Mel and the Maya

[cyrk_vision]

"I think Mel Gibson is the worst thing that's happened to indigenous populations since the arrival of the Spanish."'Apocalypto' is an Insult to Maya Culture, One Expert Says

Comments

[knowyermonkey]

I'm not going to read this article yet, because I'm not sure if I'm going to see the film and I hate spoilers...I'd rather read it after.

It's funny, because I'm often torn with things like this.
I want to have an informed opinion and yet, I feel like I can't really unless I've seen it myself.
I had no plans to see the film, but now I feel like maybe I should.
Then, of course, I'll technically be supporting it by paying money to see it.

I still haven't seen "Memoirs of a Geisha" because I empathized with the outrage over casting.

[cyrk_vision]

I won't see it because i personally cannot handle the violence and don't want to support with my dollars. this interview basically said exactly what I'd expected. I could go see the movie to gather more details but I don't want to. Not that it doesn't deserve attention. This is what the american people are looking at. It's appalling.

What was the story with the casting for memoirs of a geisha?

(and I admire your restraint.)

[knowyermonkey]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memoirs_of_a_Geisha_(film)

scroll down to the part that says Casting Controversy

[crumpet78]

Thanks for posting this. I'd read another similar article, but this one says it far more succinctly.

[cyrk_vision]

complaining about mel gibson always gets the blood pumping..

[crumpet78]

I agree although I really loved him in Hamlet. D wasn't sure she wanted to watch it last night but I think it's ok since it's pre-Mel melt-down.

[cyrk_vision]

heh. melt-down is right... this made me chuckle.

[sfgabe]

Thanks. I'm glad i'm not the only cranky art history/cultural accuracy buff. I was mildly interested in seeing the movie, just to see how cranky it would make me, but i didn't realize it was so violent. Definitly not going now. Grumble.

[cyrk_vision]

you're welcome. i was pretty cranky when i first heard he'd be doing this movie. first the jews and now the maya. goodlord.

wonder if he's talked to any present day maya. wonder if he's aware that they're um, still around.

[sailor_ripley]

It's totally appalling. Gibson makes me really fucking angry. Not only does he exploit, he's inaccurate and his insistence on such graphic violence ultimately adds to even deeper American desensitization. When I think about what he's putting into the world, I literally feel sick.

I watched a documentary a few years ago about a Catholic nun who had devoted her entire life to educating and healing the hostility of the Catholic church against the Jews. She was this amazing woman who did so many things that made an impact on the relationship between Catholics and Jews. At the end of the documentary, the film maker brings a tv and vcr into her home and shows her The Passion of the Christ. She sits there watching it and she starts crying. She felt like everything she'd devoted her life to was undone with that asinine movie.

After I saw that documentary, I swore I'd never give my money to Mel Gibson again--not that I'd ever sit through such violence and carnage anyway.

[cyrk_vision]

why does he get hired? because he has money? because he's a good story teller? who's making these choices? there are lots of good story tellers. fame?

I would like to see that documentary someday.

Welcome!

[goodbadgirl]

Hey! I'm very excited for you to move in. So much so I couldn't help but add you to my f-list.

Happy 2007!

Re: Welcome!

[cyrk_vision]

oooh, great! and I'll add you right back.

thanks for the welcome - i am equally excited.

happy new year to us.