Apocalypto one-sheet (promotional poster) revealed!

So much for our sarcasm about publicity - the Apocalypto one-sheet has been revealed!! (click image for full-size version, click here for a super-sized image) Discuss this post in the Apocalypto Watch Forum now! [Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson] [Touchstone Pictures originally provided this one-sheet to ComingSoon.net]

Publicity? What Publicity?

Found this on the news wire: KIHEI – A national marketing specialist in the entertainment industry, Blaise Noto, will speak during a Rotary Club of Kihei Sunrise meeting from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Five Palms Restaurant. Noto, president of Blaise Noto & Associates LLC on Maui, has held marketing positions with a selection of the top entertainment companies, including Warner Bros, United Artists, Orion Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Columbia Pictures. His company is handling production publicity for Mel Gibson’s “Apocalypto,” and handled “The Passion of the Christ,” as well as the 25th anniversary of the Hawaii International Film Festival. Seating is limited, and reservations are requested by calling 280-5231. Breakfast costs $12. [sarcasm] They sure are doing a great job on Apocalypto publicity! [/sarcasm] [Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson]

On Set Humor - Apocalypto Style

Seen over at Mel's Megafans: We agree - yowch! Discuss this post in the Apocalypto Forum now! [Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson]

"Mel Gibson Slams 'Da Vinci Code'"

From the World Entertainment News Network: Catholic actor Mel Gibson has slammed "The Da Vinci Code" book and movie for attacking the beliefs that he holds so sacred, World Entertainment Network reported. But "The Passion of the Christ" star has been outraged with the thriller's controversial plot concerning Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Gibson tells, "What worries me is that people will take this as fact. "I'm not angry, per se, that it refutes everything I hold sacred, the foundations of my beliefs. The Da Vinci Code is an admitted work of fiction but it cleverly weaves fact into maverick theories in a way that will appear plausible to some." The angry star was actually the first choice of Dr. Robert Lomas (the intellectual who inspired the Robert Langdon character) to play him. Tom Hanks plays Langdon in the film. Lomas says, "In an ideal world I'd quite like to have been played by Mel Gibson." [source] No big suprise that Mel turned it down. :-) [Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Da Vinci Code, Mel Gibson, Tom Hanks]

"Hanks' Da Vinci role riles Mel" - London Free Press

From the London Free Press: A longtime friendship between Mel Gibson and Tom Hanks has been hurt by the Da Vinci Code movie. Sources say there's a holy war between them because ardent Catholic Gibson deems Hanks' role in the movie blasphemous. Gibson, who made the highly successful The Passion of the Christ, considers the theory that Christ didn't die on the cross and married Mary Magdalene, with whom he fathered a child, outrageous. While he's not making his feelings public because he doesn't want to add to the film's buzz, Mel's said to have complained privately to Tom -- with the two stars arguing bitterly about the merits of the project. Mel claims it's damaging to all Christianity because many people will believe the film is based on fact, not Dan Brown's bestselling novel. Tom's view is that ultra-conservative Mel is taking the entire matter "far too seriously." [More...]

Apocalypto Watch forums back up and running

The Apocalypto Watch Forums are back up and running again. Apologies to those who will have to re-register. This reboot fixed several problems and now allows blog posts to be cross-posted to the forum so they can be more easily discussed. So hurry and sign up!

BBC News: Tattooed mummy discovered in Peru

From BBC News: A tattooed mummy has been found in Peru which archaeologists say is one of the best-ever relics of a civilisation that ended more than 1,300 years ago. The mummy is of a woman of about 30, believed to be an elite member of the Moche tribe. The skeleton of an adolescent girl offered in sacrifice was found with a rope still around its neck. The archaeologists from Peru and the US found the mummy at a site called El Brujo on the north coast near Trujillo. They have dated the mummy to about 450 AD. [More...] Feel free to ask questions or discuss this topic in the Apocalypto Watch Forum.

Pictures from the Veracruz, Mexico set of Apocalypto!

Mel's MegaFans has uploaded a motherload of exclusive photos from the Veracruz, Mexico set of Apocalypto. These photos were taken by "PJDG", presumably a member of the crew. We've separated the pictures by size and also given them brief descriptions. Enjoy! (and go congratulate MMF on the scoop!) ***WARNING - SPOILERS *** These are a group of pictures from the Apocalypto set. This set was constructed over a period of six months by Tom Sanders' crew. These sets are meant to meticuously portray Mayan pyramids and markets. Large: Mel Gibson holding his straw hat and peering from a Mayan temple set. Mel Gibson walking across the marketplace set. A dark shot of a the pinnacle of a Mayan temple, with scaffolding and actors. A very good shot of the marketplace set, completely furnished. A close-up of a Mayan stone engraving. Update: A shot of the outdoor courtyard under full construction (almost missed this one!) A rather messy shot of the outdoor marketplace, with set hands. A group of full-costume extras preparing for a shot (war dancing?) Small: Wide-angle (1) of a Mayan pyramid. Good color. Wide-angle (2) of a pyramid, with set hands. Wide-angle of pyramid (3). Wide-angle of several pyramids (1), with set hands. Wide-angle of several pyramids (2), with set tarps, etc. A close-up of two pyramids. A wide-angle shot of the outdoor marketplace (?) Another shot of the outdoor marketplace, with tarp for shade, etc. A shot of a storefront in the marketplace (smoking/curing dead animals?) Feel free to ask questions or discuss this topic in the Apocalypto Watch Forum. [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson] [thanks to reader Nicholas for the tip!]

