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Mel Wins Friday: #1 'Apocalypto' Bigger Opening Weekend Than 'Braveheart'
Deadline Hollywood Daily ^ | December 8, 2006 | Nikki Finke

Posted on 12/09/2006 3:38:57 AM PST by Mel Gibson

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 three very competitive films all opening against each other would be too close to call. cameron_jude.jpgBut now I've learned it looks certain that Apocalypto will win the weekend -- bearing out my reporting back on December 1st when I was told that early tracking showed Mel's movie (playing in 2,465 theaters) would edge ahead. Tonight, I'm told Mel's movie took in nearly $6 million Friday for what's expected to be at least a $15 mil, and possibly $16 mil, weekend total -- exceeding Disney's hopes for the box office gross. That easily beats Mel's Braveheart, which made $9.9 mil for Fri-Sat-Sun when it opened in 2,037 theaters during Memorial Weekend back in 1995 ($12.9 mil for the four-day holiday) and went on to make $75.6 mil in the U.S. and $210.4 mil worldwide, helped by winning the Best Picture Oscar. Based on today's matinees, the No. 2 spot went to Sony's The Holiday (in 2,610 playdates), a date movie from director-writer Nancy Meyer, known for capturing that man-woman zeitgeist. The studio's hard work to deftly market this PG-13 debut (also starring Kate Winslet, Jack Black and Jude Law) obviously paid off because the movie earned $4.5 mil Friday despite all the rivalry. In 3rd place was Warner Bros' Blood Diamond (in 1,910 theaters), an African-set action-adventure pic. Important to note that this film is playing in 500-to-700 less theaters than the other two films...

(Excerpt) Read more at deadlinehollywooddaily.com ...


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: 666; actor; apocalypto; bloodmoney; director; hollywoodrevenge; melbots; melgibson; movie; neonazi; producer; star; ungodly; wwjd
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To: Mel Gibson
So which of the following do you dispute?

1) It did worse than expected.

2) Most of Gibson's other major films did better.

Talk about being delusional...
181 posted on 12/11/2006 3:34:33 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: Miss Marple
Seasons Greetings!,
182 posted on 12/11/2006 3:37:03 AM PST by Mel Gibson (Read the book, "Hatred's Kingdom" by Dore Gold)
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To: AmericaUnited
Seasons Greetings!
183 posted on 12/11/2006 3:39:16 AM PST by Mel Gibson (Read the book, "Hatred's Kingdom" by Dore Gold)
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To: Mel Gibson
Well, here is a message for you:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

St. Paul in his Letter to the Phillipians, Chapter 4, Verse 8

184 posted on 12/11/2006 3:41:20 AM PST by Miss Marple (Lord, thank you for Mozart Lover's son's safe return, and look after Jemian's son, please!)
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To: Mel Gibson

Does your Mommy know you're on the 'puter' again?


185 posted on 12/11/2006 3:45:34 AM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: Miss Marple

Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus


186 posted on 12/11/2006 4:11:47 AM PST by Mel Gibson (Read the book, "Hatred's Kingdom" by Dore Gold)
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To: SteveH

In the final analysis, the only person who can accurately represent Mel's artistic goals for this movie is Mel himself - and I think Mel knows that a large part of his last movie's success was from the church community.

That is why he shows Jaguar Paw near the end, on his knees in the sand, facing the Spanish with their cross. Mel has put other religious symbols and sounds from the Passion, as other posters have noted, in this movie such as the withered baby from the temple sacrifice scene - the symbol of Satan being present in the crowd. Ironically, to gain acceptance for the movie from the Hollywood crowd, I believe Mel may be touting the movie as being about the environment instead of the depraved (sin) nature of man.

Again, you may be right in your interpretation - perhaps Mel will have an interview where he discusses these issues about the movie.


