Apocalypto [DVD] [2006]

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• This item: Apocalypto [DVD] [2006] DVD ~ Dalia Hernandez

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Amazon.co.uk Reviews
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

Synopsis
Mel Gibson (BRAVEHEART, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST) tackles the downfall of Mayan civilization in his latest turn as writer/director. Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) and his fellow villagers lead a peaceful life in the forest until a savage, unprovoked attack turns their world upside down. After hiding his pregnant wife and young son from the invaders, Jaguar Paw joins in the fight, only to be taken prisoner with the rest of the survivors. Uncertain of what the future holds and taken from his home to a thriving metropolis that might as well be a foreign country, Jaguar Paw has just one goal--to return to his wife and child. Jaguar Paw’s journey is a coming-of-age saga running the gamut of love, loss, courage, and redemption.


Filmed in Mexico with a cast of indigenous Americans speaking in the Yucatec dialect, this is a tale filled with contrasts. Muted greens and browns define the forest village while the city is awash in bright colours. The wealthy live in opulence, sporting elaborate jewellery, clothing, and hairdos while the villagers wear twig and bone ornaments. The villagers respect both life and nature, but the rulers of the great stone city condone violence in an effort to appease their gods. Gibson’s point is clear: the more "advanced" society is corrupt and unrepentant, while the more primitive Mayans have far greater faith and humanity. Gibson also drives home the recurring theme of rebirth with symbolism, including rain, pregnancy, and the arrival of Christianity. Beautifully filmed by Dean Semler and scored by James Horner, APOCALYPTO could benefit from some framing at its beginning to give the viewer a sense of time and place, but otherwise offers a rare glimpse into a lost world.

