How to get your copy of Apocalypto on DVD, VHS & More!

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Apocalypto update - Feb. 3rd

The latest Apocalypto news! "NRKrieg1" gives us some updated release dates: Belgium 7 March 2007 (Release Date Change) Turkey 23 March 2007 (New Release) Venezuela 13 Apirl 2007 (New Release) Aitsa sends in his praise: I am 19 years old, from Greece and I have seen a lot of movies.The only think I want to say is that the movie was simply perfect. Rudy Youngblood was somethng more than an amazing actor.Dalia Hernadez. I liked her, too.As far as the little boy concerned, I cant express with words how cute it was. Mel,and the rest of you, congratulations. You did a great job. Apocalypto has been nominated for 3 oscars! Makeup, sound editing and sound mixing... Linda sends us this tip: This website has three Mel interviews by Richard Wilkins for the Australian Today Show on Apocalypto. Mel looks very, very relaxed. http://ninemsn.video.msn.com/v/en-au/v.htm?t=m164 Linda also tells us that Mel attended the Mexico premier recently: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/12012007/344/gibson-attend-mexican-premiere.html Apocalypto has been nominated for a 'Film not in the English Language' for the UK BAFTA Awards to be televised in the UK on Feb 11th. She also sends along this link: Go to this Australian Website for a podcast interview with Apocalypto's Director of Photography Dean Semmler. The interviewer is Julie Rigg. http://www.abc.net.au/rn/movietime/stories/2007/1821594.htm Apocalypto topped the UK Box Office on its opening weekend: This website verifies Apocalypto Topping UK Box Office Opening Weekend with $1.3M. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6242963.stm From Box Office Mojo, Italy did even better this opening weekend with $3.1M. That's all for now, but more to come soon! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto update - Jan. 4th

Much Apocalypto happenings ... here's the latest! From Carinya, our Japanese Apocalypto contact [visit her website here]: "I'd like to inform you of the UK mag, Total Film, Feb 2007 issue. It features Mel on the cover and has an interview-based five-page article. A very good one. The perfect cover photo is here: http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/iimgdata/large/0814889.jpg" Nathan informs us that Dec. 28th was the Apocalypto release date for Israel. Linda sends this tip along: "Here is a very good interview of Mel by Michael Medved about Apocalypto. The podcast can be found by scrolling down to December 15th. Mel sounds great - very relaxed: http://www.townhall.com/TalkRadio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=4&ContentGuid=f368c22b-d40d-47d8-a8f1-c8f04b9ab24c" Linda also tells us: "This is a good piece by Ed Driscoll on the Variety's (stretching the truth) biased article that said Apocalypto's box office was heading into oblivion: http://eddiscoll.com/archives/010135.php" Louise tells us that Apocalypto was the surprise box office winner in Russia. Now that the Holiday Season is over we will return to regularly-updating you on all the Apocalypto-related news. Stay tuned and keep the tips coming! Thank you.

Apocalypto update - Jan. 3rd

Much Apocalypto happenings ... here's the latest! From Carinya, our Japanese Apocalypto contact [visit her website here]: "I'd like to inform you of the UK mag, Total Film, Feb 2007 issue. It features Mel on the cover and has an interview-based five-page article. A very good one. The perfect cover photo is here: http://bookweb.kinokuniya.co.jp/iimgdata/large/0814889.jpg" Nathan informs us that Dec. 28th was the Apocalypto release date for Israel. Linda sends this tip along: "Here is a very good interview of Mel by Michael Medved about Apocalypto. The podcast can be found by scrolling down to December 15th. Mel sounds great - very relaxed: http://www.townhall.com/TalkRadio/Show.aspx?RadioShowID=4&ContentGuid=f368c22b-d40d-47d8-a8f1-c8f04b9ab24c" Linda also tells us: "This is a good piece by Ed Driscoll on the Variety's (stretching the truth) biased article that said Apocalypto's box office was heading into oblivion: http://eddiscoll.com/archives/010135.php" Louise tells us that Apocalypto was the surprise box office winner in Russia. Now that the Holiday Season is over we will return to regularly-updating you on all the Apocalypto-related news. Stay tuned and keep the tips coming! Thank you.

