Director: Mel Gibson

Cast: Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jason Brewer
Never one to walk the beaten path, Mel Gibson has always had a penchant for making eccentric films, be it the magnificent Braveheart or the controversial The Passion Of the Christ. With Apocalypto, however, Gibson firmly cements his reputation not only as a twisted genius, but also as a master storyteller. While the film may not make the cut as a historical epic, it will certainly go down in history as one of the most magnificent action movies ever made. You read correctly. I just called Apocalypto one of the most magnificent action movies ever made.

Synopsis: A small hunting tribe is ravaged by marauding Mayan warriors seeking sacrificial victims to appease their Gods. Among the prisoners is a young hunter by the name of Jaguar Paw, whose wife and child are stranded in a cave with no means of escape. The film offers the viewer a peek into gruesome and macabre world of the Mayan civilization through Jaguar Paw’s eyes, as he attempts a daring rescue from the heart of the Mayan civilization to rescue his family before time runs out.

My Take: At heart, this film is a raw, gritty adventure that lunges at you from the screen and overwhelms you with its sheer ferocity. The first thing you notice about the film is the spectacular camera work. The camera sweeps through the lush rainforests and over the decaying Mayan kingdom with feline grace and speed. The film features some of the most breathtaking chase sequences ever filmed.

Gibson’s visceral vision is done full justice by the screenplay, which allows the simple story to take a back seat while Gibson thrusts you into a brutal world you never imagined outside of the history books. The entire experience is akin to riding a wild stallion on your first day at the rodeo.

The film features several scenes of gruesome, stomach churning violence. If you have a weak heart, stay away. However, if you can stand watching human hearts being ripped out of live victims and heads being wantonly severed in graphic detail, Apocalypto will not disappoint. The violence in the film has a manic edge to it, and often the viewer is left gasping in the film’s wake.

Acting is stunning throughout, and you would be forgiven for mistaking the actors for real Mayan warriors or hunters. Rudy Youngblood is especially noteworthy in his debut as the young hunter Jaguar Paw. As the hunter who must become a warrior in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, Youngblood is flawless. Same goes for the entire cast without exception.

Apocalypto is a quintessential Gibson film, and the director’s mad genius is visible throughout. Watch it for the sheer passion of the enterprise. Thoroughly recommended to one and all...

Links: Official Site, Film info, Critics Reviews