1492: Conquest of Paradise is a 1992 epic historical drama film directed and produced by Ridley Scott, written by Roselyne Bosch and starring Gérard Depardieu, Armand Assante, and Sigourney Weaver.

Aware that the world is round, Christopher Columbus lobbies for a trip westward to Asia, but lacks a crew and ship.

The Catholic theologians at the University of Salamanca heavily disapprove of Columbus's plan, not being keen on ideas that go against the writings of Ptolemaeus.

Columbus is approached by Martín Pinzón, a shipowner from Palos, who introduces him to the banker Santángel, to whom Queen Isabella I owes money.

Columbus meets with the queen, who grants him his journey in exchange for his promise to bring back sufficient amounts of riches in gold.

Upon return to his home, he finds his house set ablaze by Moxica and his followers, confirming his unpopularity among a certain faction of the settlers.

Soon, the tribes arrive to fight the Spaniards and the island becomes war-torn, with Columbus' governorship being reassigned with orders for him to return to Spain.

Columbus is accused of nepotism and offering administrative positions to his personal friends, thereby injuring the pride of the nobles such as Moxica; he is replaced by de Bobadilla.

The theme was also played in the Top Gear: US Special and became a signature piece for World Professional Champion figure skaters Anita Hartshorn and Frank Sweiding.

[11] Director Ridley Scott later blamed the movie's failure on Americans not understanding European accents: "They don't hear shit unless it's from Texas or America, right?"

"[25] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "B+" on scale of A+ to F.[26] In a more typical review of the day, Desson Howe of The Washington Post said that "despite Scott's trademark, spectacular imagery, the story's dead in the water.

It's all eye-dizzying hyperbole, with astounding camerawork, fancy editing and a moody flamenco guitar-meets-synthesizer soundtrack by avant-garde musician Vangelis.

"[27] A reviewer for Variety wrote that "Ridley Scott's vaunted visuals can't transform 1492 from a lumbering, one-dimensional historical fresco into the complex, ambiguous character study that it strives to be.

"[28] Chris Hicks of the Salt Lake City-based Deseret News wrote that "Scott, the accomplished director of 'Alien,' 'Blade Runner' and 'Thelma & Louise,' among others, has imbued this film with great visual style, and the sets, costumes and general atmosphere are fascinating.

"[29] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote that "at 2.5 hours, 1492 is even harder to sit through than last month’s schlock extravaganza Christopher Columbus: The Discovery.

Out of some vague mixture of historical 'duty' and commercial myopia, they’ve presented Columbus as the same cardboard visionary we learned about in school.