Apocalypto News Roundup: December 18

All the latest Apocalypto news: Release dates for Denmark (19 January) and Sweden (23 February) - Thanks Nathan! A whole series of links from Antonius Bloch: Good stuff on Rudy (and all the injuries he endured while making the film, never complaining or letting Mel know about it because he was so grateful for the part): http://www.pr-inside.com/apocalypto-star-braves-multiple-injuries-r32404.htm And "according to Rudy's publicist, Michelle Shining Elk, he's did an interview with People Magazine on Dec 12, and Entertainment Weekly will have air a feature on him this week": http://www.temple-telegram.com/story/local/2006/12/12/36779 http://www.worldmag.com/articles/12525 -- Very good review from a Christian magazine There's a very cool podcast interview with Mel from a Denver ABC affiliate. It's a really laid back interview, very positive and Mel is informal and at his best (very comfortable, good questions). Check it out if you want . . . http://www.thedenverchannel.com/columnists/10542059/detail.html Another review: http://www.newyorker.com/critics/cinema/articles/061218crci_cinema A new interview is out with Kurt Loder and Mel Gibson. It's actually pretty good if you want to check it out: http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1548104/20061214/story.jhtml More links from Linda: This website at Foxnews has a Sean Hannity 3 part interview on video with Mel that was done within the last couple of days. It's fantastic. http://www.foxnews.com/hannityandcolmes/index.html Here are four new article/interviews Mel has done about Apocalypto. All very good. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/10542059/detail.html?rss=bos&psp=news http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061215/film_nm/apocalypto_dc_3 http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=17956 http://www.vh1.com/movies/news/articles/1548104/12142006/story.jhtml "Anineutrino" gives us this scoop: Footage from the Apocalypto scoring sessions can be found at Tony Hinnigans homepage: http://media.tonyhinnigan.net/movies/ApocalyptoSessions2006.wmv (112 MB) We'll be keeping you up-to-date on all the most recent Apocalypto news in the coming weeks! Many thanks to our generous contributors! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto nominated for Golden Globe

Apocalypto has been nominated for the Foreign Language Golden Globe! Read more here. Other contenders include "Letters from Iwo Jima," "The Lives of Others," "Pan's Labyrinth," and "Volver."

Apocalypto stays on top!

Apocalypto continues to be the #1 movie in America, and you've stumbled upon the #1 fansite for it! So stay tuned for all the latest news and rumors, submit your tips and comments via email ("apocalyptowatch [at] gmail.com") and voice your opinion in the comment boxes!

An unlikely star of Apocalypto: Scooter the Tapir

The picture really says it all, but here's a little bit more to convince you to read the story [Google cache]: Not since a brief opening scene in Stanley Kubrik's 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey, has a tapir made a memorable screen appearance, albeit brief--if you blink, you miss it. An unprecedented opportunity presented itself with Mel Gibson's film Apocalypto, an epic and action-packed film which depicts a moment in Mexico's Mayan cultural history. Scooter, an agreeable and charismatic male Baird's tapir from Zoo Leon in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico may just become the (animal) star of this film. Zoo Leon General Curator Richard Sheffield and veterinarian Jesus Barroso describe how their zoo's beloved tapir became a cast member of this much anticipated movie. [Read More! - Google cache] Thanks to AW Reader Antonius Bloch for the tip! Update: The page appears to have been taken down, but you can still read the Google cached version here or above at the links provided.

Final numbers: Apocalypto makes 15m opening weekend!

Final numbers from BoxOfficeMojo (thanks Louise!): Apocalypto - $15.0 million Happy Feet - $12.9 million The Holiday - $12.7 million More from the Associated Press here. More analysis from BoxOfficeMojo here.

Apocalypto international release dates

Here are the international release dates we've been able to find so far for Apocalypto: Germany 14 December 2006 Russia 14 December 2006 Estonia 22 December 2006 Latvia 22 December 2006 Hungary 28 December 2006 Poland 29 December 2006 Italy 5 January 2007 Switzerland 5 January 2007 (Italian speaking region) UK 5 January 2007 France 10 January 2007 Switzerland 10 January 2007 (French speaking region) Australia 11 January 2007 Netherlands 11 January 2007 Switzerland 11 January 2007 (German speaking region) Iceland 12 January 2007 Belgium 17 January 2007 Spain 19 January 2007 Brazil 26 January 2007 Finland 26 January 2007 Norway 26 January 2007 Argentina 1 February 2007 Hong Kong 1 February 2007 South Korea 15 February 2007 Update: We missed one (thanks Nathan!): Singapore Thursday 18 January 2007 Source: IMDB. If we've missed any, please email us. Thanks! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto roars into No. 1 spot!

Apocalypto is taking over! Gibson's "Apocalypto" is the number-one movie this weekend, raking in more than $14 million, according to studio estimates. [More.] Apocalypto has made about 14.2 million this weekend, exceeding Disney estimates and hopes. Strong word-of-mouth should ensure it remains strong in the box office in the coming weeks...

Apocalypto Mobile store goes live!

As earlier reported, Apocalytpo has a mobile store, and it just went live! Right now they have several mobile phone wallpapers available. You can also specify what phone you have to find more Apocalypto content. Check it out!

Apocalypto set to have bigger opening weekend than Braveheart!

Deadline Hollywood reports: Call it a Hollywood shocker: Mel's Apocalypto will have a bigger weekend opening than his Braveheart. Despite scandal, an R-rating, subtitles because of an ancient dialect, no stars, and direct competition from movieland AAA-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, Gibson's Mayan epic won Friday's matinees and evenings, I'm told. At first, box office gurus were warning me that the weekend victor among very competitive films all opening against each other would be too close to call. But now I've learned it looks certain that Disney's Apocalypto will win the weekend -- bearing out my reporting back on December 1st that early tracking showed Mel's movie (playing in 2,465 theaters) would edge ahead. I'm told Mel's movie took in $4.9 million Friday, with the best per screen average of the top movies at $1,988, for what's expected to be at least a $12 mil, and possibly a $14 mil, weekend total. That easily beats Mel's Braveheart... [Read more.] More statistics on Friday's opening box office take here at BoxOfficeMojo.

