Forgive the spelling but Mel's new movie might just provide the right feel for the Tamochan/ Mesoamerican/ setting that we find in STAP! I wonder if I will have a PC who wants to play an Olman after watching it!
Now to dig out my old Maztica stuff!
I was thinking the exact same thing. This movie looks really good, can't wait!
I like the idea that this film will show how effective and nasty stone weapons can be.
And the body piercings and adornment is over the top!
LoL yes, and not to mention how effective one or two human sacrafices can BE! :P
Which also makes me wonder how the general public will take the movie. Gamers and history buffs know how bloody the Mayan and Aztec Empires were but the common man on the street hasn't a clue.
Gibson is quite possibly a nutcase, but his movies are undeniably powerful. I'm really looking forward to this one, moreso than Braveheart or Passion. It does look like it will be very good source material for portraying the Olman in this and future Greyhawk campaigns.
I think the media is painting Mel to be crazy. They never seem to like anyone to become successful. Honestly the movies subject mater is going to push the public view that he is a nut. People aren't going to accept that the Mayans engaged in things like eatting people and cutting out hearts to keep the sun alive. Drowning children in worship to a water god was another nasty ritual.
Of course for us gamers this is perfect!
I think the media is painting Mel to be crazy. They never seem to like anyone to become successful. Honestly the movies subject mater is going to push the public view that he is a nut. People aren't going to accept that the Mayans engaged in things like eatting people and cutting out hearts to keep the sun alive. Drowning children in worship to a water god was another nasty ritual.
Of course for us gamers this is perfect!
I don't think that Gibson is a nut. Tom Cruise is a certifiable loon - Gibson is no where close to that - not even in the same plane...
Honestly I think that people will get that the Mayans were bloody and what we call "savage" in many ways - There is history to back it up. All a person has to do is look it up on the internet to alleviate there own ignorance.
This will give a great cinematic look at what the Olmans can be portrayed as, personally I have already painted the Lizard folk in my campaign as the Incas of the day - I think the Olmans could be the Mayan's and have a conflict with a local lizard folk nation....
Don't forget the Azetcs! They held a huge portion of Central America (historically a for a short period) with other nations as clients. And the idea of building a city in the middle of a large lake! Excellent fantasy from the pages of history.
I remember in grade school the Spanish woodcuts showing the sacrifices of the Central Americans. Very creepy. I hope to see the movie within next couple of days. I'm certain I will take away some good source material.
I think Mel does have a drinking problem. As far as his racist ideas I think it was taken out of context while he was drunk by the police and inflated by the media. Lots of his fellow actors have gotten behind him in support. Of course since he hasn't done anything negative like this before it's wonderful for the media and name callers to latch on and spin it that the man is a hate monger.
Funny, good old Brittney goes on a drinking bender and shows off the fact that she isn't wearing under wear and no one thinks about it twice. It even appears to help her career.
Is Mel held to a higher standard than other celebs? Yes. The answer should be "Why".
|
I saw it yesterday. I hated it. It had some good parts, and I see that Rolling Stone is saying "Oscar Material" and everyone on the boards over there seems to have liked it, so I don't know what to tell you. I wish I saw the same movie they did. I just hated it so bad, I didn't want my money back, I wanted my whole freaking Saturday back.
And I don't have an agenda; I just honestly hated that movie. I'd hate it if Mel didn't say and do all that stupid crap just the same.
What did you hate about it?
|
|
It was one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen, up until an extremely cheesy surprise ending, which left me and the guys behind me laughing our faces off.
I got nothing from it other than the Maya had crazy body art and sacrificed lotsa lotsa people. That's all I got from it.
The action sequences were phenomenal, but the ending friggin' ruined it for me.
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
|
I saw it yesterday. I hated it. It had some good parts, and I see that Rolling Stone is saying "Oscar Material" and everyone on the boards over there seems to have liked it, so I don't know what to tell you. I wish I saw the same movie they did. I just hated it so bad, I didn't want my money back, I wanted my whole freaking Saturday back.
And I don't have an agenda; I just honestly hated that movie. I'd hate it if Mel didn't say and do all that stupid crap just the same.
I've hated Mel Gibson directed movies since before he went crazy including (heresay) Braveheart. To me, he's in the same boat as Ron Howard and Clint Eastwood in the More is Better camp of film making. I feel like their movies are the equivalent of getting smacked in the head with a big sign that reads "this is the point, stupid!"
Generally, I would state this opinion as a fact ("Mel Gibson movies are hamfisted pieces of crap"), but it was recently pointed out to me that I just like a different flavor of hamfisted director, so I suppose I'll just leave room for differences in opinion.
(But seriously, did anyone see his horrific movie about the American Revolution (the Patriot I think)? It was like somebody lobotomized Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (which, though decent, is by no measure a thinking man's movie) and thought referencing American ideals every 5 seconds would overcome the ridiculousness of the action scenes. I mean come on, impaling somebody with a flag pole was a stupid joke when the Simpsons did it, making it the centerpiece of your uber-bloody action finale is just stupid.)
