Apocalypto

Apocalypto (Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan, Brewer) – Massive budget.  Massive scope.  Massive undertaking.  At its core is a story you’re seen many times. (In fact, Blood Diamond is a similar story.) Man and family are separated in a struggle of good vs. evil. Man overcomes massive odds to overcome the foes despite being outnumbered and hurt.  Bolstered by internal fortitude and fate, he finds the strength to take on the foes and the obstacles.  Will he succeed?  Will he fall short?  Of course, what makes it so unique is the story is set in the jungles of Central America in the days that the Mayans ruled.  The primitive culture is raw, uncensored, almost prehistoric, savage, and relentless.  The kernels of a new civilization are there alongside the inhuman traditions.  It’s still a culture where the physically strong rule under the guise of mysticism.  When all is said and done, you could put war uniforms on the combatants, like in Saving Private Ryan, or you could think of it as Dr. Richard Kimball seeking to escape the marshals in The Fugitive, and you’d have a formula movie.  Or you could place it in space and get a Star Trek flick.  As controversial as Mel Gibson has become, there is no doubt that he’s a fine director and is ambitious enough to try things on film no one else does.  Like Braveheart, he knows how to make your squirm and he knows how to create emotion and pain for the audience.  That’s part of his brilliance and part of his apparent character flaws.  If you want to see a first-class thriller and learn something of Mayan culture before the Cortez comes to Mexico, this movie is well worth the time.  But it you’re squeamish, you’ll want to skip it and wait until it makes network television in a PG-rated version (vs. the R is has for violence, disturbing scenes and nudity).