Apocalypto Now...

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Very good overall.

But when they throw that decapitated body down the pyramid, awful CGI. In movie full of great effects the filmmakers totally botched that...... Probably the least complex special effect in the movie! It was a bad effect in 1997.... no excuse for such sloppy work.

[PeruvianSkies]

Very good overall.

But when they throw that decapitated body down the pyramid, awful CGI. In movie full of great effects the filmmakers totally botched that...... Probably the least complex special effect in the movie! It was a bad effect in 1997.... no excuse for such sloppy work.

That didn't even phase me, but the ridiculously fake Panther on the other hand was too much for me, especially the baby. It looked like a robotic toy and was about as fake as the chirping bird on the tree at the end of BLUE VELVET, but at least that was suppose to be fake.

[Groundbeef]

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I had a few niggling reservations about the execution of the film, but was willing to give Gibson artistic license.

Here are my major plot complaints.

1. As previously stated, the stay of execution was a bit "lame". The Myan people were pretty good about tracking solar events. It would be highly unlikely (read--impossible) that they wouldn't have known about the impending eclipse weeks before the occurance. In fact celebrations would have been planned, and much festivity would have been going on. Further that, eclipses take a bit more than 3 minutes to start and finish. But again, I give them some license.

2. The scene with the girl and small pox. Small pox wasn't introduced until the Spanish actually landed....so either they have been there, and just not discovered, or there was just a lapse in the research department for the film. There is a bit of a time disconnect on this point.

3. Damn, those Indians can run...I mean seriously, with one arrow through the side, and then later with another through the chest? He had some gumptionthat one did.

4. How long was his wife in that hole? You gotta figure it took him at least 2 days journey to get to the capital, perhaps even more, and then the time to get back. In the film it appeared that it was no more than 1 days forced march, then less than that to sprint back home.

I liked the ants as the stiches, that was a nice touch.

I think the introduction of the Spanish at the end was sort of a kick in the teeth of Jaguar Paw. He thinks that things are just going to start anew, but in reality, he was probably caught, enslaved, and his wife the same. The Spanish were none to keen of the multiple God worshipers.

But that being said, the film was very entertaining. I have been to some Myan ruins in Mexico, and they are really big, and interesting. I have read that in some ceremonies, they could go through 1000 slaves in sacrifice PER DAY. As my wife said, after the first 5 or so, what else can you expect? Wouldn't it get a little old?

[PeruvianSkies]

Overall, I enjoyed the movie. I had a few niggling reservations about the execution of the film, but was willing to give Gibson artistic license.

Here are my major plot complaints.

1. As previously stated, the stay of execution was a bit "lame". The Myan people were pretty good about tracking solar events. It would be highly unlikely (read--impossible) that they wouldn't have known about the impending eclipse weeks before the occurance. In fact celebrations would have been planned, and much festivity would have been going on. Further that, eclipses take a bit more than 3 minutes to start and finish. But again, I give them some license.

2. The scene with the girl and small pox. Small pox wasn't introduced until the Spanish actually landed....so either they have been there, and just not discovered, or there was just a lapse in the research department for the film. There is a bit of a time disconnect on this point.

3. Damn, those Indians can run...I mean seriously, with one arrow through the side, and then later with another through the chest? He had some gumptionthat one did.

4. How long was his wife in that hole? You gotta figure it took him at least 2 days journey to get to the capital, perhaps even more, and then the time to get back. In the film it appeared that it was no more than 1 days forced march, then less than that to sprint back home.

I liked the ants as the stiches, that was a nice touch.

I think the introduction of the Spanish at the end was sort of a kick in the teeth of Jaguar Paw. He thinks that things are just going to start anew, but in reality, he was probably caught, enslaved, and his wife the same. The Spanish were none to keen of the multiple God worshipers.

But that being said, the film was very entertaining. I have been to some Myan ruins in Mexico, and they are really big, and interesting. I have read that in some ceremonies, they could go through 1000 slaves in sacrifice PER DAY. As my wife said, after the first 5 or so, what else can you expect? Wouldn't it get a little old?

Are the Myans related to the Mayans at all? Being so picky about details of the film you would think you could at least give them proper spelling.

