Apocalypto (2006)

Using the influx of heavenly cash stored from The Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson used his new found clout and freedom to make another film with an ancient language to tell the tale of the dead Mayan culture.

The story follows a young father, Jaguar Paw, who is captured along with the bulk of his tribe, all intended to be a human sacrifices in one of the large Mayan cities. Paw manages an escape and for the last half of the film, the chase is on.

Gibson does a wonderful job introducing us into a society we've never known, quickly making us care about the people by using universal connection points... humor, family, parental love, communal interactions. When the idyllic, simple tribal life is accosted and Jaguar Paw is bound and lead to the city, we are exposed to a dying civilization, full of intense superstition and waste.


Production value for the film is entirely on the screen. And, I will say this about Gibson... he likes showing violence for what it is... grotesque. Some people call Gibson a violence-lover because his films are relentless in their graphic nature, but I think Gibson is just the opposite. In a world dulled by years of "movie violence" and "video game violence" Gibson shows real violence and the real outcomes of such violence, whether that be decapitations, gougings or blood squirting from the veins. For Gibson, violence should be uncomfortable, and he makes it that way.

Gibson also works in Christian spiritual themes as well. Jaguar Paw's father tells him "be not afraid" or fear will overwhelm you. He shows the sharing of burden, similar to Simon helping Christ carry the cross, and self-sacrifice. There are nice, weighty messages interspersed between the blood-letting and head-chopping.


In its entirety, Apocalypto is a satisfying film with some inventive plot points and obstacles. Not as powerful as Passion... but then again what is... Apocalypto, along with Braveheart, shows he knows how to direct action sequences. I just can't wait for him to direct a movie that actually takes place today.

Apocalypto is not for everyone, but it is quality cinema.