Talking Movies
Every now and then I reach a stage when I unequivocally feel that the censor board has outlived its purpose. Thats when somebody like Mel Gibson makes a movie like Apocalypto forcing me to give the matter a second thought. Its quite alright to say that people should be allowed to decide for themselves what they want to watch. The only downside to the argument is that it isnt particularly practical. One cant really decide if he wants to watch a film until he's already watched it. If, like me, you're one of those who can never leave a movie in the middle the problem becomes real. I'm still firmly of the opinion that the guys in the censor board should heel it. But atleast now I acknowledge the fact that the odd filmmaker would abuse their absence.
Apocalypto is a violent and graphic movie that aims to rationalize the colonization of the Americas by portraying the decay of the Mayan civilization. The plot is just another flavour of the oft repeated fugitive theme. Bunch of baddies ravage village, take hero captive. Hero does a Forrest Gump and runs back home. Baddies chase hero. Hero kills baddies. Throw in a some head chopping, heart eating and throat slitting and you have Apocalypto.
Gibson's motto is to leave nothing to the imagination. Consequently the average individual would want to watch Apocalypto on an empty stomach. What ain't inside can't come out. The movie begins with a bunch of guys dressed in loin cloths cutting up and biting into a tapir they've just hunted down. From there on it gets worse. A lot worse. If you aren't a surgeon or a serial killer you'll find all the blood and innards on show a little hard to handle.
The Academy has rewarded him with a few nominations for it. I'm sure it wasn't for story or screenplay as there isnt much of either. Costume design is ruled out because nobody really wears anything significant. For Mel's sake, I hope it wasn't for editing. I dont know what that leaves.
The best part of the movie is that its in Yucato Mayan with English sub-titles. That means there is a non-zero chance that you miss some of the scenes while you're trying to read what's being said.
Apocalypto is a violent and graphic movie that aims to rationalize the colonization of the Americas by portraying the decay of the Mayan civilization. The plot is just another flavour of the oft repeated fugitive theme. Bunch of baddies ravage village, take hero captive. Hero does a Forrest Gump and runs back home. Baddies chase hero. Hero kills baddies. Throw in a some head chopping, heart eating and throat slitting and you have Apocalypto.
Gibson's motto is to leave nothing to the imagination. Consequently the average individual would want to watch Apocalypto on an empty stomach. What ain't inside can't come out. The movie begins with a bunch of guys dressed in loin cloths cutting up and biting into a tapir they've just hunted down. From there on it gets worse. A lot worse. If you aren't a surgeon or a serial killer you'll find all the blood and innards on show a little hard to handle.
The Academy has rewarded him with a few nominations for it. I'm sure it wasn't for story or screenplay as there isnt much of either. Costume design is ruled out because nobody really wears anything significant. For Mel's sake, I hope it wasn't for editing. I dont know what that leaves.
The best part of the movie is that its in Yucato Mayan with English sub-titles. That means there is a non-zero chance that you miss some of the scenes while you're trying to read what's being said.
posted by Rags @ 2:24 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
If you actually see whats shown on those NGC/Discovery Wildlife programs this movie may not termed that offensive.
Ofcourse the scene with all those headless bodies in the ditch was totally unwarranted.
Even more offensive thing is that Mel Gibson has smeared the Mayan civilization for the general public. I dont know how much of this is real and even if its real it lacks perspective. Some what similar to what Speilberg did with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Yes, the Mayans have been shown in very poor light. Its just another instance where the west tries to reassure itself of its superiority. Typical 'we saved the world' attitude.
Even wildlife filmmakers are more aware of viewer sensibilities than Mel. You usually see the camera zooming out once the predator has made a kill. Not in this case though.
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