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Apocalypto
Directed by: Mel Gibson
Starring: Rudy Youngblood
Genre:
Action-Adventure/
Foreign
Run Time: 139
min.
Release Date:
December 2006
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Love him or loathe him, Mel
Gibson can make some damn good movies. BRAVEHEART was wonderfully
brutal, which Gibson produced, directed and starred in. Fully behind
the camera in his latest two feature films, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST
and now APOCALYPTO, Gibson proves he’s got both vision and talent
(if he could only keep his personal life out of the tabloids!)
Because of Mel’s idiotic comments of late, many have seen fit (perhaps
rightfully so) to boycott his films. I know I avoided seeing this one
until it came out on DVD, a mini-boycott on my part for Mr. Gibson’s
poor politics and social skills. But the visuals on the trailers kept
beckoning me to check out Apocalypto, and so I finally broke down
and rented it.
It is noteworthy here to say that Mel, regardless of subject matter, can
pull viewers into a story. Although The Passion had its
anti-Jewish components, it was sumptuously filmed and very well
executed. If we’re here to talk about films and not the man behind the
film, then it’s fair to say that Apocalypto is a rousing success.
The sets, the dress, the make-up, the incredible story, and the action,
all make this film a glue-yourself-to-the-screen experience. Not once
did I pull my eyes from the movie, fearing that I might miss this
beautiful shot or that amazing character.
The story is about Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), the future leader of a
small band of people that live on the outskirts of the great Mayan
culture. He has an ideal life, a loving wife, a tough son, and another
kid “in the oven.” He and his fellow townsfolk hunt the local forest for
food and live in harmony with their environment. Until one day he and
his tribe are ripped apart by beastly slave-gatherers. Realizing that he
must hide his pregnant wife and son, Jaguar Paw lowers them into a deep
pit for safe keeping during the slave runners attack. Caught, bound, and
forced to march miles, Jaguar Paw and his tribesmen are brought to a
great Mayan temple where they are to be sacrificed. But as Jaguar Paw’s
turn comes, a solar eclipse occurs and Jaguar and his remaining band are
spared a barbarous beheading.
But it ain’t over yet.
Taken to an open stadium, he and his surviving tribesfolk are told to
run toward a field of corn as spears, rocks and other projectiles are
hurled at them. At the end of the path, too, is a “finisher”, the son of
the head slave trader who kills off any of those who are wounded. Jaguar
Paw, desperate to get back to his wife and child, kills the young
finisher and escapes into the jungle. But the king of the
slave-gatherers wants Jaguar Paw’s blood for killing his son. And thus
starts an adrenaline pumping chase through the thick jungle, over
massive waterfalls, and deep into Jaguar Paw’s country. Not only is
Jaguar Paw running from the slave men, he’s also running toward his
beloved wife and kid in a race to save them before they either starve to
death, get injured, or are drowned by flash-flood rains.
It is amazing that none of the main actors, supporting actors, or extras
have any previous film history (at least not any significant history,
really), yet they all played their parts perfectly. Much praise
must (reluctantly or not) go toward Mr. Gibson for his amazing
job directing this genre-busting thrill ride. Not only is it a
pseudo-historical piece, but it also has heavy elements of romance,
drama, comedy, and action/adventure. Rolling all of those concepts into
one film is often impossible, but Apocalypto isn’t forced nor
overly drawn. It completely lures you in, including the Mayan language
which is spoken throughout the entire production (with English
subtitles).
The make-up consisted of nearly 70 artists who had to re-tattoo each of
the 700 main and extra characters daily, a monumental task. And costume
designer Mayes C. Rubeo (BORN ON THE 4TH OF JULY) is to be
commended for her outstanding head-dresses and eye to detail (I feel she
was cheated out of an Academy Award nomination due to this film’s
affiliation with Mr. Gibson).
So if you’re thinking about watching this but don’t like Mel Gibson
personally, I totally understand. But you might try it anyway. It is one
fantastic piece of cinema.
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Image from Apocalypto
DVD cost: $19.72
Purchase:
Tower.com (Blu-Ray)
Film Review Stew
Favorite? Yes.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Many substantial speaking
roles in the film were filled by Mayan people who had never acted
before. For instance, the sick little girl who curses the hunting party
as they and the captives pass right before entering the city, was played
by a seven year old who lived in a dirt-floored hut in a village not
unlike Jaguar Paw's.
Movie Quote: "This
is my forest!"
Other Actors/Actresses
from Apocalypto
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