What everyone needs to know about Apocalypto

For everyone deciding if they will go see Apocalypto in theaters this weekend, here is an exaustive faq we've put together: The critical consensus: "Apocalypto is a brilliantly filmed, if mercilessly bloody, examination of a once great civilization." [Rotten Tomatoes] Apocalypto is rated "R" for "sequences of graphic violence and disturbing images." Apocalypto's running time is 2 hours & 18 minutes. Apocalypto's movie trailer is viewable here. Apocalypto's website is here. Apocalytpo has been receiving many rave reviews, here is a partial list of them. Apocalypto is currently the highest rated opening movie at Rotten Tomatoes. We recommend booking your tickets here at Yahoo! movies (non-endorsed suggestion). The hero of Apocalypto, Jaguar Paw, is played by Rudy Youngblood. For more information, visit his website here. For more information on the latest Apocalytpo news, refresh this page or scroll our sidebar. Thanks and enjoy Apocalypto if you decide to go see it! - The ApocalyptoWatch Staff

Apocalypto wins friday matinee wars at the box office!

DeadlineHollywood reports: "FRIDAY 2 PM: Call it a Hollywood shocker. Despite scandal, an R-rating, subtitles because of an ancient dialect, no stars, and direct competition from movieland AAA-listers Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz, Mel Gibson's Apocalypto won today's matinees this opening weekend, I'm told." "Apocalypto has been garnering great reviews and tracking especially strong with college kids, specifically young men aged 18-to-24." [Read more.] We'll be keep track of the numbers...

"'Apocalypto' a box office wild card" - Variety

From Variety: "Are moviegoers ready for Mel? The biggest wild card at this weekend's box office is Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto." [Read more...]

Mel Gibson on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno

"Director Mel Gibson (L) discusses his new film 'Apocalypto' with talk show host Jay Leno during an appearance on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno' at the NBC studios in Burbank, California, December 7, 2006, in this publicity photograph released by NBC December 8. The film which opens in the U.S. December 8, 2006, is about the Maya kingdom as it faces its decline. Chris Hason/NBC UNIVERSAL/Handout (UNITED STATES) " More news as it comes in ... the AW webmasters have seen the movie and love it! Update: More about what they talked about in the interview here.

Metacritic sampling of Apocalypto reviews

From Metacritic.com: 100 Variety (Todd McCarthy) Mel Gibson is always good for a surprise, and his latest is that Apocalypto is a remarkable film. Set in the waning days of the Mayan civilization, the picture provides a trip to a place one's never been, offering hitherto unseen sights of exceptional vividness and power. [More.] 100 LA Weekly (Scott Foundas) For those of us who prefer to judge Gibson solely in terms of his art, the movie is a virtuosic piece of action cinema -- particularly in its second half...And while there has been no shortage of recent films that decry the horrors of war and man's inhumanity to his fellow man, I know of none other quite this sickeningly powerful. [More.] 91 Seattle Post-Intelligencer (William Arnold) For all its excesses, it's an absorbing, disturbing, savagely beautiful "trip" movie, and an extraordinary -- perhaps even outrageous -- personal vision of the one A-list filmmaker who truly deserves the adjective "maverick." [More.] 90 Washington Post (Stephen Hunter) Gibson may not be much of a deep thinker, but he's a heck of a storyteller. Apocalypto turns out to be not a case of Montezuma's revenge but of Gibson's: It's something entirely unexpected, a sinewy, taut poem of action. [More.] 88 Rolling Stone (Peter Travers) Gibson has made a film of blunt provocation and bruising beauty. [More.] 80 Wall Street Journal (Joe Morgenstern) By the end I felt sure it was the most obsessively, graphically violent film I'd ever seen, but equally sure that Apocalypto is a visionary work with its own wild integrity. And absolutely, positively convinced that seeing it once is enough for one lifetime. [More.] 80 The Hollywood Reporter (Kirk Honeycutt) The guy knows how to make a heart-pounding movie; he just happens to be a cinematic sadist. [More.] 80 Newsweek (David Ansen) The film is mostly successful in transporting the viewer to another age: the costumes, the body markings, the fierce Mayan masks, all feel right. And keeping the dialogue in subtitles was a smart move. Even better are the faces, which never fail to fascinate. But for all the anthropological research that went into the movie, what is Apocalypto trying to say? [More.] Apocalypto currently has the highest average review rating of any major movie premiering this Friday!

Roger Moore declares about Apocalypto: "I'd pay to see that."

From the Orlando Sentinel: Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" passes the only movie test that's important. It's the "I'd pay to see that" test. As in: "A blood-spattered jungle chase epic set at the end of the Mayan Empire? I'd pay to see that." It's a movie that spares no effort to take us to a place and time we haven't been before. Mel's latest history lesson is a parable about ignorance, environmental degradation, senseless sacrifice and religious fanaticism. He's made a big film about the collapse of Mayan civilization, but he's talking about our own. [Read the full review.]

