Bethany Hutchens has been a long-time fan of Mel Gibson's work as a director. But has his latest film, “Apocalypto,” gone too far?

By Bethany Hutchens
Gargoyle staff reporter
Posted Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006, The OG, arts

MEL GIBSON KNOWS how to make a movie. “Braveheart” and “The Passion” were well-done films and box-office hits. Now add “Apocalypto” to the list. Gibson is the master of the sympathetic character. His films have excellent dialogue, acting, and accurate historical setting. There's nothing wrong with Gibson's craftsmanship — it's his choice of plot that troubles me.

“Apocalypto” is set during the reign of the Mayan empire. The story follows Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), a peaceful villager whose life is turned upside down when Mayans raid his village, forcing him to hide his pregnant wife, Seven (Dalia Hernandez), and small son, Turtles Run (Carlos Baez), in a ravine. Jaguar Paw is captured by the Mayans and taken to the capital city to be sacrificed in a bloody ritual.

The violence starts in the very first scene and doesn't stop until the credits roll. The plot moves quickly from rape and slaughter in the little village, to a death march to the capital, to the ritual sacrifice of the villagers (after which the head and body of the victims are tumbled down the temple steps in the blood-thirsty crowd below). Our hero eventually manages to escape, in the process stumbling across a field of dead bodies and suffering an arrow wound to the abdomen.

The Mayan soldiers who captured him take pursuit in a bloody chase during which they are killed off one by one in a thoroughly gory manner (including death by mauling, death by impalement, and death by bees!).

Gibson tries to justify the violence in the movie by portraying the Mayan empire as a doomed and sinful world and Jaguar Paw as the harbinger of justice, but he doesn't quite get the point across.

The saving grace of the film is the stunning description of the native culture. The native costumes are detailed and historically accurate, the Mayan capital is especially stunning, and the actors speak in the original Mayan language. The cinematography is a treat for the eyes, and I found myself focusing more on the faces and dress of the actors than the plot.

If you're inured to violence through years of playing “[insert bloody video game name here]” and are interested in the Mayan culture, then I'd recommend this movie. But if you get a bit queasy at the sight of blood, then steer clear of Mel.

[Update: We have corrected the opening paragraph of this review. It originally cited “The Patriot” as a Gibson-directed movie. We've deleted that reference and replaced it with “Braveheart,” which Gibson did direct.]

“Apocalypto” is now playing at the Savoy 16 (click here for times) and the Beverly Cinema 18 (click here for times). Runtime: 139 minutes. Rated: R.

RELATED

— The film's official site

— Q&A: Director Mel Gibson discusses”Apocalypto”