Okay, I'll give you a clue. Think of the "Vanishing Breed" stereotype. The good Indians (Uncas, Hiawatha, Winnetou) fade into the romantic mists of yesteryear. Only the bad (corrupt, immoral, degraded) Indians are left.
Writerfella here -- Oh, nonsense. Fraser's "The End Of The Trail" sculpture meant that Natives were defeated, dying, and at the end of their trail. There are five copies of that statue, by the way. It represented The Vanishing American, except for the fact that Natives refused to vanish, or to be assimilated, or to be acculturated. The statue, therefore, meant that it was the desire of EuroMan for the Natives to disappear so that his capture of The New World would be complete. Any comparison between that statue and the icon of the film APOCALYPTO purely is coincidental and accidental. By the way, a text printed at the end of the film says that no animals were harmed in the making of the film. It might also have included that no humans were harmed in the making of the film, either. Unfortunately, history can make no such inclusions... All Best Russ Bates 'writerfella'
Thank you for your opinion. Now maybe you can tell us what you think the Apocalypto poster signifies. If Jaguar Paw is such a heroic figure, why does the poster show him with shoulders hunched and face downturned?
I suppose Gibson "accidentally" chose to present his protagonist in a negative light? (I mean that literally, since Jaguar Paw is shrouded in shadows.) And I suppose Gibson also "accidentally" chose to portray the Maya as death-dealing fanatics? Uh-huh, sure.
Yeah, I believe Gibson gambled millions of his own money on an image he "accidentally" chose. And I also believe he "accidentally" attacked Jews in a drunken rage and doesn't really hate them. Not.
That bridge is still available if you wish to buy it.
Writerfella here -- First, the comparison between the poster and The End Of The Trail statue has nothing to do with Mel Gibson. Second, writerfella did not see that poster in the theater where he saw the film. Third, if there is a modern interpretation of the poster, it is that any nation that commits war shames itself if it continues to pit its own young citizens to wars that none of the hierarchy ever will have to fight. Fourth, there is no mention of Jews in APOCALYPTO whatsoever and thus any inclusion of them in your material here is extraneous. Fifth, at the end of writerfella's story, BEACHHEAD, the Tainos men who saw Columbus land stand in their twilight and then disappear among the darkening palms -- does that mean those characters are portrayed in a 'negative light'? Sixth, The End Of The Trail and APOCALYPTO are divorced enough in time that there cannot be any connection forged between them, except for syllogical purposes. Seventh, it is an old axiom in the film industry that you never gamble your own money on any project, unless you know something the rest of the industry doesn't know. writerfella has said that he knows what Mel Gibson knows, and if you don't know what they know, it is not their fault. That should be enough bridges to cover Lloyd, Beau, Jeff, and San Luis Rey. All Best Russ Bates 'writerfella'
First, Gibson is responsible for every aspect of Apocalypto, since it's his independent production. If you think he didn't approve the poster, you're probably mistaken.
Second, the poster appeared everywhere movie posters appear: in theaters, in ads, on the Net. If you didn't see it in one particular theater, that doesn't tell us much. It's also irrelevant in comparing the poster to "End of the Trail."
Third, if the message is one of shame over the Mayas' warfare, Jaguar Paw is expressing that shame by hanging his head. Similarly, the Indian in "End of the Trail" expressed his shame at experiencing and losing the US-led Indian Wars. Same hanging head, same message.
Fourth, I mentioned the Jews because Gibson's drunken tirade was an example of sending a message you don't intend to send. But your fourth point is irrelevant in comparing the poster to "End of the Trail."
Fifth, we've discussed Apocalypto's message at length. I covered the point of the movie's ending when I wrote, "The good Indians (Uncas, Hiawatha, Winnetou) fade into the romantic mists of yesteryear. Only the bad (corrupt, immoral, degraded) Indians are left."
Sixth, I didn't say "End of the Trail" caused or was correlated with the poster. I merely said they're independently sending the same message.
