Filmspotting #140: Apocalypto / Akira / Top 5 DVDs of 2006
With the mug shot, the DUI and the deeply offensive anti-Semitic remarks, it was unclear whether Mel Gibson would see "Apocalypto" released in 2006 -- if at all. It's not like the 15th century Mayan adventure story was exactly an easy sell to begin with. Well, time passed (the arrest happened in late July) and the film's distributor, Buena Vista (aka Disney), decided that tempers had cooled and so the film was unleashed on 2500 screens over the weekend. Listen as Adam and Sam restrain themselves from discussing the film as an anti-Herzogian paean to nature and instead debate the merits of a well-made action movie.
Also on the show: Listener Feedback, Massacre Theatre, the third film in the Animation Marathon -- Katsuhiro Otomo's "Akira" -- and Sam and Adam's Christmas list ... the Top 5 DVDs of 2006.
Music by The Magnetic Fields courtesy of Merge Records.
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Filmspotting #140
:21-13:54 - Review: "Apocalypto"
Music: The Magnetic Fields, "All My Little Words"
15:02-18:04 - Peerflix Winner (Chuck Knudsen), New DVDs
18:05-21:54 - Donations, Poll Questions
21:55-23:56 - Programming Notes, Boston Meetup
23:57-29:23 - Listener Feedback (Good Films, Bad Directors)
Music: The Magnetic Fields, "The Book of Love"
30:50-34:39 - Massacre Theatre (Winner: Steven Smith)
34:40-45:01 - "Fireflies" Feedback, Animation Marathon #3: "Akira"
Music: The Magnetic Fields, "I Don't Want To Get Over You"
46:39-51:30 - Listener Feedback cont.
51:31-1:01:54 - Top 5: Best DVDs of 2006
1:01:55-1:03:49 - Close/Next Show/Outtake
CORRECTIONS/NOTES
- Rumor has it Irvin Kershner directed "Empire Strikes Back" not George Lucas. Who knew? Slip of the tongue, folks. Come on, don't we blame and praise Lucas for everything "Star Wars" related?
Have a comment or Top 5 list you'd like to share? Send an e-mail or short mp3 clip to feedback@filmspotting.net. Or give us a call at 206-203-CINE and leave a voice message.
4 Comments:
Hi Adam and Sam.
I saw Apocalypto last night. I was excited to go see a movie that was set on that particular time and about that particular culture. I was kind of expecting a bit more "substance" (i.e., getting to know a bit more about their daily life, their politics, etc.) but instead we got this really violent action movie.
Having said that, I enjoyed the film from that new perspective. I pretty much agree with your review. I wish there hadn't been any omens or supernatural stuff. I also would have liked the dialogue to be a bit more casual (everytime movies show old civilizations, characters speak slowly and use metaphores and fancy language all the time... how about some simple language?). And my last criticism... the movie was like a visual exploration on Murphy's Law (or should we say Kukulkan's Law?). Less would have been more.
Anyway, I'm glad someone made a movie about the Mayans, using their language. I'm also glad that people are actually paying to see that.
It's funny that when the trailer led me to believe that this was a mystical exploration of a ancient people, I was only mildly interested. Now that I'm hearing all these comments about it being a straight out action run fest I'm actually much keener to see it. Especially on the big screen. I feel so shallow.
The first time I saw Akira, it was a midnight movie in a theater that was running an anime marathon. Unfortunately, the people in the row in front of us decided to drop acid for the first time that night. (During the previews, there was a lot of whispering and "Dude, when is it gonna kick in?" speak.)
During the giant teddy bear sequence, one of the guys in the acid row ran out of the theater screaming . There was a pause, some "Whoa"s, and then some giggles, and after that, the movie completely lost the audience.
From that point on, when anything got overly visceral, someone would fake scream and fake run out of the theater, and we would all just start laughing. Maybe you had to be there, but I cannot take the film seriously after having that kind of experience.
Just wanted to share.
-RT
That Magnetic Fields song was great, I went home and ordered it on Itunes after listening to your podcast.
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