding loves, the petty squabbles, the usual bullies and victims found everywhere, the kids acting up.
That being said, the first half was a lot stronger than the second, and it kind of had an Oh, please ending, but the whole thing was a good ride. Mel Gibson may be an awful human being, but as my Jewish movie-companion said, "Who cares what he's like, if the movie is good? A lot of great artists are rotten human beings."
This is a big-screen movie, prolly won't look as good on the small screen; it has great visuals, esp of the forest. So take a non-squeamish friend so you'll have someone to discuss what's wrong with it, after.
That being said, the first half was a lot stronger than the second, and it kind of had an Oh, please ending, but the whole thing was a good ride. Mel Gibson may be an awful human being, but as my Jewish movie-companion said, "Who cares what he's like, if the movie is good? A lot of great artists are rotten human beings."
This is a big-screen movie, prolly won't look as good on the small screen; it has great visuals, esp of the forest. So take a non-squeamish friend so you'll have someone to discuss what's wrong with it, after.
Top answer
[nq:1]I liked it. ****** and gory, yes, but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time - ... esp of the forest.
- [nq:1]I liked it.
- ****** and gory, yes, but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time - ...
- esp of the forest.
- [/nq] Interesting take.
- What would Borat do?
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39 Answers
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[nq:1]I liked it. ****** and gory, yes, but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time - ... esp of the forest. So take a non-squeamish friend so you'll have someone to discuss what's wrong with it, after.[/nq]
Interesting take.
What would Borat do?
Interesting take.
What would Borat do?
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[nq:1]I liked it. ****** and gory, yes, but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time - ... forest village - the abiding loves, the petty squabbles, the usual bullies and victims found everywhere, the kids acting up.[/nq]
The mother in law demanding grandchildren was a hoot. It was never dull.
I wonder why, after the oh-so-convenient eclipse, the remainder of the captives
The mother in law demanding grandchildren was a hoot. It was never dull.
I wonder why, after the oh-so-convenient eclipse, the remainder of the captives
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[nq:1]but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time[/nq]
http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2006/12/15/maya/index.html
"This final scene tells us that the movie focuses on Maya society on the eve of Spanish contact in the 16th century. Yet the Maya city portrayed in the
http://www.salon.com/ent/feature/2006/12/15/maya/index.html
"This final scene tells us that the movie focuses on Maya society on the eve of Spanish contact in the 16th century. Yet the Maya city portrayed in the
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[nq:2]but all to convey the realities of Mayan life at that time[/nq]
Thank *** I'm not the only one who has been wondering if Gibson is doing a parallel universe movie with this plot!
But then I have a mental picture of Gibson coming off some sort of binge, smacking his head and thinking, "AZTEC! Not Mayan. What was I thinking!"
Caroline
Thank *** I'm not the only one who has been wondering if Gibson is doing a parallel universe movie with this plot!
But then I have a mental picture of Gibson coming off some sort of binge, smacking his head and thinking, "AZTEC! Not Mayan. What was I thinking!"
Caroline
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[nq:1]"Gibson's portrayal of a fervent and orgiastic mob completely violates what we know about Maya propriety in ritual behavior."[/nq]
Ritual behavior? i.e. human sacrifice why mince words here? So the Mayans maintained a certain level of dignity when ripping the beating hearts from their victims. How consoling.
Mayan Priest
"I'm afraid I must now rip your beating heart from your che
Ritual behavior? i.e. human sacrifice why mince words here? So the Mayans maintained a certain level of dignity when ripping the beating hearts from their victims. How consoling.
Mayan Priest
"I'm afraid I must now rip your beating heart from your che
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[nq:1]Thank *** I'm not the only one who has been wondering if Gibson is doing a parallel universe movie with ... of Gibson coming off some sort of binge, smacking his head and thinking, "AZTEC! Not Mayan. What was I thinking!"[/nq]
I think Cortes found the Mayans first, didn't he?
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
I think Cortes found the Mayans first, didn't he?
RonB
"There's a story there...somewhere"
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[nq:1]In that there was no dialog, but I took it to mean that the corrupters had arrived with their smallpox and bad ideas.[/nq]
Bad ideas? Like ending human sacrifice?
If they had painted my **** blue and it was my turn at the pyramid I think I would have kind of taken a shine to that "bad idea."
Obviously Cortez had help from the natives probably the ones who were getting tired
Bad ideas? Like ending human sacrifice?
If they had painted my **** blue and it was my turn at the pyramid I think I would have kind of taken a shine to that "bad idea."
Obviously Cortez had help from the natives probably the ones who were getting tired
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[nq:1]Just in case this is a serious question, as opposed to tongue-in-cheek: Not unless he reached the New World by 822, the year the last official structure of Mayan Civilization was begun (but never finished).[/nq]
You need to go back to your history books. The Maya cities in the north (Yucatan) continued to exist for several centuries some still existing at the time of Cortez's arrival. It
You need to go back to your history books. The Maya cities in the north (Yucatan) continued to exist for several centuries some still existing at the time of Cortez's arrival. It
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[nq:1]Bad ideas? Like ending human sacrifice? No, bad ideas like taking over, running roughshod over the natives, (and later) purposely ... for their own profit, to take take take, and if they had to kill kill kill, well, it's just business.[/nq]
Yeah, it had all been a virtual Eden before the Spanish arrived. Well, except for all the wars, destruction of cities, mayhem and human sacrifices an
Yeah, it had all been a virtual Eden before the Spanish arrived. Well, except for all the wars, destruction of cities, mayhem and human sacrifices an
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[nq:1]"It is surely no surprise that "Apolcalypto" has very little to do with Maya culture and instead is Gibson's comment ... portrait that satisfies his need for comment but does violence to one of the most impressive of Native American cultures."[/nq]
A culture that just "happened" to believe in human sacrifice. The Roman Empire had an impressive culture too but it, like the Mayan, also dec
A culture that just "happened" to believe in human sacrifice. The Roman Empire had an impressive culture too but it, like the Mayan, also dec
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