Seventh, lots of independent filmmakers finance their own movies. As Variety reported, Apocalypto was fully financed by Icon, Gibson's production company. Therefore, what you "know" about the movie is apparently wrong.
4 comments:
Writerfella here --
Oh, nonsense. Fraser's "The End Of The Trail" sculpture meant that Natives were defeated, dying, and at the end of their trail. There are five copies of that statue, by the way. It represented The Vanishing American, except for the fact that Natives refused to vanish, or to be assimilated, or to be acculturated. The statue, therefore, meant that it was the desire of EuroMan for the Natives to disappear so that his capture of The New World would be complete. Any comparison between that statue and the icon of the film APOCALYPTO purely is coincidental and accidental. By the way, a text printed at the end of the film says that no animals were harmed in the making of the film. It might also have included that no humans were harmed in the making of the film, either. Unfortunately, history can make no such inclusions...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
Thank you for your opinion. Now maybe you can tell us what you think the Apocalypto poster signifies. If Jaguar Paw is such a heroic figure, why does the poster show him with shoulders hunched and face downturned?
I suppose Gibson "accidentally" chose to present his protagonist in a negative light? (I mean that literally, since Jaguar Paw is shrouded in shadows.) And I suppose Gibson also "accidentally" chose to portray the Maya as death-dealing fanatics? Uh-huh, sure.
Yeah, I believe Gibson gambled millions of his own money on an image he "accidentally" chose. And I also believe he "accidentally" attacked Jews in a drunken rage and doesn't really hate them. Not.
That bridge is still available if you wish to buy it.
Writerfella here --
First, the comparison between the poster and The End Of The Trail statue has nothing to do with Mel Gibson. Second, writerfella did not see that poster in the theater where he saw the film. Third, if there is a modern interpretation of the poster, it is that any nation that commits war shames itself if it continues to pit its own young citizens to wars that none of the hierarchy ever will have to fight. Fourth, there is no mention of Jews in APOCALYPTO whatsoever and thus any inclusion of them in your material here is extraneous. Fifth, at the end of writerfella's story, BEACHHEAD, the Tainos men who saw Columbus land stand in their twilight and then disappear among the darkening palms -- does that mean those characters are portrayed in a 'negative light'? Sixth, The End Of The Trail and APOCALYPTO are divorced enough in time that there cannot be any connection forged between them, except for syllogical purposes. Seventh, it is an old axiom in the film industry that you never gamble your own money on any project, unless you know something the rest of the industry doesn't know. writerfella has said that he knows what Mel Gibson knows, and if you don't know what they know, it is not their fault. That should be enough bridges to cover Lloyd, Beau, Jeff, and San Luis Rey.
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'
First, Gibson is responsible for every aspect of Apocalypto, since it's his independent production. If you think he didn't approve the poster, you're probably mistaken.
Second, the poster appeared everywhere movie posters appear: in theaters, in ads, on the Net. If you didn't see it in one particular theater, that doesn't tell us much. It's also irrelevant in comparing the poster to "End of the Trail."
Third, if the message is one of shame over the Mayas' warfare, Jaguar Paw is expressing that shame by hanging his head. Similarly, the Indian in "End of the Trail" expressed his shame at experiencing and losing the US-led Indian Wars. Same hanging head, same message.
Fourth, I mentioned the Jews because Gibson's drunken tirade was an example of sending a message you don't intend to send. But your fourth point is irrelevant in comparing the poster to "End of the Trail."
Fifth, we've discussed Apocalypto's message at length. I covered the point of the movie's ending when I wrote, "The good Indians (Uncas, Hiawatha, Winnetou) fade into the romantic mists of yesteryear. Only the bad (corrupt, immoral, degraded) Indians are left."
Sixth, I didn't say "End of the Trail" caused or was correlated with the poster. I merely said they're independently sending the same message.
Seventh, lots of independent filmmakers finance their own movies. As Variety reported, Apocalypto was fully financed by Icon, Gibson's production company. Therefore, what you "know" about the movie is apparently wrong.
Post a Comment