*cough* Sorry. I'm going to go poor out a 40 for my homie Mad Max. There was a man that could make a crazy action sequence work. Even with Tina Turner involved.
Fair enough. I respect your views but need to see for myself.
I hated both the D&D movies and was lamb basted on the messageboards for it. Everyone has an opinion.
|
Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
|
I think Mel does have a drinking problem. As far as his racist ideas I think it was taken out of context while he was drunk by the police and inflated by the media. Lots of his fellow actors have gotten behind him in support. Of course since he hasn't done anything negative like this before it's wonderful for the media and name callers to latch on and spin it that the man is a hate monger.Funny, good old Brittney goes on a drinking bender and shows off the fact that she isn't wearing under wear and no one thinks about it twice. It even appears to help her career.
Is Mel held to a higher standard than other celebs? Yes. The answer should be "Why".
The issue re: Mel was that during the roll out of the Passion of the Christ, there was a lot of criticism that the film was anti-semetic, which was denied. Whether or not the film was anti-semetic, the fact that Mel thereafter said a bunch of anti-semetic thing provides evidence to that point of view. Thus, all the press.
As for Brittany, you may recall that it was Really Big News that she lost her virginity. Is this because she was the only celeb having sex? No, it's because she made a major production of being a virgin and claiming she would stay a virgin till marriage and then not following through on those statements.
If Pamela Anderson starts eating steak while wearing a fur coat, I'm sure we'll hear something about that too.
Celebrities dig their own graves by taking loud stands regarding issues and then failing to live up to them. I do agree that it's more noticable when the stand is on an issue of conventional morality ("I'm not a racist" "I'm not a slut") than otherwise. Celebrities are better looking, make more money, and generally live a more glamorous life than your avereage person. It's only natural to think something like "well, I'm more morale/happy/etc" which is why their tales of immorality, unhappiness, and other human frailities are so appealing.
Anyway, back to the show...
|
|
Fair enough. I respect your views but need to see for myself.
I hated both the D&D movies and was lamb basted on the messageboards for it. Everyone has an opinion.
That's cool. If I heard this review on Friday I wouldn't've listened.
I hated the first D&D movie, except for the Beholder, that was there for 30 seconds maybe(?)
I saw Apocalypto today and rather enjoyed it. I bit my nails throughout the final half. I went in to it thinking this could have some campaign helpful stuff, but now I'm not so sure. I knew those societies had some violent practices, but this movie really plays that up and does not pull any punches. This is not one for your kids. If you want to paint your Olman and Isle of Dread natives as dark and evil, then go for it and use what you see in the film. Regardless, the bottom line is, I was entertained for (nearly) three hours and will probably recommend it to my friends.
|
|
That's cool. Just when he's kneeling there, and the two guys come up to him, and what happens next... I was like, are you freakin' serious? Get outta here. And the other thing at the end there...I was like,.. no. No. No. This isn't going to happen. Oh, my god. It happened. That's what did it for me, I think. That was the final nail in the coffin.
I saw the movie and I too enjoyed it. I have done a lot of reading about the Central American nations and found it to be rather close to what I've read. The Mayans were a culture in a rapid decline before the introduction of Europeans and that played pretty true.
I also found the names to be wonderful for STAP! Flint Sky, what a great name for a Olman Barbarian!
The casting choices were rather interesting. Most of the actors are native Americans. I suppose they were going for the indiginous look, prior to the forming of the "cosmic race" blend of natives and Europeans in Mexico today.
Another name, Turtles Run, sounds like a new subdivision somewhere in Texas.
Some things happened so fast that I couldn't make them out. I wondered what the spiked weapon was that was hurled at Jaguar Paw and stuck in a tree.
The spear throwers were cool too!
I saw this movie yesterday and I was blown away. Gibson is at the top of his game, and this is his best work since braveheart. This movie is like peering through a window and getting to evesdrop on a stone age society... it was breathtaking. The actors are ALl top notch, and the story is sweeping and engrossing. It is sort of like one big car chase...only better.
GO SEE IT! It will help you to conceptualize the Olmans on the Isle of Dread.
|
|
I just want to say one thing.
I didn't say I hated that movie for any other reason than I hated that movie, and maybe if I could save one person the torture of seeing it, then maybe my suffering wasn't in vain.
Now all these people saw it, loved it, and....I feel like a complete yutzo. I wish I hadn't said anything, and I wish I saw the same movie you guys saw.
I liked it.
I just want to say one thing.
I didn't say I hated that movie for any other reason than I hated that movie, and maybe if I could save one person the torture of seeing it, then maybe my suffering wasn't in vain.
Now all these people saw it, loved it, and....I feel like a complete yutzo. I wish I hadn't said anything, and I wish I saw the same movie you guys saw.
LoL you shouldnt feel like a "Yutzo"... everyone is different. You're entitled to your opinion. :)