Chevy Chase to play role in Law & Order resembling Mel Gibson

From the AP entertainment news: Chevy Chase will guest star on NBC's crime drama "Law & Order" as a TV celebrity who spews religious epithets after being pulled over by police for drunken driving, the network said. Although there are similarities between the episode - titled "In Vino Veritas" - and Mel Gibson's recent legal troubles, a spokesman for NBC noted that the long-running "Law & Order" drama series "is completely fiction." [More.] ... whatever that means.

Apocalypto promotional poster now back in stock and available!

Because Amazon.com no longer has the Apocalypto poster in stock, we're now offering it via Allposters.com: Apocalypto Double-sided poster Buy at AllPosters.com

New Apocalypto Pic: Mel and Actors shooting the river crossing scene

Apocalypto to be featured on covers of both Time and Newsweek?

Incredible, but true: "I've learned that both Time and Newsweek want to put Mel Gibson's Apocal[y]pto on their covers timed to its Dec. 8th opening." [source.]

Interest in Apocalypto on the rise: important links!

Here at ApocalyptoWatch we've been experiencing a dramatic increase in visitors since initial published reviews of the uncut version of the movie have been extremely favorable. So here are some essential news links to get you started: Cinematical gives us first impressions of Apocalypto! Cinema Strikes Back calls Apocalypto "a towering achievement of filmmaking" Standing ovation for Apocalypto at early screening with Mel Gibson "Mel campaigns for new movie, against war in Iraq" - Retuers Media and more: The official Apocalypto Trailer and Teaser Official Apocalypto wallpapers Official Apocalypto movie website The ApocalyptoWatch forums You can also find our list of frequently asked questions on the sidebar to the right. Remember, keep it tuned here for all your Apocalypto-related news updates! Also, we are always appreciative of links and now wouldn't be a bad time to review the various BlogAds options available (standard and premium).

"Mel campaigns for new movie, against war in Iraq" - Retuers

This report is sure to get people talking again: Mel Gibson has returned to the spotlight to promote his upcoming movie "Apocalypto," and to criticize the war in Iraq, according to the Hollywood Reporter. [Read the whole article.]

Standing ovation for Apocalypto at early screening with Mel Gibon

From Reuters: " He [Mel Gibson] presented a work-in-progress screening of his Mayan adventure tale [Apocalypto], and then took questions. About one-third of the full house gathered for the film gave him a standing ovation." [source.] More praise from Blake Ethridge here and Scott Weinberg here.

Cinema Strikes Back calls Apocalypto "a towering achievement of filmmaking"

The advance reviews are coming in fast and furious, and now Blake Ethridge of Cinema Strikes Back adds his praise to the shouting: "Apocalypto" is a towering achievement of filmmaking. The size and spectacle realized by Gibson rumbles with imagination and life that is rarely breathed into frames of film. We aren't just watching a movie; it literally feels like we are transported into the time and period, and are in a race for our lives. It's "Wages of Fear" with the pulp adventure feel of the old serials and westerns. It's a lyrical powerhouse of epic proportions that harks back to the days when Hollywood made films on the scale of "Ben-Hur." Decadent, rousing and rife with a macabre message of doom for civilizations that are ruled and controlled by fear. ... "Apocalypto" is the sort of bravo epic filmmaking we rarely see anymore. Epics made these days seem to always be CGI fests that have little to offer up besides blandness. Gibson walks the fine line between epic scale and CGI with ease. He fills so much of the frame with hundreds of real details that we can easily overlook the CGI ones. This is a good old fashioned adventure tale with a message. I really wasn't sure how and if Gibson could follow up Passion. That he decided to make one of the most logistically and overall challenging films of his career seemed risky. How many times have we seen a filmmaker emerge with a huge hit and then quickly descend into obscurity? The success and money seems to always Lava soap off their creativity and artistic spirit. That Gibson pulled off such an amazing film after Passion makes it all the more impressive. Success and money, while seeming to make him all the more crazy, also seems to have made his art even more primal and pounding with life. If "Braveheart" was volume ten as a voice, then here he has quickly shown us that he can reach up to a volume so high we aren't even sure how far it goes. You can read his entire review here - warning: *spoilers.* Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Rudy Youngblood [Picture via Cinema Strikes Back]

Cinematical gives us first impressions of Apocalypto!

Cinematical's Scott Weinberg was able to attend an advance screening of Apocalypto in Texas over the weekend. After the movie was over, Mel Gibson and Rudy Youngblood took the stage to host a "rather illuminating" Q&A session. Remember, this was only an advanced screening of the movie... "I wouldn't feel comfortable penning a full-bore review of Apocalypto, as the cut we saw was a workprint: It had "temp track" music, unfinished sound effects, incomplete special effects, and a few sequences that were bound for the cutting room floor. But the meat of the movie was still there, so I suppose it's cool to share a few early reactions..." [Read more here - warning: *spoilers*] Without giving anything away, here's some things that Scott Weinberg had to say about Apocalypto: "I dug the flick." "Apocalypto [is] one of the more intriguing action/adventure epics of the past few years..." "I was stuck knee-deep in the movie, entirely fascinated by where it was taking me." "It's a unique, challenging, visually beautiful and harrowingly violent piece of filmmaking..." "... the general reaction afterwards was pretty darn enthusiastic." "...I overheard comments like "pretty damn awesome" and "a whole lot better than I expected..." "I've no problem recommending the film when it hits your local multiplex. It's unique, it's epic and it's a pretty exciting thrill ride." Now that's a very encouraging first review. Even more encouraging is the report that "about one-third of the full house gathered for the film gave him a standing ovation." [source.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Rudy Youngblood [Picture via Cinematical]

