ROTTEN TOMATOES: "Apocalypto" Apocalypse?

"Apocalypto" Apocalypse?

by Scott Weinberg | August 10, 2006

Discuss Article | Blog Article | Email To A Friend

Following the rather unpleasant Mel Gibson controversy of the last few weeks, the Hollywood rumor mill is starting to swirl: Is Disney looking to "unload" Gibson's "Apocalypto" on another distributor?

According to Roger Friedman at Fox News: "Mel Gibson's movie "Apocalypto," which Disney was supposed to release on Dec. 8, is "being shopped" to other potential distributors, sources tell me. One potential distributor for "Apocalypto" is Lions Gate, an independent company with a history of rescuing distressed projects. In the past they've picked up Kevin Smith's "Dogma" and Michael Moore's "Fahrenheit 9/11" when Miramax was prevented from putting them out by their own agreements with Disney."

According to David Poland at Movie City News, the report is "FALSE, as Confirmed By Both Sides Of The "Report"."

As of this moment, Disney is still planning to release "Apocalypto" on 12/8.

Related Items

Movie:	Fahrenheit 9/11
	Apocalypto
Celeb:	Mel Gibson
	Michael Moore
	Kevin Smith

(1-15 of 15 posts) | Reply

CrazyGhost78 writes:
on Aug 10 2006 10:01 AM

The movie looks weak anyway, so I wouldn't be exactly crushed if it never saw the light of day.

(Reply to this)

Merlin235 writes:
on Aug 10 2006 11:51 AM

Whatever, I'm totally psyched to see it. It looks visionary, different than what most Hollywood directors are doing

(Reply to this)

nordak writes:
on Aug 10 2006 12:30 PM

It'd be a big mistake to let this one go.

(Reply to this)

I Am Remote writes:
on Aug 10 2006 01:16 PM

despite what's happened, I still want to see it. Cool concept.

(Reply to this)

LampEft writes:
on Aug 10 2006 01:30 PM

Much as I dislike Gibson, this movie intrigues me, and I'd be interested in seeing it, pending the nature of the reviews.

(Reply to this)

scottybarkbark writes:
on Aug 10 2006 02:45 PM

i hope they dont, i really want to see this.
by the way, people are making a huge deal out of what he said in a drunken stupor. i would care more if it was in a press release than a drunken tirade. besides has any1 in hollywood said a word about what the president in iran has constantly been saying about israel. shit, i'ld be more upset about that than what someone said while drunk

(Reply to this)

tyler8186 writes:
on Aug 10 2006 02:56 PM

i think Disney is making yet another mistake
read DisneyWar
they talk about everything disney has screwed up

its also coming from an extremely biased source, Roy Disney
so... meh
i don't know what to believe

(Reply to this)

Mikeal420 writes:
on Aug 10 2006 03:16 PM

[b]This Jew says RELEASE IT[/b]
Is Mel Gibson anti-Semetic? Probably. Was Passion of the Christ anti-Semetic? As much as the bible was (Pious was not the kind hearted Roman he is usually portrayed as). Was it a brilliant film made by a gifted director? DEFINITLY!!! When looking at art, one must view the talent, not the bias motivation of the director. If your inteligent, you would see these films as a presentation of the filmaker's vision as well as beliefs, and you could make your own argument based on it. If your ignorant, you will be swayed into whatever beliefs are presented to you anyway, so frankly you dont count. "Apocalyto" looks like a visionary and highly creative film to me, made with a lot of passion by Gibson. I've heard rumors that the real motivation of the director is to portray the Mayans as a curropt, decidant society on the brink of destruction. It makes many references to a savior to come, obviously meant to represent the Christians who came centuries later and "saved" these "bloodthirsty" people. This doesn't surprise me coming from Mel Gibson. He is a bias director. Look at how the English were portrayed in Braveheart in contrast to the Scottish and Irish. The English were not protestant yet, but even today people view William Wallace as a Catholic hero who faught the English "Heretics". I could move from Mel to almost any director who's movies have a bias edge, but has that ever stopped them from being great, quality films. Look to talent, come up with your own beliefs.

(Reply to this)

Elessar Oronro writes:
on Aug 10 2006 11:29 PM

In reply to this comment (#841899)
wrong. you absolutely must look at the artist when examining (or choosing to spend your hard-earned money on) his work. i chose not to see "passion", nor will i see any future gibson movies, after hearing him say he believed his wife was going to hell. he's an ignorant ass stuck in the 14th century and he doesn't deserve my dollar. he's got the rest of ignorant red-state america to support him anyway.

(Reply to this)

havoc_012 writes:
on Aug 11 2006 02:59 AM

In reply to this comment (#841900)
The people who don't agree with you about Gibson are all conservatives? Everyone who doesn't agree with you about Gibson is ignorant? Sorry, but calling out the "ignorant red states" for no apparent reason is exactly the reason swing voters voted for Bush. Maybe they were tired of all the unwaranted conservative bashing...

Anyways, back on topic, I haven't seen any of Gibson's movies lately, but thats only because none of them looked interesting. I don't look at personal veiws when examining art. A good film is a good film, regardless of who makes it. We love to create idols only to tear them down and watch them rise to the top once again. Gibson will be back. As a whole, we tend to forgive/forget things pretty easily.

(Reply to this)

renny2077 writes:
on Aug 11 2006 07:16 AM

uh..people...its just a movie!

(Reply to this)

Mikeal420 writes:
on Aug 11 2006 07:33 AM

In reply to this comment (#841900)
[b]You must not of read what I said[/b]
You absolutly must look at the artist when viewing their films. You must know as much as you can about his/her personality, beliefs, even political motivations. You must also find out as much as you can about the subject of the film. That's the only way you can truly expierience a film for all it's worth. I'm a Jew, born and raised, and a proud Leftist but I still really liked "Passion". I feel I knew enough about history of that time to see the film for what it really was- a film. Also to call the red states "ignorant" is pretty offensive, I know some pretty ignorant big city people, and some small town people who understand life better then anyone else (but then there are the Bible-thumpers who voted for Bush, so I don't know!!)

(Reply to this)

Master King Sexington writes:
on Aug 11 2006 09:31 PM

In reply to this comment (#841903)
THere you are talking about how it's offensive to call the Red States ignorant, then you call the people who voted for Bush Bible-Thumpers. Maybe someday people will learn not to judge everyone by their political views. Or religious views. Why can't everybody just get along? Or at least fight about movies, at a movie web site.

Oh, and to point out some more irony, all of you started by talking about Mel's prejudices only to bring up your own. Way to seem intelligent.

(Reply to this)

RexLaboro writes:
on Sep 14 2006 10:02 PM

[b]2pacalypto[/b]
The poster raised more interest for me than the actuall teaser. I need to see more but I'm interested in seeing what this is about.

ps: People that have a problem with a drunk Gibson are most likely stupid hypocrites.

(Reply to this)

justinca92780 writes:
on Oct 13 2006 02:17 PM

In reply to this comment (#841899)
[b]Response to "This Jew says RELEASE IT"[/b]
If you were intelligent, you would have corrected all of the incorrectly spelled words in your review.

(Reply to this)