Comments on: Commentator Field Trip: Apocalypto http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/ Free Minds, Free Markets, Free Booze Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:35:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: niedermeyer http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-68136 niedermeyer Mon, 11 Dec 2006 00:29:04 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-68136 So, Apocalypto was really a surprisingly good movie. Seriously. It was every bit a Mel Gibson movie, which I typically don't like all that much. Braveheart, for example, I thought sucked. Apocalypto was way better. Like all Gibson flicks, it was pretty unnecessarily gruesome... to the point that the gore transcended what was appropriate for even a movie about human sacrifice. As long as you numb your sense of humanity with whiskey though, the incessant splatter just kind of washes over you. Unsurprisingly, the themes seem to re-enforce the impression that Mel Gibson isn't really a fan of urban civilization. I was expecting the movie to have a moral point that translated easily into modern society... but there isn't. The "lessons" of the film seem to be: survive, oppose death worship, live traditionally in small villages in the forest, and carry band-aids for when that jaguar spends like 10 minutes chewing your face off. Maybe I need to watch it again, when I'm a little more... um, lucid. So, Apocalypto was really a surprisingly good movie. Seriously.

It was every bit a Mel Gibson movie, which I typically don’t like all that much. Braveheart, for example, I thought sucked. Apocalypto was way better. Like all Gibson flicks, it was pretty unnecessarily gruesome… to the point that the gore transcended what was appropriate for even a movie about human sacrifice. As long as you numb your sense of humanity with whiskey though, the incessant splatter just kind of washes over you.

Unsurprisingly, the themes seem to re-enforce the impression that Mel Gibson isn’t really a fan of urban civilization. I was expecting the movie to have a moral point that translated easily into modern society… but there isn’t. The “lessons” of the film seem to be: survive, oppose death worship, live traditionally in small villages in the forest, and carry band-aids for when that jaguar spends like 10 minutes chewing your face off.

Maybe I need to watch it again, when I’m a little more… um, lucid.

]]> By: Michael G. http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-66773 Michael G. Fri, 08 Dec 2006 19:01:39 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-66773 Damnit, I'm in Sunnyvale! My flight back is landing about the time the movie starts. Damnit, I’m in Sunnyvale! My flight back is landing about the time the movie starts.

]]> By: Leeper http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-66128 Leeper Wed, 06 Dec 2006 20:22:23 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-66128 so how about those escorts? so how about those escorts?

]]> By: Blaser http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65536 Blaser Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:01:51 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65536 So I'm finally getting paid? It's about time! So I’m finally getting paid? It’s about time!

]]> By: Dallas http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65533 Dallas Tue, 05 Dec 2006 20:19:37 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65533 We have the surplus...lets see what I what I can work out. We have the surplus…lets see what I what I can work out.

]]> By: Niedermeyer http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65527 Niedermeyer Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:52:01 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65527 Sorry... all the money was spent on escorts. Sorry… all the money was spent on escorts.

]]> By: Doomscheissah http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65526 Doomscheissah Tue, 05 Dec 2006 19:48:35 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65526 Doubtful. Doubtful.

]]> By: Leeper http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65519 Leeper Tue, 05 Dec 2006 18:52:03 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65519 Is this outing funded by the University of Oregon? Is this outing funded by the University of Oregon?

]]> By: Doomscheissah http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65429 Doomscheissah Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:56:31 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65429 At least it's better than heckling "Showgirls". At least it’s better than heckling “Showgirls”.

]]> By: Niedermeyer http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65427 Niedermeyer Tue, 05 Dec 2006 06:44:03 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65427 How will I make it out of this failing civilization without Mel Gibsons allegorical adivice? I shudder to think. How will I make it out of this failing civilization without Mel Gibsons allegorical adivice?

I shudder to think.

]]> By: Timothy http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65419 Timothy Tue, 05 Dec 2006 05:05:24 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65419 Dude, that'll be better than when I got wasted and heckled "The Core". Dude, that’ll be better than when I got wasted and heckled “The Core”.

]]> By: Doomscheissah http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65406 Doomscheissah Tue, 05 Dec 2006 03:55:57 +0000 http://www.oregoncommentator.com/2006/12/04/commentator-field-trip-apocalypto/#comment-65406 Maybe we all can get reciprocation on this by joining members of the College Republicans when they hit the .50 theatres for Casino Royale in the next couple of months. Maybe we all can get reciprocation on this by joining members of the College Republicans when they hit the .50 theatres for Casino Royale in the next couple of months.

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