Apocalypto to be released in 2,465 theaters

... according to BoxOfficeMojo.

RT Consensus: "Brilliantly filmed, if a bit bloody."

The full Rotten Tomatoes critical consensus: "Apocalypto is a brilliantly filmed, if mercilessly bloody, examination of a once great civilization." [source.]

Quentin Tarantino praises Apocalypto

From the New York Press: Mel Gibson's press whipping for The Passion of the Christ was like no other movie vilification seen in my lifetime. In Hollywood history, the closest equivalent might have been the campaign launched against Orson Welles' Citizen Kane, but even then the critics, at least, rescued Welles as an artist. The unfairness of the attack on Gibson was brought to light when Quentin Tarantino - of all people, God bless him - in an L.A. Weekly interview with John Powers, stood up, proclaiming: "I think it actually is one of the most brilliant visual storytelling movies I've seen since the talkies - as far as telling a story in pictures. So much so that when I was watching this movie, I turned to a friend and said, 'This is such a Herculean leap of Mel Gibson's talent. I think divine intervention might be part of it.'" [Read the full interview.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto hits screens tomorrow!

So let's get the media blitz started! Some important headlines going into Apocalypto's release: Mayans, miners in culture clash Maya excited by first feature in their language but wary of Mel Gibson's take - AP Apocalypto Will Take in Over $13.5 mil Opening Weekend Say Oddsmakers [sounds like a low estimate to us ...] Gibson's 'Apocalypto' is bloody and brilliant - Detroit Free Press More coverage to follow...

Mel Gibson: Apocalypto's "biggest asset and biggest problem"

The Associated Press reports: "Apocalypto'' arrives in theaters Friday with an incongruous challenge - its auteur, Mel Gibson, is both its biggest asset and biggest problem. Gibson, 50, is coming off two major hits: the phenomenal, $370 million success of his religious epic, ``The Passion of the Christ,'' and the scandalous, anti-Semitic rant he spewed after a drunk-driving arrest in July. The question is: which hit will prove more powerful? Will moviegoers turn their backs on him or will they turn out at the box-office? [Read the full article.]

Hollywood Records releases Apocalypto soundtrack

The press release: Oscar-winning director Mel Gibson has created the year's most anticipated cinema event with his awe- inspiring epic action-adventure "Apocalypto." Reflecting the film's dramatic sweep is Oscar-winning composer James Horner's evocative score. Hollywood Records is set to release the "Apocalypto" soundtrack CD on December 5 while the film from Touchstone Pictures in association with Icon Productions arrives in theaters everywhere December 8. Revered film composer Horner wrote the music for Mel Gibson's directorial debut, "The Man Without a Face," and received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations for his score for Gibson's "Braveheart." He has composed over 100 soundtracks including those for "Titanic" (which earned him a pair of Oscars), "A Beautiful Mind," "Field of Dreams," "Apollo 13" and "Aliens." [Read the full release.]

"Mayans Excited, Unsure on 'Apocalypto'" - Associated Press

From the Associated Press: Scenes of enslaved Maya Indians building temples for a violent, decadent culture in Mel Gibson's new film "Apocalypto" may ring true for many of today's Mayas, who earn meager wages in construction camps, building huge tourist resorts on land they once owned. Some Mayas are excited at the prospect of the first feature film made in their native tongue, Yucatec Maya. But others among the 800,000 surviving Mayans are worried that Gibson's hyper-violent, apocalyptic film could be just the latest misreading of their culture by outsiders. [Read more.]

Extended exclusive Apocalypto clip: Yahoo! movies

From Yahoo! movies: Apocalypto Watch an exclusive extended clip from director Mel Gibson's 'Apocalypto.' Click to watch: Exclusive Clip: "In the Trees" - Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) escapes the tribesmen but falls into even more danger. ... pretty cool!

Apocalypto picture-of-the-day

In this promotional photo released by Icon Distribution, Inc., actors Rudy Youngblood, center, and Morris Bird, right, in a scene from Mel Gibson's epic drama 'Apocalypto.' [photo credit: (AP Photo/Icon Distribution, Andrew Cooper/SMPS)]

BlogAds spaces available!

A quick reminder before we return to our normal coverage: In the coming days and weeks Apocalpto Watch will be receiving a huge upswing in visitors, so now is the time to secure a BlogAds on our left sidebar. You can order either exclusive Premium BlogAds [here] or Standard BlogAds [here]. If you want traffic details and trends please email "apocalyptowatch [at] gmail.com" and we can provide them ... thank you!

Early reviews praise Apocalypto! (quotes)

Some highlights from various critics praising Apocalypto: "This is a slam-bang, action-packed chase movie that puts the audience smack-dab in the middle of pre-Columbian America, and that's the joy of the movie" - Tony Medley "It isn't merely fascinating, it is nothing less than one of the very best movies of the year, and it contains some of the best foot chases in cinematic history." - Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews "Vivid, provocative and utterly breathtaking." - Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly "'Apocalypto' is the best action-adventure movie to have come out of Hollywood all year..." - Emanual Levy "[Mel Gibson] has created here a visually stunning but haunting world that has never been seen before and will be left in the minds of its audience forever when talk of the Mayan people arises." - Danny Minton, Beaumont Journal And that's what we found in just one search! Stay tuned as the buzz continues to heat up...