'Amazon Stonehenge' found in Brazil - AFP

From AFP: RIO DE JANEIRO (AFP) - Archaeologists discovered a pre-colonial astrological observatory possibly 2,000 years old in the Amazon basin near French Guiana, said a report. "Only a society with a complex culture could have built such a monument," archaeologist Mariana Petry Cabral, of the Amapa Institute of Scientific and Technological Research (IEPA), told O Globo newspaper. The observatory was built of 127 blocks of granite each three meters (10 feet) high and regularly placed in circles in an open field, she said. Cabral said the site resembles a temple which could have been used as an observatory, because the blocks are positioned to mark the winter solstice. In December, the path of the sun allows rays to pass through a hole in one of the blocks, possibly to calculate agricultural activity and religious rituals. More... [main photo credit: "Part of the group of 127 granite monoliths up to three-meters-high discovered 12 May, 2006 in the middle of the Amazonian florest, in the state of Amapa, northern Brazil. According to the archaeologists of the Scientific and Technological Research Institute of the state of Amapa (IEPA) this could possibly be the oldest astronomical observatory in Brazil.(AFP/SECOM/Gilam Nascimiento)"] Feel free to ask questions or discuss this topic in the Apocalypto Watch Forum.

Mel Gibson Compares President Bush to Barbaric Mayans

From the World Entertainment News Network: Film star and director Mel Gibson has launched a scathing attack on President George W. Bush, comparing his leadership to the barbaric rulers of the Mayan civilization in his new film Apocalypto. The epic, due for release later this year, captures the decline of the Maya kingdom and the slaughter of thousands of inhabitants as human sacrifices in a bid to save the nation from collapsing. Gibson reveals he used present day American politics as an inspiration, claiming the government callously plays on the nation's insecurities to maintain power. He tells British film magazine Hotdog, "The fear-mongering we depict in the film reminds me of President Bush and his guys." [source] Mel has made similar comments before, for instance, in his interview with Time magazine. Update: LP says, "He hasn't made similar comments: this is the same quote, republished by "Hotdog." The anon writer for the hack gossip service WENN, who seems to purposely mangle facts, incompetently reports that Mel Gibson gave an interview to "Hotdog." Yeah. Exclusive sneek peeks for "Time Magazine" and "Hotdog." Well, it duped Matt Drudge who first headlined the story (maybe that isn't hard to do). [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson] Feel free to ask questions or discuss this topic in the Apocalypto Watch Forum.

More on Mel Gibson's Iraq War miniseries

From the Washington Times: Mel, USA ink pact USA Network is teaming up with Mel Gibson to develop an Iraq war miniseries, Reuters news agency reports. "Peace Out," from Mr. Gibson's Icon Prods. banner, will tell a fact-based story of two young American men who head out for adventure in Iraq after the fall of Baghdad. News of the six-hour series came from USA's "upfront" presentations -- where networks pitch their upcoming shows to advertisers. The network's program plans also include a limited series based on Gigi Levangie Grazer's best-selling novel "The Starter Wife," about a new divorcee redefining herself in Hollywood after years of marriage to a studio mogul. Mrs. Grazer recently announced her split from moviemaker husband Brian Grazer after a nine-year marriage. USA's other new projects include "Stuck in Paradise," about a tennis pro who begins work at a tropical resort and finds that he can't leave because of a contract issue, and "Burn Notice," about a spy who gets fired and then goes into business for himself while he finds out who set him up. The network also intends to offer telenovelas -- a type of TV serial that's popular in Spain and Portugal and is catching on in America -- with two late-night series that will air three nights a week for a 13-week run: "The Hamptons," about the famed Long Island towns, and "Secrets of the Spa," about a desert spa resort. [More] [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Iraq War, Peace Out]

Mel Gibson Producing Iraq War Mini-Series

From Reuters News: NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - USA Network has joined forces with Mel Gibson's production company to develop an Iraq war drama, the cable channel said Tuesday. "Peace Out," from Gibson's Icon Prods. banner, is envisioned as a six-hour series that tells a fact-based story of two young American men who head out for adventure in Iraq after the fall of Baghdad. [source] [photo: Zap2it] [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Iraq War, Peace Out]

Apocalypto Touchstone website updated ... kinda.

The official Apocalypto website by Touchstone pictures has been kind enough to let people know that new production stills have been posted... however, they are the same pictures as we've already seen in the Time Magazine article. Oh, and the official website now reads "December 8" as the release date. [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel, Gibson]

Apocalypto Film Crew T-Shirt Photo

Someone sent this into Mel's Megafans. Looks like it's going to be worn a bit longer than expected! [Tags: Apocalypto, Mel, Gibson, December, Release]