David O'Connell
Apocalypto
February 27th 2007 22:49
To me, it's essentially Braveheart and/or The Patriot all over again. Gibson has an apparent fetish for beating up one guy, usually to near-death, then having that guy get his revenge. It's the Lethal Weapon formula, and though we all like Lethal Weapon, the predictability wears thin.
Luckily, millions were invested in painting an atmosphere true to the ancient Mayan civilization, with costumes and building built to exacting details, and the actors all speaking in the Maya language.
Apocalypto opens with a quote about the end of civilization, and when we are introduced to the first Mayan city, we see that this is a society in decline... nobles languidly wasting time and money on frivolous pursuits, poverty and disease, over-expansion, and a cruel taste for blood.
It's meant to be a political allegory, with Gibson not-so-subtly suggesting that the American Empire faces its own demise. I can agree with this, but I suspect what Gibson is railing against is that Western culture is so overcome with infighting and factions that the 'outsiders' might prevail.
There's quite a bit of controversy over this film, with anthropologists claiming that Gibson falsely depicts the Mayans as brutal savages, and there's quite a bit of historical inaccuracies.
Eh. We're here to be entertained. If Gibson has some agenda beyond making an action movie, that's his roll of the dice. We're just here to enjoy the violence, and cheer when the bad guys get theirs.
And you know they'll get it. Predictable even in his action scenes, Gibson uses the same techniques that have served him so well in the previously mentioned Braveheart and The Patriot. The close-ups of chaotic fighting, the sound of head being smashed, the slow-motion, sleepy-time moments before the hero kills one of the big baddies - it's all here.
Even the trailer is overwhelmingly formulaic:
For all it's faults, Apocalypto is a highly watchable film... the predictable action scenes would be intense on the big screen, and the mandatory love side-plot is made sweeter by a cute boy and a pretty, pregnant wife. Gibson, if nothing else, should be commended for his energy and passion in delivering a historical film that excites us with colour and skin.
I say: Worth a viewing on the big screen, with a big smile on your face. You'll have to read subtitles, so if you're not 'that' kind of person, there'll be 'slow' parts when the killing is replaced by talking.
See it for: There's a beautiful Black Panther in the movie, along with the cutest panther cub. I wish I was a Panther.
*these images were taken from the IMDb page on Apocalypto
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Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
or the Passion of the Christ formula!
Christ gets his revenge in Part 2 (coming soon)
Comment by Miswanderlust
Killer Beats
Ramble On
Hipnotherapy
Mis
Luke... very witty!
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Mis, I guess it's violent, but these days, that blood-spray violence is pretty commonplace.
Comment by Luke
Old Movies
Cane Toad Warrior
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
And damn good action at times...
Comment by Theresa
Today's World
Your comment:
"Gibson, if nothing else, should be commended for his energy and passion in delivering a historical film that excites us with colour and skin."
That pretty much defines Gibson films for me (historical & otherwise).
I thought his Hamlet was just awful, but I admired his courage & committment for trying the role. And, even though it was not my favorite version of the play, I thought, well, it had to stretch him as a person and as an actor (hmmm, did he direct that one too?)
However, given the whole Sugar T thing, and the rest, sigh, bad, bad,.....but, well, I'll let everyone know when I meet a perfect person......or when I become one myself.
But, as an artist, I think he made it some time ago. Interestingly, many Jewish people who know and work with him said, and say, he isn't anit-Semitic, despite the arrest film evidence indicating otherwise. You have to wonder about the whole father-son relationship thing, which is frequently complicated. His father's views are well known.
Enjoyed reading your review.
Theresa
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by sugar-tits
While I marvel at the ability of airborne cameras to endow us with a birds eye view., I don't think film intended to be a beautiful travelogue for western voyeurs. The film's visceral viewpoints did a lot to place you inside the setting, and I wonder if the director is repeating a theme I've noticed in his previous films (and daily life on the planet) - simple people with simple needs resorting to any means of instinctual defence to survive the onslaught of targeted offence from power hungry people motivated by their fear-distorted-belief-systems. I am curious to see what Gibson will tackle next.
When people complain about "lack of breathtaking scenery" not above it.