Apocalypto - LT's Review

"Beware the blackness of the day. Beware the man who brings the jaguar...for he will lead you to your end."
-- Oracle Girl. Apocalypto

Official movie website: apocalypto


OK, where can I begin? Would I put this movie under Action? Adventure? I can't. And as a matter of fact, I feel it's best not to put it under any category. It is a "Just Go See It!" How is that? This movie is in a unique class all by itself. It's its own story. It doesn't go for being any of those things to me. It just is what it is and in this case it is a good thing.

How can I review this movie that riveted me to my seat from beginning to end? How can I describe to you how superbly Mel Gibson did this movie not in the routine Hollywood style (we've all seen those stereotypical formulaic stories about the "wild natives in the jungle" led by a European expedition team out on safari) but in a way that just puts you there immediately from beginning to end and done with it's own cinematic splendor and beauty that also shows the beauty of a people and can show the brutality of a neighboring tribe? Done in a style that gives you the tribes point of view throughout. Parts of this reminded me of Dances WIth Wolves for those reasons alone.

I feel this wasn't a movie I watched, this was a movie I felt like I was experiencing as it happened. I felt like we, the audience, had been taken through a time machine and just shown a piece of Mayan culture and a certain experience or story that we wanted to see. It also made me want to get on the internet and study more Mayan culture beyond what they taught us in school to see how accurately Mel Gibson and company got it right, historically speaking for all fairness.

It made me think of a wise old sage or shaman saying, "Do you want to see a Dynasty rise? Do you want to see a Dynasty fall? Do you want to see a young king? Do you want to see a young queen? Do you want to see betrayal? Do you want to see victory? Pick your time period. Pick what Age. Close your eyes, I'll take you there. You will be allowed to see it not for a few minutes but what will seem like a few hours. Are you ready?" Once again the effective way the film was done.

The beauty of this movie is that no English is spoken. The actors speak in Yucatec Maya for the film. There are subtitles. The story is powerful and stayed with me long after I saw it. I thought about it for hours after. Would I see it again? Most definitely. As soon as I can get myself together again after seeing it the first time that is. It was just that moving. It absolutely kept me interested for 2 hours. This movie got in my heart, in my soul, in my feelings, in my gut and stayed there for 2 hours.

I felt for the hero/main character almost immediately and his family too. Mel Gibson did an excellent job with making you want to naturally want this character to make it through.

This is one of the those movies that are so good, I can't review it story-wise because it can possibly take away from the experience of the new movie-goer seeing it for the first time. Possibly, the way it is meant to be seen. Once again, it is an experience best seen first by the viewer so they can take it in the way they will take it in.

This is a movie you could walk into by accident and you will be captivated to see how it plays out almost no matter where you come in but you have to see it from the start. The story you will understand as you sit back and watch it. The images are very strong and it is definitely not for children. See it. Come back. Post in The Comment Section. Let me know what you thought. We'll talk about it!

*Extra - There is something Mel Gibson does at the end of this film storywise, that I am very glad he showed that hit me in a way that just made me think "He really topped this off here. If given the opportunity, I would have shown that too." You will see at the end. LT Out!