[Luvin Da Blues]

I guess I don't take my movies that seriously...but I found this film was highly entertaining.

[Groundbeef]

Are the Myans related to the Mayans at all? Being so picky about details of the film you would think you could at least give them proper spelling.

Ohhh, how pithy of you. Since you have no other comment other than a mis-spelling, I guess I am to assume you agreed with my points. Thanks!

[PeruvianSkies]

Ohhh, how pithy of you. Since you have no other comment other than a mis-spelling, I guess I am to assume you agreed with my points. Thanks!

Your comments are semi-valid and I would have to agree to some extent on them, although I don't claim to be a Historian or an expert on the Mayan civilization. This is a film, not a documentary, that takes certain liberties in order to make the film more accessible to some degree. If you want to sit there during the entire Solar Eclipse than fine, but during a film that would drag out the event and you would get bored after a minutes worth. I thought they did a good job of making the scene feel at least a bit longer than just ...bam and it was over.

There is nothing wrong about being analytical over a film and looking for mistakes in various ways, but my comment was directed at the fact that you were being picky on so many small details, yet you didn't spell "Mayan" correctly, which if you misspelled the word once I would call that a 'typo' and give you the benefit on the doubt that you were just typing it fast, but you spelled the word wrong on two occasions and to top it off...you said that you have been to the ruins yourself.

I'm not trying to personally attack you on this issue, but if I am going on and on about a films inaccuracies you better believe that I am going to spell things as correctly as I can in order to make my points seem thought-out, intelligent, and less ignorant.

[Groundbeef]

Your comments are semi-valid and I would have to agree to some extent on them, although I don't claim to be a Historian or an expert on the Mayan civilization. This is a film, not a documentary, that takes certain liberties in order to make the film more accessible to some degree. If you want to sit there during the entire Solar Eclipse than fine, but during a film that would drag out the event and you would get bored after a minutes worth. I thought they did a good job of making the scene feel at least a bit longer than just ...bam and it was over. .

If you read my initial post, I said I enjoyed the film, and was willing to allow Gibson artistic license to do the film as he saw fit. I enjoyed the film, but there were some items that I felt detracted from the film. Part of the film (a major portion actually) was the native language, the dress, and the local. I guess my question is a more broad question in movie making than anything else. Why put 125% into "historical accuracy, ie the dress, language, and location" and then let the little details take away from it? Its not that I wanted to see the entire eclipse, its just that particular use of an eclipse actually drew me OUT of the experience. It was a total non-sequiter (and a copout IMHO) to end the executions in that fashion. Did it ruin the film? No, but it just didn't fit right. The Mayans were people that worshipped the sun, and would not have been suprised to see an eclipse.

Same with the small pox. It is historical fact that many European diseases wiped out major portions of native people, but why introduce it into the story line BEFORE the Europeans landed? It was just incongruent with the timeline that was being presented.

And as for the running injured indian, there seems to be a general theme among directors (Action Film Directors in particular) that they need to ratchet the action up to 150%. At some point the human body simply ceases to function, but some directors feel the need to surpass this in order to make us belive that the main character is somehow super natural. And it does the opposite, it takes viewers out of the movie. Who in their right mind would belive that Jaguar Paw can outrun a Black Panther, let alone in a straight line sprint with an arrow through your gut? It made for a great chase scene, and a good death for the bad guy, but it (IMHO) sorta tarnished the film experience. I still liked it, but not quite as much.

There is nothing wrong about being analytical over a film and looking for mistakes in various ways, but my comment was directed at the fact that you were being picky on so many small details, yet you didn't spell "Mayan" correctly, which if you misspelled the word once I would call that a 'typo' and give you the benefit on the doubt that you were just typing it fast, but you spelled the word wrong on two occasions and to top it off...you said that you have been to the ruins yourself. .

What does visiting the ruins have to do with spelling? Its not like the Mexican tour guide gave us both a tour of the ruins, and then held a spelling bee at the end, loser goes home without his/her head. And for that matter, what does spelling have to do with a movie review? Maybe if Gibson had made a movie about ancient Mayan spelling bee's....yeah thats a great idea.

