World Famous Comics: Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Trujillo, Dalia Hernández, Rudy Youngblood, Jonathan Brewer Directed By: Mel Gibson Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1 Audience Rating: R (Restricted) Binding: DVD Format: Widescreen, NTSC Label: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 22, 2007 Running Time: 139 minutes Theatrical Release Date: December 08, 2006
Description: From Mel Gibson, director of THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST and the Academy Award®-winning BRAVEHEART (Best Director, Best Picture, 1995) comes the thrilling historical epic APOCALYPTO. This intense, nonstop action-adventure transports you to an ancient South American civilization, for an experience unlike anything you’ve ever known. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Driven by the power of his love for his wife and son, he makes an adrenaline-soaked, heart-racing escape to rescue them and ultimately save his way of life. Filled with unrelenting action and stunning cinematography, APOCALYPTO is an enthralling and unforgettable film experience.'
Amazon.com: Forget any off-screen impressions you may have of Mel Gibson, and experience Apocalypto as the mad, bloody runaway train that it is. The story is set in the pre-Columbian Maya population: one village is brutally overrun, its residents either slaughtered or abducted, by a ruling tribe that needs slaves and human sacrifices. We focus on the capable warrior Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), although Gibson skillfully sketches a whole population of characters--many of whom don't survive the early reels. Most of the film is set in the dense jungle, but the middle section, in a grand Mayan city, is a dazzling triumph of design, costuming, and sheer decadent terror. The movie itself is a triumph of brutality, as Gibson lets loose his well-established fascination with bodily mortification in a litany of assaults including impalement, evisceration, snakebite, and bee stings. It's a dark, disgusted vision, but Gibson doesn't forget to apply some very canny moviemaking instincts to the violence--including the creation of a tremendous pair of villains (strikingly played by Raoul Trujillo and Rodolfo Palacias). The film is in a Maya dialect, subtitled in English, and shot on digital video (which occasionally betrays itself in some blurry quick pans). Amidst all the mayhem, nothing in the film is more devastating than a final wordless exchange of looks between captured villager Blunted (Jonathan Brewer) and his wife's mother (Maria Isabel Diaz), a superb change in tone from their early relationship. Yes, this is an obsessive, crazed movie, but Gibson knows what he's doing. --Robert Horton
It's NOT "Pollyanna!" Being a new time in history to document and present to the public as informative entertainment leaves many avenues of presentation to investigate. Mr.Gibson's views on possible historical interpretation is fabulously inventive, dramatically overwhelming and probably true. His crativity makes me wonder what his dreams are like.
Mel Gibson's Apocalypto - My personal review This movie is a must have collectors item. It demonstrates and captures native people without bias. Everything was "le-natural", all prior to the spanish conquistadors or the european invasion/occupation. Put simply, you will see how a society lived without a central government, militia, commerce, business, schools, hospitals, electricity or technology. This movie brings to life at close range a peak into what it was like in the everyday life of native people of the americas in an unpolluted environment. You will see mother earth and a people co-exist in harmony. You will see how different tribes interact, some peacefully, others fiercely. Conclusion, you will honestly appreciate this movie. You hardly have to read the subtitles because the movie is so visual. Outstanding!
A Stunning Work of Art - One of the Finest Films Ever Made I will make this short and sweet as there are so many reviews of this movie: "Apocalypto" is a modern work of art and is, perhaps, one of the finest films ever made. Visually stunning, the movie is an emotional and intellectual feast. I cannot say enough about the care, effort, and quality that went into this masterful production. Mel Gibson has a fine acting career, but this film proves he could well be (with the exception of Peter Jackson) the most gifted director we have today. Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this work of art - simply magnificent.
Plagerism: Straight ripoff of 1966 movie "The Naked Pray" It's hard not to enjoy this movie and be awed by it's depiction of the Mayan city right down to the blue smeared corpses at the bottom of a sacrificial pyramid. If you particularly enjoyed the jungle chase wherein the villians hunting the hero meet their demise one by one, there's another movie you might like. It's a somewhat racist classic called "The Naked Prey" from 1966 by Cornel Wilde. A huge chunk of Apocalypto is a straight ripoff of this movie right down to the poor chap who is bitten by a snake and left behind by his mates. This is the only thing that disappointed me about this otherwise excellent movie. [...]
Realistic but bloody Mayan Historical fiction Wow! This is realistic and historically accurate. If you are squeamish though, it's not for you.
Great twists, great turns and not bad drama without the plot being over done.
A few nice extras on the blu-ray.
Devoid of the usual Hollywood over the top stereotypical race misrepresentations and political correctness, People act as they would have in this period at this place. Most were caught up in the Mayan blood culture but some were practical people making what they could in the environment in which they were born. Cliché ending though, which is why I subtracted the last star.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