187 posted on 12/11/2006 7:21:12 AM PST by Howard Jarvis Admirer (Howard Jarvis, the foe of the tax collector and friend of the California homeowner)
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To: Howard Jarvis Admirer; All

The film was shot mostly in the Vera Cruz area of Mexico--here is an interview with Gibson and his co writer.

http://www.movieweb.com/news/23/15923.php


188 posted on 12/11/2006 7:38:19 AM PST by eleni121 ( + En Touto Nika! By this sign conquer! + Constantine the Great))
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To: The Spirit Of Allegiance

WOW, even with Bill McCuddy at FOX news calling for an outright BAN and BOYCOTT.

I wonder if McCuddy boycotted brokeback mountain?


189 posted on 12/11/2006 7:40:02 AM PST by 1Old Pro
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To: Irisshlass; StolarStorm; napscoordinator
"Why do Christians as yourself continually attack the Catholic Church, when Catholics have respect for other faiths and don't succumb to this."

====================

I was defending Mel Gibson as a fellow Christian (because he is one, however imperfect) when Solarstorm showed up with a Catholic chip on his/her shoulder, which I flicked off. You then accused me of saying things I never said, and Naps showed an embarrassing lack of bible knowledge and seemed to indicate he/she felt only Catholics were going to heaven.

The three of you are pretty typical of all Catholics I have ever dealt with, and it started with me defending a Catholic.

1 Corinthians 2:2

2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

John 17:21

21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

Romans 15:5-7

5May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

You guys need to knock off the Catholic stuff and stick to the Christian stuff. It's all about Jesus.

John 4:23

23Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.

190 posted on 12/11/2006 11:12:05 AM PST by Manic_Episode (Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps...)
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To: Howard Jarvis Admirer
In the final analysis, the only person who can accurately represent Mel's artistic goals for this movie is Mel himself

I prefer to think of art as in eye of the beholder...

- and I think Mel knows that a large part of his last movie's success was from the church community.

I'm not sure that would necessarily induce Gibson or anyone else in his position to pander to any one segment of a population. That would seem boring, especially if the person has reached a level of success that money might no longer be the primary motivator. In any case, Gibson is trending unmistakably more away from mass entertainment of any type. (Personally, I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing at all. Who wants to go see something that that does not expand one's sensibilities or knowledge?)

That is why he shows Jaguar Paw near the end, on his knees in the sand, facing the Spanish with their cross. Mel has put other religious symbols and sounds from the Passion, as other posters have noted, in this movie such as the withered baby from the temple sacrifice scene - the symbol of Satan being present in the crowd. Ironically, to gain acceptance for the movie from the Hollywood crowd, I believe Mel may be touting the movie as being about the environment instead of the depraved (sin) nature of man.

Or maybe Gibson is just having a chuckle. In any case I think some of this approaches playing a Beatles record backwards and hearing a message that Paul is dead. Symbolism is OK up to a point, but I think it is safer to stick with primary themes rather than allusions which may or may not be intended.

Again, you may be right in your interpretation - perhaps Mel will have an interview where he discusses these issues about the movie.

Yeah, well, if it is unclear, perhaps he should be. Perhaps he thinks it is clear, and one of us is wrong (or both).

191 posted on 12/11/2006 7:33:48 PM PST by SteveH (First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.)
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To: Howard Jarvis Admirer

Mel's Latest: Brilliant Film, Inane Interpretation

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1752125/posts


192 posted on 12/12/2006 5:01:11 AM PST by SteveH (First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.)
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To: Varda

The movie struck me as having a strong underlying Christian message from beginning to end--The horror of fallen humanity without a Savior, destroyed by sin. It was a very deep movie with very important messages. There were many parallels, much like our man-worshipping society today, or what we see in Islam.

I was amazed how two of the horribly brutal kidnappers who survived to the end, had heard the prophecy spoken from the sick girl, and unknowingly led by Jaguar Paw to the ships where Christ's Good News was being brought ashore. I imagine they went to those ships and were converted, all part of God's plan. He is in control even when we don't recognize it.


193 posted on 12/12/2006 6:40:06 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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To: firebrand

"Maybe not church groups, but for those who can bear the reality, this is a deeply Christian film."

I totally agree.


194 posted on 12/12/2006 6:49:09 PM PST by ViLaLuz (2 Chronicles 7:14)
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