‘Apocalypto’

Starring: Rudy Youngblood

Directed by: Mel Gibson

Three and a half stars out of five

If you can find it within yourself to shell out $10 for a Mel Gibson flick, it’ll be money well spent. ‘Apocalypto’ is an adrenaline-driven action movie to the end and will make any viewer invest in its characters.

I knew little about the movie when I entered the theater because the trailer gave nothing away. It made no difference. Despite its setting and subtitles, the movie features a protagonist that was easily likable and antagonists that were savage villains. There isn’t much to the plot: one Mayan tribe takes over another’s village and enslaves its people. The main character, Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) bravely escapes and becomes the hunted. The ensuing battles make this the most graphic Disney movie ever, and the hope for survival keeps the audience hushed.

The power of this movie is that the audience will relate to Jaguar Paw and cheer him on as he attempts to reunite with his escaped wife (Dalia Hernandez) and child. After he is forced to watch his father, Flint Sky (Morris Birdyellowhead), being killed, Jaguar Paw becomes a tragic figure. At one point, he seems sure to die as a firing squad makes him its target practice. At that instant, when the tension of the movie is at its highest, ‘Apocalypto’ had the potential to be the movie of the year.

Surprisingly, there were some instances of comic relief with the subtitles that served their purpose. The lack of a major star made the film more believable, as the chase for Jaguar Paw traversed thick jungle.

The film’s shortcomings are its special effects during an animal attack and a birth. Both times the audience yelped with disgust while many turned their heads away.

A controversial twist that trumps all in the end will leave some shaking their heads.

There’s little in terms of story (the script is likely very short because of all the action and cinematography) for a more than two-hour film. But overall, ‘Apocalypto’ is a movie any thrill seeker with a stomach should see.

Published on December 21, 2006 at 12:00 pm