I'm not trying to personally attack you on this issue, but if I am going on and on about a films inaccuracies you better believe that I am going to spell things as correctly as I can in order to make my points seem thought-out, intelligent, and less ignorant.

On an on? There were 4 minor issues that I presented. And you stated that you agreed with them for the most part. Try to overcome the spelling error of "Myan" vs "Mayan" and then comment on the issue at hand. Sorry if you took it as "ignorance" I think it was more inconsequential, or irrelevant, or even immaterial to the movie review.

Instead of appearing more thought-out, or even intelligent, you come across as a pompus ass. But thanks for the spelling tips. I'll be more mindful in the future.

[PeruvianSkies]

I'll be more mindful in the future.

Smartest thing you've said to date.

[Groundbeef]

Smartest thing you've said to date.

Not only are you pompous; your obtuse...it was sarcasm.

[Rich-n-Texas]

I want the two of you to go sit in opposite corners. You're both on time out!

[Groundbeef]

I want the two of you to go sit in opposite corners. You're both on time out!

But he startted it, or is it started? I better check my dictionary less another speling leson.

[Rich-n-Texas]

What does obtuse mean?

[PeruvianSkies]

Not only are you pompous; your obtuse...it was sarcasm.

Actually, how about the grammar: "you're pompous" not YOUR POMPOUS. You need to learn the correct use of the words "your" and "you're". I think that was 4th grade English if I recall correctly.

[Groundbeef]

Actually, how about the grammar: "you're pompous" not YOUR POMPOUS. You need to learn the correct use of the words "your" and "you're". I think that was 4th grade English if I recall correctly.

And if I recall correctly I learned not to be an ass in public in Kindergarten.

Unless you have something else to add related to the 1)movie, or 2) the actual criticism I levied against the film that you reviewed (not the spelling or grammer), I think this little sidebar is over.

Sorry I didn't like the movie as much as you did, but I felt my critique was on spot. Perhaps thats why you're so fiesty.

[PeruvianSkies]

And if I recall correctly I learned not to be an ass in public in Kindergarten.

Unless you have something else to add related to the 1)movie, or 2) the actual criticism I levied against the film that you reviewed (not the spelling or grammer), I think this little sidebar is over.

Sorry I didn't like the movie as much as you did, but I felt my critique was on spot. Perhaps thats why you're so fiesty.

My finals words on this issue are this: if you are going to be critical about every detail about a film it might help if you are just as detailed in your analysis and also spelling important words like MAYAN correctly, otherwise it makes you look like a fool. That was the entire point of my response. Maybe you are just insecure about your own personal mistakes. End-o-story.

[GMichael]

You guys can't stop now. It was just getting intersting.

[Groundbeef]

My finals words on this issue are this: if you are going to be critical about every detail about a film it might help if you are just as detailed in your analysis and also spelling important words like MAYAN correctly, otherwise it makes you look like a fool. That was the entire point of my response. Maybe you are just insecure about your own personal mistakes. End-o-story.

Actually it was only 4 details. Did they forget to teach you to count in Kindergarten as well?

And I think your overblown, out of context response to a spelling/grammer error actually made you look like the fool. Unless you of course make it a habit to not only troll the boards looking for reviews you disagree with, but to also Knight yourself "Sir Speller-Guardian of Correct Spelling and Proper Grammer". I'll be watching the boards to make sure you correct every spelling/grammer error on the boards. I'd hate for you to be playing favorites.

Have a nice Saturday...and I think I saw a mis-applied comma in another post. Happy hunting.

[Rich-n-Texas]

Actually it was only 4 details. Did they forget to teach you to count in Kindergarten as well?

And I think your overblown, out of context response to a spelling/grammer error actually made you look like the fool. Unless you of course make it a habit to not only troll the boards looking for reviews you disagree with, but to also Knight yourself "Sir Speller-Guardian of Correct Spelling and Proper Grammer". I'll be watching the boards to make sure you correct every spelling/grammer error on the boards. I'd hate for you to be playing favorites.

Have a nice Saturday...and I think I saw a mis-applied comma in another post. Happy hunting.

Umm... That would be me! I'll be watching both of you!