"Praise for Gibson Film, Quandary for Oscar Voters" - The New York Times

From the New York Times - "Praise for Gibson Film, Quandary for Oscar Voters": With some early reviews lauding the audacity and innovation of Mel Gibson's bloody Mayan epic, "Apocalypto," Hollywood's tight-knit community of Oscar voters may find itself facing a difficult dilemma in the coming weeks: Will they consider the film for an Academy Award? ... Most critics ... have yet to weigh in on "Apocalypto," but the excitement of those who have - like that among journalists who lingered to debate the film after a screening ended in Los Angeles last week - has been palpable. [Read the full article.] This would not be a problem at all if the voters simply evaluated the quality of the movie itself... More praise for Apocalypto from early reviews coming up next! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Hear audio clips of James Horner's score!

A couple readers sent in this new link over at Soundtrack.net which includes preview clips from James Horner's Apocalypto soundtrack. The soundtrack is already available from Amazon.com (here), and will be officially released tomorrow.

New exclusive TV spot?

Comingsoon.net is claiming to have a new exclusive TV spot for Apocalypto. We're not able to view it currently but here are the links: [QuickTime, High Resolution] [QuickTime, Medium Resolution] [QuickTime, Low Resolution]

A good picture of Rudy Youngblood & Raoul Trujillo

Rudy and Raoul were looking happy at the advance screening of Apocalypto that took place in Oklahoma last Friday. Here's more from the Associated Press: Mel Gibson's effort to find an indigenous cast for his new movie Apocalypto, which depicts the end of the Mayan civilization, is drawing praise from American Indian leaders. Gibson wanted an indigenous cast for the project, so the filmmakers found people from the Yucatan, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Xalapa, Veracruz and other spots. Two of the cast members are from the United States, three are from Canada and the rest hail from Central America. "It is very important to note that Mr. Gibson has gone to great lengths to cast indigenous people in this film," Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said. "This not only helps make the film more realistic, it serves as an inspiration to Native American actors who aspire to perform relevant roles in the film industry." Gibson screened the movie Friday for a sold-out audience at Chickasaw Nation's Riverwind Casino. Tickets were $55, proceeds going to American Indian health organizations and charities. Rudy Youngblood, who makes his acting debut as Jaguar Paw, and Raoul Trujillo, who portrays Zero Wolf, arrived in sports utility vehicles and stood on Riverwind's version of the red carpet - a black carpet that led into the theater - to pose for photographers. Youngblood, a powwow dancer, singer and artist, told reporters he was just there to enjoy the movie, which opens in theaters Dec. 8. [source.] Pictures of the Apocalypto cast can be sent (like all email tips) to "apocalyptowatch [at] gmail.com" (without the quotation marks). You're tips help keep us in action! Thanks! Update: We've got a couple more pictures: Rudy Youngblood Mel Gibson

Apocalypto: 4 Days To Go!

Today we can catch up on some recent tips and link submissions: Over at Rotten Tomatoes Apocalypto is tracking a whopping 100%! Update: Reader Michael tells us "The one 'rotten' review (from Hollywood Reporter) is basically a positive one, it's obviously just mislabeled." "Gibson slams Hollywood's obsession with sequels" - ANI Hollywood heavyweight Mel Gibson has blasted movie bosses for serving up "sequel after sequel", and insists that movie audiences want original films. Apocalypto certainly will be original... Good reviews for Gibson's latest - BBC News Early reviews of Mel Gibson's ancient Mayan epic Apocalypto have praised its "blood-and-guts action", "breathtaking vistas" and "bruising beauty". And another story along the same lines ... Bloody "Apocalypto" draws good early reviews - Reuters Mel Gibson's new movie "Apocalypto" drew several good early reviews on Friday from critics who cautioned the thriller set against the end of an ancient Mayan civilization is also extremely violent. And now some multimedia content: Reader "A" writes: Footage from the scoring sessions can be found here: Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto: 5 Days To Go!

