Mayan Bad Dude who promised to skin Jaquar Paw alive and wear it as a coat in front of him....just before he gets his big surprise.
Posted on 12/09/2006 3:38:57 AM PST by Mel Gibson
Call it a Hollywood shocker: Mel's Apocalypto will have a bigger weekend opening than his Braveheart. Despite scandal, an R-rating, subtitles because of an ancient dialect, no stars, and direct competition from movieland AAA-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, Gibson's Mayan epic won Friday's matinees and evenings, I'm told. At first, box office gurus were warning me that the weekend victor among three very competitive films all opening against each other would be too close to call. cameron_jude.jpgBut now I've learned it looks certain that Apocalypto will win the weekend -- bearing out my reporting back on December 1st when I was told that early tracking showed Mel's movie (playing in 2,465 theaters) would edge ahead. Tonight, I'm told Mel's movie took in nearly $6 million Friday for what's expected to be at least a $15 mil, and possibly $16 mil, weekend total -- exceeding Disney's hopes for the box office gross. That easily beats Mel's Braveheart, which made $9.9 mil for Fri-Sat-Sun when it opened in 2,037 theaters during Memorial Weekend back in 1995 ($12.9 mil for the four-day holiday) and went on to make $75.6 mil in the U.S. and $210.4 mil worldwide, helped by winning the Best Picture Oscar. Based on today's matinees, the No. 2 spot went to Sony's The Holiday (in 2,610 playdates), a date movie from director-writer Nancy Meyer, known for capturing that man-woman zeitgeist. The studio's hard work to deftly market this PG-13 debut (also starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law) obviously paid off because the movie earned $4.5 mil Friday despite all the rivalry. In 3rd place was Warner Bros' Blood Diamond (in 1,910 theaters), an African-set action-adventure pic. Important to note that this film is playing in 500-to-700 less theaters than the other two films...
(Excerpt) Read more at deadlinehollywooddaily.com ...
he ain't gettin my money!!!
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Don't be absurd and believe the mind numbed robots who write film reviews...You are missing out on a great film.
You noticed that too huh? LOL!
Wonderful moment in the film. ...Saw it today and I was stunned at how good it is.
Deserves accolades.
I may see the movie again. There were a lot of moments that had a point worth considering.
Maybe church groups should be organizing to go see this thing then
Beyond just the stupendous cinematography and creativity of editing a film like this ---there are lots of symbolic references to our own time. I kept spotting them but the spectacle got in the way. I will gladly see it again.
It deserves repeat viewings.
He was only a producer in the From Dusk till Dawn trilogy. And Pulp Fiction doesn't actually "show" a lot of violence. Not in the way Gibson movies do. It happens off screen. The first Kill Bill is a notable exception to this rule. But think about it, you don't actually see the most notable violence in Tarantino movies. The ear cutting scene in Reservoir Dogs for example, or Butch killing the rapist pawn shop owner in Pulp Fiction. Sure the events happen but we don't see the gory part. Gibson on the other hand would have a close up of the blade going into the rapist.
That's more than a little over the top. Rief. put her filmmaking talent at the service of evil: Hitler. Gibson put his at the service of God and Christianity. Hardly the same thing. (And no, I don't excuse his venomous outburst on the Malibu road - but it shows why, in his sober moments, he realizes he needs a Savior: he has a lot of problems).
Not to worry.
When Mel Gibson is hunched over walking with a cane or in a wheelchair, Hollywood will present him with an achievement Oscar.
Hopefully it won't be long until he is one of the annual honorees at the Kennedy Center like Dolly Parton and Andrew Lloyd Webber just received.
Mea Culpa. ;^)
Well...I love certain kinds of country music but somehow Dolly P. is not on my list of the greats.
As for Hollyweird presenting him with an award: the greats like Hitchcock, Kubrick, Scorsese, Kazan, Welles, et al were never recognized with oscars. Somehow I think Mel would rather hang with the mabericks than with Hollyweird's pet dogs.
mabericks = mavericks
Absolutely right. I waited outside the cinema after I saw Apocalypto and I heard two women (both Latinas) calling their friends about the movie on their cell phones. A fortyish heavy one was saying "it's great", and the other young latina said she gave it six stars. The villains were perfect and the acting real - Gibson has made the movie of the year, but the Hollywood types won't admit it.
I am still in awe over what I saw this afternoon.
I've seen lots of movies (It teach the subject) and this one is a masterpiece...of the highest order, subtitles and all.
Mayan Bad Dude who promised to skin Jaquar Paw alive and wear it as a coat in front of him....just before he gets his big surprise.
I wanted to take my Dad today and see it again, but unfortunately his eyesight isn't good enough to read the subtitles. I hope they release a version in English so that semi-blind people can enjoy the movie.
You might check out my earlier remarks on why this movie is hated by liberals and diversity nuts and see if you agree.
Magnificent acting---superb artists were used --and as I understand it most were local amateurs. Heads and shoulders above the so called professionals passing for actors in Hollyweird today.
BRAVO MEL!!!
HJA: YOU are absolutely spot on! Your comments lay out the case against the lying liberal elites and their attempt to rewrite history.
Mel you rock!!!
His athleticism was magnificant.
Your excitement makes me want to go and see it again!
I'd be interested in knowing your thoughts about the Christian references. I thought it had a very old testament feel. The movie juxtaposed a culture of death with a culture of life. It very much reminded me of scripture where God sends signs and messengers to no avail. Those who refuse the messages are turned over to their enemies.
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