"Mel Gibson Screens 'Apocalypto' in Oklahoma" - AP

From the AP: GOLDSBY, Oklahoma - Actor and director Mel Gibson visited two Oklahoma towns this week to attend screenings of his new movie, "Apocalypto." Gibson did not make a public appearance during screenings held at the Riverwind Casino in Goldsby and Cameron University in Lawton. At the entrance of the casino — where the film was shown Friday to a mostly American Indian audience — reporters were kept behind partitions. He arrived at Cameron on Thursday morning wearing a mask and wig so he would not be noticed, university spokeswoman Amber McNeil said. Jhane Myers, an Oklahoma City-based publicist who escorted Gibson, issued a statement saying Gibson was "deeply touched by the warm reception he has received while in Oklahoma." Myers had said earlier in the week that Gibson had canceled the screenings planned for Oklahoma. Gibson co-wrote and directed "Apocalypto," which is billed as an action-adventure film set in the last days of the Mayan civilization in Mexico. It will be released Dec. 8. Word on the street is that one of the theatergoers who saw it proclaimed Apocalypto to be an "edge-of-your-seat thriller." Sounds like a good first report to us. Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Rudy Youngblood

The official Apocalypto website has a new design!

The official Apocalypto website is now featuring a much improved design. Most of the content (except the new trailer) has not been moved over yet, but I'm sure we can expect that soon. Visit the official Apocalypto movie website now to see the changes.

"Mel Gibson delays 'Apocalypto' screening"

From the UPI: Mel Gibson is still planning to preview his new film "Apocalypto" in Oklahoma after last minute problems caused him to cancel three screenings this week. He was set to preview the film before select American Indian audiences at Cameron University and Riverwind casino, said Jhane Myers, the Oklahoma City publicist arranging the visit, the Oklahoman reported Tuesday. "He's definitely coming. It's just a matter of when," Myers said. Gibson's movie, "Apocalypto," is an action-adventure film set in the final days of the Mayan civilization in Mexico. It stars Rudy Youngblood, a Comanche-Cree-Yaqui Indian who lived in Oklahoma before moving to Los Angeles last year. "This is the first time a Native American has had a starring role in a feature film," Myers said. "Rudy is kind of breaking ground here." The film is scheduled for release Dec. 8. Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Rudy Youngblood

Gibson to preview Apocalypto to American Indians

From the Associated Press comes this report: OKLAHOMA CITY - Actor and director Mel Gibson is planning a trip to Oklahoma to preview his new movie in front of American Indians. The movie is titled "Apocalypto" and is described as an action-adventure film set in the last days of the Mayan civilization in Mexico. It's due for widespread release in December. The star is former Ada area resident Rudy Youngblood who is a Comanche-Cree-Yaqui Indian. Oklahoma City publicist Jhane Myers says the screenings will be by invitation only. Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Rudy Youngblood

New Trailer for Apocalypto Released!

Released today at Apple.com ... here are the individual links: Theatrical Tailer (2:30): [small] [medium] [large] [high definition] [ipod] High Definition Trailer links (2:30) - New! The movie description released with this new trailer: "A heart stopping mythic action-adventure set against the turbulent end times of the once great Mayan civilization. When his idyllic existence is brutally disrupted by a violent invading force, a man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression where a harrowing end awaits him." Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, Trailer You can also watch the Apocalypto Trailer below:

Mel hard at work this week preparing Apoclaypto

Good news for Apocalypto fans, as eXtra reports: "It's the very first video of Mel Gibson since his scandalous run-in with the law. The actor resurfaced Wednesday after weeks of hiding, sporting a Fedora and chomping on gum as he left his Santa Monica office. The superstar was clearly annoyed with the unwanted attention, calling the paparazzo "unintelligible." We're told Mel has been at work all week, likely preparing for his upcoming release "Apocalypto," which is still set to premiere in December. Last month Gibson pleaded no contest to a DUI and was ordered to attend AA meetings five times a week. He also had his license suspended. "Extra" snapped Mel getting a ride home on Pacific Coast Highway Wednesday as he passed Moonshadows, the Malibu hotspot he partied at the night of his shocking arrest. While the race heats up for the embattled star's first sit-down interview since being busted, Mel is staying mum about the controversy that had the whole world talking." [Photo credit: eXtra.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson

Mel Gibson apologizes to female officer with flowers

From the Entertainment News Network: HOLLYWOOD - Disgraced Hollywood star Mel Gibson has finally said sorry to the three police officers he insulted when arrested for drunk driving two months ago. The Passion of the Christ actor sent a female officer a $500 bouquet with a note expressing "sincere apologies" and has invited her and her male colleague, James Mee, to the premiere of his new movie Apocalypto. ... A colleague of the unnamed female officer says, "Mel has sent her the biggest bunch of flowers she's ever seen with a note. She was quite touched and I'm sure that the two arresting officers will take him up on his invitation." [Picture from hollywood.com] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson Discuss this post in the ApocalyptoWatch forums now!