Friday was a busy day! Take a look: New Media: Behind the Scenes Material (contains interviews with Gibson, Safinia, Hansen and more!) Available in the following formats: [Quicktime Large] [Quicktime Medium] [QuickTime Small] [Windows Large] [Windows Small] Thanks to AW contributer Antonius Bloch! Todd McCarthy of Variety praises Apocalypto! "Mel Gibson is always good for a surprise, and his latest is that "Apocalypto" is a remarkable film. Set in the waning days of the Mayan civilization, the picture provides a trip to a place one's never been before, offering hitherto unseen sights of exceptional vividness and power. In the wake of its director's recent outburst and unwanted publicity, commercial prospects remain anyone's guess, and those looking for a reason not to attend will undoubtedly find one, be it Gibson's tirade, the gore, the subtitles or outre subject matter. But blood-and-guts action audiences should eat this up, Gibson is courting Latinos, eco-political types will like the message and at least part of the massive "The Passion of the Christ" crowd should be curious, so strong biz is possible if these distinct constituencies are roused." [Read the rest of the review.] Now that seems more like a fair review... Apocalypto running time longer than initially confirmed: We're hearing various times for its running length: anywhere between 2hrs and 17 minutes up to 2hrs and 28 minutes. We'll keep looking into it. Another rave review of Apocalypto, this one by Tony Medley: Get the audience reaction: "Make no mistake, this is a visually violent picture, not one for the squeamish. In fact, several people walked out of the all-media screening I attended. But everyone else sat transfixed as the story grabbed the audience. After it was over the audience filed out in stunned silence. Personally, I was exhausted." The Gist: "This is a slam-bang, action-packed chase movie that puts the audience smack-dab in the middle of pre-Columbian America, and that's the joy of the movie. Gibson has brilliantly come as close to showing how it was before Columbus arrived as we will ever get. If you can stand the gore and violence, "Apocalypto" is a don't-miss experience." He gave Apocalypto a 10/10. American Indians hail 'Apocalypto' cast - Associated Press: "Mel Gibson's effort to find an indigenous cast for his new movie "Apocalypto," which depicts the end of the Mayan civilization, is drawing praise from American Indian leaders. Gibson wanted an indigenous cast for the project, so the filmmakers found people from the Yucatan, Mexico City, Oaxaca, Xalapa, Veracruz and other spots. Two of the cast members are from the United States, three are from Canada and the rest hail from Central America. "It is very important to note that Mr. Gibson has gone to great lengths to cast indigenous people in this film," Chickasaw Nation Gov. Bill Anoatubby said. "This not only helps make the film more realistic, it serves as an inspiration to Native American actors who aspire to perform relevant roles in the film industry." [Read the full article here.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman, Todd McCarthy, Tony Medley

Apocalypto: 6 Days To Go!

Apocalypto is only 6 days away! We'll be providing a daily round-up of the latest news, links, and multimedia content over this next week (so keep the email tips coming!). Here is the first installment: Audio clips of the Apocalypto score: "A" writes: "Apocalypto audio clips of James Horner's score can be found here: http://www.exlibris.ch/musik.aspx?status=detail&p_id=8503 http://www.bol.ch/shop/bde_mu_hg_startseite/schnellsuche/musik/?fc=MUSIK&fq=Apocalpyto Note that the tracklistings on these pages show the tracks in alphabetical order, not in the correct cd order." Displeasure at Roger Friedman's Apocalypto review over at Fox News Several readers have said they are unhappy with Roger Friedman's Apocalypto review, calling it "disgraceful" and "full of biased journalism." Antonius Bloch sent in these comments by Fox News blogger Father Morris: One last note before signing off - my reference to "The Passion" reminded me of a movie review I read earlier today by Roger Friedman of Gibson's new film "Apocalypto." Roger is a fellow contributor to FOXNews.com. In the spirit of respectful disagreement, I submit that his article is way off the mark. Roger writes: "Apocalypto" surpasses "The Passion" in every way as a movie about pain, flagellation, and wounding. The grotesqueries are almost numbing, and at some point, they become laughable. But all the while, you're thinking, what's the point here? If "Apocalypto" was supposed to be about that transitional civilization, where is it? After two hours and several minutes of squirming and covering eyes, you start to think that "Apocalypto" exists just to show violence for itself. The point is lost." Several weeks ago, I posted my impressions of "Apocalypto" after seeing a rough cut in a private showing in Los Angeles. Unless Gibson decided to add scenes or modify significantly the story line, I think Roger overreacted. The film is not for children, and contains several scenes that, for my sensibilities, were over the top. But as a whole, I found "Apocalypto" to be riveting entertainment and a valuable contribution of social, historic, and moral commentary. You decide. Apocalypto running time actually longer than previously circulated? AW Reader Michael says: "You wrote some days ago that the film is about two hours long, and to be frank, that's what I heard too after it was screened for the first time in Austin back then. With reviews of the supposedly final cut slowly coming in ... the running time now seems to clock in at a healthy 137 mins. Has the film - that was supposed to get a little trimmed - actually got longer in the process? Hmm..." Very favorable early reviews of Apocalypto: Reuters reports: Mel Gibson's new movie "Apocalypto" drew several good early reviews on Friday from critics who cautioned the thriller set against the end of an ancient Mayan civilization is also extremely violent. "Blood-and-guts action audiences should eat this up," said show business newspaper Daily Variety. "Despite the subject's inherent spectacle, conflict and societal interest, Central America's pre-Columbian history has scarcely been touched by filmmakers," writes Variety critic Todd McCarthy, who also called the film "remarkable." Another veteran critic, Maxim magazine's Pete Hammond, said he was "blown away by the filmmaking."[Read the rest of the article.] Very encouraging news! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Roger Friedman

Four new Apocalypto film clips!

