Mel Gibson's new movie: 'Apocalypto'
 

I was torn as to where this should go, but ultimately it's all entertainment I guess.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movi...cnn_topstories

VERACRUZ, Mexico (AP) -- Mel Gibson says a fascination with ancient cultures and great civilizations is what led him to make his upcoming movie "Apocalypto," starring unknown Mexican actors speaking in an ancient tongue.

...more...

I'm actually looking forward to this. If he does Beowulf in Anglo-Saxon next I am so there.

Sorry, for a moment there I thought you said apocalypso

Probably not quite what you're looking for, but at least Neil Gaiman is writing it.

Save the last dance for me.

Angelina Jolie as Grendel's Mother? How appropriate.

Here she is, in costume!

http://photos1.blogger.com/hello/43/...ulf-mask24.jpg

Sorry, Just got the totally unsatisfactory little red cross in the box - sometimes this happens with blog links, you have to be inside the blog provider's site to view the images. Take a screen print of it, dump it in paint box, cut out the image and then paste it again into paintbox and save that as a jpeg - you can then upload it through the 'manage attachments' facility in the Cellar 'post reply' section. A lot easier than it sounds - trust me, I'm an Englishman...!

Heh, I see it fine in Firefox, but not in Internet Explorer. Must be a cache thing.

Here's where the picture's from.

That reminds me - we need some new Christmas tree lights....

I predict this will turn out to be Mr. Gibson's "Waterworld". Apparently he needs to stop thinking of himself as bulletproof, it's time for the fall.

I already know the mythology of the Maya and their predictions of the world ending and being created again several times. The people who can identify with this are few and far between, and they don't go to movies, unlike the millions of radical Christians who The Passion of Christ was sold to. Mel has already had two hurricanes fall on his head and nearly destroy Yucatan; perhaps the Maya gods of the Underworld are trying to tell him something :rolleyes:

I know I hang out in very different circles, but I know more people that will stand in line for Apocalypto than I know will go to see Harry Potter next week.

(for which, incidentally, I already have IMAX tickets. not my fault. friend set it up)

Yes, but Harry Potter's "witchcraft" is not for real either ;) The Maya were and still ARE deadly serious about it. Check out the recent National Geographic article about this, Wolf, they have excellent artwork which portrays some of the more bizarre happenings in the Popul Vuh and photos of a ceremonial site which the photographer was allowed to visit.

I've read all about the Pre-Colombian myths and religions for many years as part of my studies of Latin America, but I doubt the symbolism or the sagas of the Maya will strike a chord in the western world. The main thread that you might be able to relate to is how thin the line is between the living and the dead in both Maya and Aztec cultural practices. But the Maya Land of the Dead is not a happy place that you would want to visit or to have anybody return from to visit you. Death, decay, and rebirth are deeply intertwined in these cultures. Their actual lives are spent under great hardships because of genocidal policies of the Mexican government in the 20th Century and the continued governmental abuses today. The Maya therefore do not have much tolerance for people like Mr. Gibson invading their lands to make movies about them. They also kill tourists down there, entirely too frequently. I just hope some tragedy does not take place because of a senseless misunderstanding of cultural differences while that many Anglos are in the area.

Last time I checked, Mexicans (whether descended from Europeans or natives) were perfectly willing to let anyone "invade" their land to do movies provided enough money flowed to the right people. Somehow I doubt Gibson brought an army in.

There can still be culteral misunderstandings over who are the right people and how much is enough money.

USELESS CELEBRITY FACT No.6

Mel Gibson used to live next door to my boyfriend years and years ago in Coogee (like 25 years ago) Apparently he used to bounce him on his knee on their shared front porch (townhouses).. and one night Mel came home very high and drunk and had no money on him for the cab he had just been dropped home in so knocked on my boyfriends parents door and borrowed $20... which to this day has not been returned!!! (with interest based on income i think i feel a claim coming on...)