| MOVIES WITH RAY |
The main question I had and still have
about “Apocalypto” is why Mel Gibson
would want to make a movie like
“Apocalypto.”
I grew up liking Mel, so I am naturally
biased, and I have been kind of
hoping he would turn into the type of
Movie Personality, it seems, he is
becoming.
Dare I say it? I will say it but not too
loudly; “orwellian.” Not in the total
crafting of his latest effort, especially
in depth of plot, but in the sense of
how Gibson obviously controlled
every element of “Apacalypto,” as far
as he was able to, and had a vision of
its’ inception to inspire him in the
making of it, as he spent a shitload of
money. Was the movie any good?
about “Apocalypto” is why Mel Gibson
would want to make a movie like
“Apocalypto.”
I grew up liking Mel, so I am naturally
biased, and I have been kind of
hoping he would turn into the type of
Movie Personality, it seems, he is
becoming.
Dare I say it? I will say it but not too
loudly; “orwellian.” Not in the total
crafting of his latest effort, especially
in depth of plot, but in the sense of
how Gibson obviously controlled
every element of “Apacalypto,” as far
as he was able to, and had a vision of
its’ inception to inspire him in the
making of it, as he spent a shitload of
money. Was the movie any good?
Yes, it was good. See the goddamn film. Yes, I said film and get over whatever Mel hang up you might have.
This is a two hour flick with people in loincloths speaking in a language I’ve never heard before and I wasn’t
bored once, not bad right there. Mel’s obvious strength is shooting action scenes, as he’s done one or two
during his career, and since this movie is primarily about a man beating the odds to save his family, what
could be more touching, it’s a slam dunk for him. That is not to say other elements of the film were poorly
orchestrated but quite the contrary; acting, cinematography, and production design were all beautifully and
horrifically fashioned. If someone were to call Mel Gibson a bad film maker they are simply not paying
attention. You might not like the content but you can’t ignore what is there; deftness, and a nominal style that
belies some of the caricatures that have been presented by his detractors. All right, maybe not “orwellian,” but
pretty good for a guy who once wore a giant paper machete head while riding backwards on an ass in the
desert with Tina Turner looking on saying “raggedy man” in a strangely seductive way; yes, I still have dreams
about it. It is difficult for modern man to imaging a world order like that of the ancient Mayan or Aztec, but
“Apacalypto” gives us a vivid glimpse into that time and place and we should be glad of that vision, for the
movies’ not to hidden-hidden message is that no matter how cool you may think your civilization to be, it could
drastically change overnight and there might not be anything you could do about it so try to be a little nicer to
people. Think of it; with his huge personality Mel Gibson could be shoving incredibly boring movies down our
collective throats that tout whatever crazy religious beliefs might have. Instead, what we apparently have is
someone trying to shed some light on our rapidly functioning world. Not a bad way to spend a shitload of
money. - RAYMOND REEHILL
This is a two hour flick with people in loincloths speaking in a language I’ve never heard before and I wasn’t
bored once, not bad right there. Mel’s obvious strength is shooting action scenes, as he’s done one or two
during his career, and since this movie is primarily about a man beating the odds to save his family, what
could be more touching, it’s a slam dunk for him. That is not to say other elements of the film were poorly
orchestrated but quite the contrary; acting, cinematography, and production design were all beautifully and
horrifically fashioned. If someone were to call Mel Gibson a bad film maker they are simply not paying
attention. You might not like the content but you can’t ignore what is there; deftness, and a nominal style that
belies some of the caricatures that have been presented by his detractors. All right, maybe not “orwellian,” but
pretty good for a guy who once wore a giant paper machete head while riding backwards on an ass in the
desert with Tina Turner looking on saying “raggedy man” in a strangely seductive way; yes, I still have dreams
about it. It is difficult for modern man to imaging a world order like that of the ancient Mayan or Aztec, but
“Apacalypto” gives us a vivid glimpse into that time and place and we should be glad of that vision, for the
movies’ not to hidden-hidden message is that no matter how cool you may think your civilization to be, it could
drastically change overnight and there might not be anything you could do about it so try to be a little nicer to
people. Think of it; with his huge personality Mel Gibson could be shoving incredibly boring movies down our
collective throats that tout whatever crazy religious beliefs might have. Instead, what we apparently have is
someone trying to shed some light on our rapidly functioning world. Not a bad way to spend a shitload of
money. - RAYMOND REEHILL