Reader Hidai has a great find for us tonight: "There are FOUR movie clips, each in either Quicktime or Windows Media Player format! All of those clips, even for their short length really had me at the edge of my seat. You really truly get to see the amazing cinematography in the film as well as the score!" *spoiler warning* - remember, these are clips from the actual movie! Here are the links: "Sacrifice" [Windows Media Player] [Quicktime] "Arrows" [Windows Media Player] [Quicktime] "Waterfall" [Windows Media Player] [Quicktime] "Out on a Limb" [Windows Media Player] [Quicktime] Awesome tip! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

Entertainment Weekly puts Mel & Apocalypto on its front cover!

Yes, it's true! EW has an exclusive interview with Mel! You can read the entire interview right here: "The Year of Living Dangerously" In the shadow of a drunk-driving arrest, Mel Gibson prepares to unveil ''Apocalypto,'' a thriller about a Mayan villager trying to outrun extinction itself. In a four-hour interview, he opens up to EW about directing movies -- and exorcising demons "His skin is less pasty. His blue eyes shine a little brighter. Today, on a breezy afternoon in late November, Mel Gibson is looking a lot more like his old megastar self than he did six weeks earlier, when he went on the air with Diane Sawyer to apologize for the most disastrous performance of his career - the one involving a DUI bust and some anti-Semitic ramblings on a highway near his home in Malibu. ''Well, you know,'' he notes of that puffy-looking appearance on ABC's Good Morning America, as he swivels in an office chair at his company, Icon Productions, in Santa Monica, ''the camera does add 10 pounds.'' "Gibson has a few more pounds yet to shed - the one or two tons weighing on his shoulders, to be specific. He's still explaining himself to friends and colleagues, and still hoping that his slurs (such as the one about Jews starting all wars) won't cause too much havoc at the box office when his new movie, Apocalypto, opens on Dec. 8. Unlike his last film, The Passion of the Christ, the 2004 Crucifixion saga that set off a storm of protests from Jewish leaders (and ended up grossing $370 million domestically), this one wasn't supposed to be controversial. Apart from the fact that the cast is entirely unknown and the dialogue is in the Mayan dialect of Yucatec, Apocalypto is a return to form for Gibson - an action movie filled with over-the-top stunts and breathtaking violence. Early on, a peaceful Mayan village is brutally razed by a band of warriors looking for victims to sacrifice to the sun god. A young father named Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) manages to hide his pregnant wife and son before being enslaved. After an escape the gods themselves seem to have engineered, Jaguar hurtles back through the forest in a darkly thrilling race to save his family. All the while, he's pursued by the most ferocious of his enemies. How Apocalypto fares at the box office will be seen as a measure of how much damage Gibson has done to his career, though, in fairness, the subtitles could scare more people off than anything the director said during his run-in with the police. In the following pages, EW asks the 50-year-old movie star-turned-director-turned-headline magnet about everything from anti-Semitism to the end of the world as we know it." [Read the entire interview.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, poster

New Apocalypto poster!

A new variation of the Apocalypto poster, discovered by AW reader Hidai! (click for full-size version) Update: We've also confirmed that a variation of this poster is being used on many highway billboard signs across the United States. Post below in the comments box if you've seen one! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, poster

Gibson preps for 'Apocalypto' release: Disney employs unorthodox marketing for controversial pic - Variety

From Variety: The marketing campaign for Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" continues to be as unpredictable as the filmmaker himself. Following screenings at 64 college campuses and an Indian reservation this week, "Apocalypto" gets an all-media screening tonight. It's all part of Disney's unorthodox approach to the very unorthodox film, which has been shrouded in controversy since Gibson unleashed a drunken, anti-Semitic tirade over the summer. The film opens on more than 2,500 screens Dec. 8 -- Disney upped the number from 2,000 due to an enthusiastic response from exhibitors who saw the film on Monday. There will be no splashy Hollywood premiere for "Apocalypto"; instead, Gibson will appear Friday at a preem in Oklahoma benefiting the Chickasaw Nation. Disney is also making a push with Latino and Native American [audiences]. On Tuesday, Los Angeles' Latin Business Assn. hosted a screening of the movie in Century City. But it's not entirely a renegade plan. Disney execs decided Wednesday that they will send screeners to all branches of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences -- a contrast with the subdued, almost non-existent Oscar push for "The Passion of the Christ." And next week, Gibson will hold a press conference for the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn., arbiters of the Golden Globes. Gibson will also grace the next cover of Entertainment Weekly. [We'll be covering that shortly - AW] Despite such appearances by Gibson, Disney is banking on [audiences] judging the movie, not the man who made it. "I would like to have everyone -- the press, the public, the Academy, the critics -- to judge the movie and the director on the artistic merits of 'Apocalypto' only," Disney senior VP of publicity Dennis Rice told Daily Variety. "That's the best I can hope for." To this end, Disney has been aggressively screening the film for members of niche groups to whom the film will mostly likely appeal and are presumably less sensitive to Gibson's personal foibles. "It's an action genre film, and that is the demo for that," said Gibson's publicist Alan Nierob. "They love it, they get it, they cheer, they're animated." Younger auds are also less likely to be upset by the film's extreme violence. As for students' concern with Gibson's drunken rant during his arrest last summer, Nierob said: "It's not even an issue. It doesn't exist. They're looking at the film." Early buzz from the critics has been positive. (Daily Variety's review will run Monday.) [source.] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

