Year: 2006
Director: Mel Gibson
Country: US
Language: Maya
The Maya Civilization, a Mesoamerican civilization developed by the Mayan peoples, developed in an area that encompasses Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Their society was first established around 2000 BC, peaked around 250 AD, and were sadly conquered by the Spanish in the 16th Century AD. Mel Gibson, acclaimed director of Braveheart, sought to depict the end of the civilization with his controversial Apocalypto (2006).
As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, a young man named Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression.
Co-written & directed by Mel Gibson, Apocalypto employs ancient languages of its setting for dialogues, just like his previous picture Passion of the Christ (2004), in order to create an authentic re-imagining of the period. The era-specific set pieces are a result of extensive research and the well chosen shooting locations assist his audience in being drawn into a foreboding ancient atmosphere.
Unfortunately, despite the research Gibson did do, many reputable sources (which include National Geographic) state that the film isn't entirely accurate. He often mistakes Aztec Civilization traits, such as sacrificing a large amount of people at once, for Mayan. He also blends two entirely different time periods together, some scenes happened 600 years apart in real life.
A mix of truth and fiction, Apocalypto is a visually powerful film that, like most of Gibson's work, is extreme in its violence, yet epic in its scope. His camera has a great eye for detail as this epic adventure remains entertaining throughout the run-time.
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