Apocalypto

[annunaki]

When I want to read, I will read a book.

Joe, this was really not distracting at all if one "get's into the film".

 

[avaserfi]

It seems to be a good video transfer, though I only have an SDTV using component, non progressive. Was it my DVD player or was some of the color supposed to fade out in certain scenes for effect?

"Tech credits for the film also show it was shot in a variety of stocks, including 35mm, 16mm and HD video. The contrast is often obvious -- the movie's dream sequences are clearly 16mm, while much of the grisly combat footage exhibits plenty of motion blur common to video sources."

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/apocalypto.html#Section3

The ambience in the rear channels really made me feel as though I was in the Yucatan forest. the use of LFE is not dramatic. Only a few scenes where it really made me take notice. My sub is calibrated about 5db hot or so.

That surprises me. I found there to be a quiet good LFE track on the BD version. Perhaps it was just a few scenes that were noticeable but I felt when they were they were extremely noticeable.

 

[j_garcia]

I watched it on DVD and I also recently picked up the BD and I felt there were a few scenes that had very good LFE as well. It wasn't throughout the whole movie, but there was a decent amount.

 

[Ax-man]

I bought this movie quite a while back and watched just a little part of it after having a couple of beers and couldn't get much into it....after reading this thread yesterday, I took advantage of the little missus going out with the girls last evening and watched it again. Whoa, what a great movie! I don't believe the movie would be nearly the same if English were the spoken language...Pan's Labyrinth is another movie that comes to mind that wouldn't be the same in spoken English.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

The thing about this movie is there isn't much dialog anyway. Had it been dubbed in English......it would have totally ruined its authenticity.

 

[Tomorrow]

I normally do NOT like fully subtitled movies. Mel Gibson did a fantastic job on this one. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical perspective, the acting, the dialog was modest and natural, sets/scenery, audio and action were first rate. I found all scenes to be sequenced to perfection.

4+ Stars from Tomorrow.

 

[Tomorrow]

It was interesting the way the priests used their knowledge of the sun and eclipse to manipulate the masses..

That was one inconsistency in the film I noted that bothered me. They showed the solar eclipse and then that night, during the chase, they showed a full moon. Not possible.

 

[mike c]

That was one inconsistency in the film I noted that bothered me. They showed the solar eclipse and then that night, during the chase, they showed a full moon. Not possible.

what's your day job? how do you know stuff like that.

 

[Tomorrow]

what's your day job? how do you know stuff like that.

I'm told I'm an excellent house-husband!

 

[annunaki]

That is somewhat basic astronomy, if you do a search on solar eclipses. If one can see the moon fully during the day, it will not be seen at night. I did not notice that though. Thanks for pointing it out!!

Tomorrow, wouldn't your job title be "Homemaker".

 

[jeffsg4mac]

I loved this film, and the politicly incorrect ending that Mel put in was fantastic and ABSOLUTELY true. One of the best films I have seen in 10 years. The depiction of the Mayan city was dead on for those who want to believe the truth rather than the lies the history revisionists would like you to believe. Mel took a huge chance making this film and he deserves his props for doing so. Great movie.

 

[Tomorrow]

Tomorrow, wouldn't your job title be "Homemaker".

I guess you're right, lol. "House-husband" could lead one to believe that I'm married to a house.

 

[annunaki]

I loved this film, and the politicly incorrect ending that Mel put in was fantastic and ABSOLUTELY true. One of the best films I have seen in 10 years. The depiction of the Mayan city was dead on for those who want to believe the truth rather than the lies the history revisionists would like you to believe. Mel took a huge chance making this film and he deserves his props for doing so. Great movie.

What political incorrectness are you referring to? Seriously, I don't know.

 

[Alex2507]

What political incorrectness are you referring to? Seriously, I don't know.

Me niether. There's a Mitchner novel out there called Mexico that has a fantastic amount of cultural and historical research built into it. I really liked this film but was not surprised by the details of their society.

 

[rnatalli]

I thought the movie was okay, didn't blow me away, but didn't suck either. I actually like when movies are done in native languages and subtitled.

 

[AdrianMills]

The movie was great and an original English soundtrack would have certainly detracted from it rather than enhancing it.

As for having a dubbed track, well, in general, dubbing in movies is rather poor and very few of them do it well. The best dubbing I've seen/heard that I can remember is done in Kung Fu Hustle which is good enough that it rarely intrudes and distracts; as far as I remember, at least some of the original actors did the English soundtrack so maybe this is why.

It really irritates me when subtitles are done badly though; The Host on BR has crappy subtitles that are difficult to see as they aren't on a constant white or black background. The dubbing on the film is poor too which is a shame as the movie is pretty good. A pity they couldn't get the dialogue right.

It may come as a surprise to some but a large portion of the world’s non-English speaking population actually watches all English movies with subtitles. This also goes for any other English TV they air. They really don't detract if they are done well and once you've gotten used to them and are far better than dubbing.

 

[pcefrog]

two thumbs up

just watched it today,,,,really liked it ...watched the behind the scenes stuff , mel did a lot of homework.
subtitles didnt bother me .....it didnt seem like there was that much anyways. certain parts of the movie reminded me of QUEST FOR FIRE, you dont understand what there saying , but the actors do a fine job of conveying the story to you , without english.