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108 Reviews 5 star:  (60) 4 star:  (26) 3 star:  (7) 2 star:  (6) 1 star:  (9)           Average Customer Review 4.1 out of 5 stars (108 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   19 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly shot, visceral, with just a hint of a message, 31 Aug 2007 By  Mr. Stephen Kennedy "skenn1701a" (Doha, Qatar) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)       Whether or not you think this movie succeeds, rather depends on what you think Mel Gibson set out to do. I tend to think he just wanted to make a darn good action movie, but in a setting we never see in movies - the Mayan culture. If I am right, then he succeeded well, and warrants my 4 stars. However, there is a little more in the movie that might suggest he was reaching for something more. The story is in two broad parts. After an introduction to a bucolic life in the jungle with hunting and breeding the topics for discussion and frivolity, the movies real first part kicks off with a brutal attack on the village, and the survivors being taken away into slavery. The only people left behind are our heroes wife and child, who remain trapped in a well unless he returns, giving our protagonist his motivation. Thus the second part is the gruelling and cruel march to the Mayan city, which is almost like a Sodom and Gomorrah in its wickedness and depravity, the very essence of a city and culture in decay. Our hero escapes from an apparently certain death, and the third part is a chase as he is hunted down, and he seeks to return to his family to rescue them. It's all cannily put together as a whole, and also in its memorable if gory individual scenes. The director's eye for a breathtaking shot is undeniable - I was reminded of the beauty of `The Mission' during the waterfall scene - not an unfair comparison in many ways. The success of the movie is largely due to its script (ironically, given the subtitles) which really draws us in to the characters lives and makes us care at least a bit. And for action, the final chase scene makes our hero something like Schwarzenegger in Predator as he uses the jungle against the city folk to great effect. So a 4 or even 5 star action movie then? Yes, but there is then that added ambiguous element - as set out in the opening quote referring to civilisation in decline, there are real similiarities, even in such an obscure scenario, to modern day. Just enough to make you think about it if you want to, but not enough to hammer any point home. The final few shots in particular are effective in tying up the movie in a slightly unexpected way. In another unexpected and only lightly touched upon theme, the final third of the movie is foretold in a rather spooky scene, giving an oddly spiritual or supernatural element to an otherwise very visceral and down to earth story. If he set out to make a message movie, then the movie only half succeeded - but as an action movie with the balls and cleverness to make you leave the cinema thinking? Spot on. Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   15 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Jaguar, 13 Dec 2006 By  MICHAEL ACUNA (Southern California United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Fascinating, Brutally violent at times, historically plausible (no one knows exactly what happened to the Mayans or to their civilization...hence the mystery that has surrounded them for centuries) yet at times profoundly touching and personal, Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" is, after all is said and done, after all is shown on the screen, a story about one man, Jaguar Paw (a terrific Rudy Youngblood) and his family (wife Seven played by Dalia Hernandez, his son and his father). As "Braveheart" was basically about William Wallace, so Director Gibson smartly uses one character as a repository of all his thematic material thereby focusing not diffusing our attention on something upon which we cannot relate (though, to be truthful and based on Gibson's recent public outburst, you can't help wondering what the subtext here is...i.e. how this relates to our current political and religious situation): i.e. in this case the last days of a crumbling Mayan civilization which, out of desperation has put all its hopes in basically witch doctors who attempt to appeal to the "Gods" via human sacrifice. Jaguar Paw, as one of the many captured by the ruling tribe, is the center of our attention thereby making his plight personal. JP as portrayed by Rudy Youngblood is strong, handsome, brave, intelligent, a loving husband, son and parent. When he is captured and sent to be sacrificed, degraded by his captors, even then his innate goodness and bravery shine through. The Centerpiece of "Apocalypto" is the Temple scene at which the High Priest (a disgustingly smug Fernando Hernandez) spills the blood and removes the entrails of several men (the captured women are sold off like cattle) all in service of the "Gods." Gibson films this scene in what can only be called a frightening, crazy, frantic manner: the beheadings, the Royal family smirking, the thousands of citizens screaming for blood, the heads rolling down from the upper regions of the temple: the camera swirling all around from the frightened faces of the captives soon to be killed to the strange, almost immobile, because of face markings and headgear, grin of the King (a very weird looking Rafael Velez). The scene becomes almost unbearable because of the intensity with which it is staged and filmed...then Gibson pulls away. To me all that is important about Gibson as a director is that he makes good movies. And "Apocalypto," though not up to the level of his "Passion of The Christ" is a very good movie. It's furiously paced, it's beautiful to watch, the acting is first rate and it is infused with the sounds and vistas of an almost mystical and very much mysterious time and place. A place and a time that Gibson brings alive by way of his magic. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   11 of 13 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars THANK YOU MR GIBSON !, 10 Sep 2007 By  G. Kyriacou "GINA PACINO" (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Thank you Mel Gibson for this absolutely amazingly brilliant film. I loved every second of it from start to finish. It was visually stunning, and very emotional. Superbly directed. You need no words in this film, even though there are subtitles, you do not need them, as this is a film where you heart and soul will follow the story with no problem. A real thought provoking film that delivers history, and the power of human survival. I cannot find one fault with this film. It is a must see film, and definately on my top 10 films of all time. We borrowed the film, but I HAVE to buy it. WELL DONE MEL THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING JOURNEY THIS FILM TOOK ME ON. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 108 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars A ravaging treat Gibson's film demonstrates a leading principle of DH Lawrence:never trust the artist,trust the tale. Read more Published 1 month ago by technoguy 5.0 out of 5 stars Apocalypto The delivery of DVD was sent in express time & was received in excellent condition. Published 1 month ago by Mr. H. K. Holding 5.0 out of 5 stars Travel well There are many words to describe this offering from Mr.Gibson...Phenomenal, Immaculate, Sensational, Unbelieveable(which it was in places, literally), Gripping, Pulsating but... Read more Published 2 months ago by Frank Candour 5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous! I bought this as a gift for a male friend. He was delighted with it. Service from Amazon is excellent. Published 2 months ago by Ms. J. E. Wasley 5.0 out of 5 stars Totally blown away! I hadn't really heard much about this film when I first saw it, so the levels of bloody violence did kind of shock me at first but having seen it, I think they were necessary... Read more Published 2 months ago by K. A. Pugh 4.0 out of 5 stars FOOF! Gibson is the Cecile B. DeMille of our generation, filtered through the violent/realistic/dour permissiveness of the last 30 years. Read more Published 4 months ago by RA White 5.0 out of 5 stars unforgettable I can't add much to what has been said before about the movie. But I want to add my voice to the "this is a fantastic movie" group. Read more Published 4 months ago by Ramses 1.0 out of 5 stars Lacking any imagination or intellect How many flaws in a plot are you willing to overlook? A man that can run all day and all night jumping obstacles at a speed approximate to a 110m hurdle runner after having... Read more Published 4 months ago by Mr. M. Wren 4.0 out of 5 stars Apocalypto `Apocalypto' follows a mayan tribe after a group of marauders sweep in and capture village members for slaves and human sacrifices. Read more Published 4 months ago by Spider Monkey 4.0 out of 5 stars What 10,000 BC was trying to achieve I bought this in the January sale as I was fascinated to see this despite the mixed reviews. For me this was an excellent movie, setting was stunning and was probably everything... Read more Published 6 months ago by chuckles Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 108 customer reviews...

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