Gibson to unveil "Apocalypto" in Oklahoma - Associated Press

The Associated Press reports: Actor and director Mel Gibson plans to unveil his new movie "Apocalypto" during a special screening Friday in OklahomaThe movie, set for a broader release on December 8th, will be shown in a 15-hundred-seat theater at the Riverwind Casino. Gibson visited the casino in September for two private pre-screenings of the film. Gibson is expected to attend the event, which is being hosted by the Chickasaw Nation. His Oklahoma City publicist, Jhane Myers, says that Gibson previously has released his films in New York or Los Angeles. She says his decision to unveil "Apocalypto" in Oklahoma is his way of giving back to the Indian people. She says Gibson will use the screening as a fundraiser and plans to match every dollar raised through ticket sales and corporate sponsorship, with proceeds to go to the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, the Lupus Foundation-Oklahoma City Chapter, the Indian Health Care Resource Center of Tulsa and the Mayan people of Mexico. [source] The ticket price is $55. More information here. Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

Embedded Video: Three New Apocalypto TV Spots!

Comingsoon.net has compiled links to all the Apocalypto teasers, trailers, featurettes and TV Spots. Here is the embedded video of the three newest TV Spots ... enjoy! Click the Play button (>) to view the videos. Spot 2: Spot 3: Spot 4 (our favorite): Here are the links to the originals: TV Spot 1 - 'Interview' (11.27.06): [QuickTime, Hi-Res] [QuickTime, Med-Res] [QuickTime, Lo-Res] [Windows Media Player, Hi-Res] [Windows Media Player, Lo-Res] TV Spot 2 (11.26.06): [Flash Player] TV Spot 3 (11.26.06): [Flash Player] TV Spot 4 (11.26.06): [Flash Player] Thanks to reader Josh for the tip! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

Apocalypto added to Golden Globe list for best foreign language film

From Variety: The awards season saw a new plot twist Monday as the Golden Globes included "Apocalypto" and "Letters From Iwo Jima" on its shortlist of foreign-language films -- though neither is eligible for an Oscar in the foreign-language category. [More] Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

Apocalypto in the news: Nov. 28 edition

A few semi-random samplings of Apocalypto in the news and around the net: Reuters: "But there are a few other unknown quantities that could swoop in and earn one of the five drama nominations. Perhaps the biggest question mark is Disney's "Apocalypto," the Mel Gibson Mayan adventure that takes place in a dead language and features a cast of unknowns...A few early screenings of "Apocalypto" did seem to suggest that it had something unique to offer, though, and if "Passion" proved anything, it's that the industry shouldn't discount what might seem like a wholly unmarketable project." McClatchy Newspapers: "Apocalypto: Curiosity is high around this subtitled, action-heavy historical drama about the ancient Mayan civilization..." Variety: "But the word has seeped out: From Gibson's troubled mind has emerged yet another brilliant exercise in filmmaking, extremely violent, yet compelling. The inner demons that play havoc with his personal life continue to energize his creative vision." Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena

A clarification on Rahat Nusrat Fateh Aki Khan

This sent in by AW reader Antonius Bloch: The Wikipedia text you have for Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan is mistaken. You accidentally took the bio of his uncle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan who died in 1997. Rahat is his successor in this spiritual form of Sufi music called Qawwali (which finds its home in Pakistan and India). James Horner used Rahat in the score of "The Four Feathers." Although in "The Four Feathers" he was used more "intensely" than typical Qawwali, you can see him performing Qawwali here [YouTube link]. There is a short bio of him at Wikipedia here and Answers.com here. Also, this website has some good information. It will be interesting to hear how Horner uses him in "Apocalypto" since he has a distinctly Persian/Indian sound. But as I said, in "The Four Feathers," he sounded very intense and ancient - though that film was a British and Muslim film so he fit perfectly. Nevertheless, if he's used properly (which I'm sure Horner has done), he will bring a very "dark and ancient" feel to the primitive sounding score. Thanks for the excellent research, Antonius! Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Soundtrack, RAHAT NUSRAT FATEH ALI KHAN

More details on the Apocalypto soundtrack

First, a much nicer picture of the soundtrack cover (sent in by Hidai): Second, a correct track listing: 1. From the Forest... (1:55) 2. Tapir Hunt (1:31) 3. The Storyteller's Dream (3:41) 4. Holcane Attack (9:28) 5. Captives (3:06) 6. Entering the City with a Future Foretold (6:05) 7. Sacrificial Procession (3:40) 8. Words Through the Sky - The Eclipse (5:11) 9. The Games and Escape (5:15) 10. An Elusive Quarry (2:15) 11. Frog Darts (2:45) 12. No Longer The Hunted (5:50) 13. Civilisations Brought by Sea (3:20) 14. To the Forest... (7:41) Total Playing Time: 60:33 You can order a copy of the soundtrack from Amazon here. Keep sending in those tips! Update: Another version of the Soundtrack covere is viewable here. Technorati Tags: Apocalypto, Mel Gibson, James Horner, Rudy Youngblood, Mauricio Amuy Tenorio, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Gerardo Taracena, Soundtrack