It’s a high-octane experience, with impressive world building, efficient dialogue, and an incredible pace. This, in many ways, makes Apocalypto a great introduction film for those who are considering getting into foreign language films, if a moment of subtitles is missed, no big deal since it’s so easy to understand without it.Īpocalypto offers a similar experience to the 2015 Mad Max: Fury Road. There’s quite a bit of dialogue and dynamics between the characters, but most of it can be so easily inferred by the audience. With Gibson not speaking the language and not expecting many people at home to speak it either, I really feel this helped encourage him to make sure this film is told as visually as possible. It shouldn’t be understated how effortless this seems with a monumental feat. Which is an incredible impressive feat when the audience is given these characters in an ancient society who aren’t speaking a language or culture that many would even be that familiar with. We want these characters to succeed because of how much the audience learns about them in just a few scenes. This is also aided by the fact that we are allowed to spend a significant amount of time with this village and the characters prior to all hell breaking loose.
It feels like we are right there running with Jaguar Paw and the danger always feels just one step behind him, and the tension is born through those fears. Our hero, Jaguar Paw, is an incredibly fun character to watch, and with how well the film is shot, and the action is choreographed, and the detailed sets allow the audience to be immersed in this incredible world. Essential Apocalypto is the story of how one man will try to break the system and runaway, for the good and hope of his pregnant wife and child, whom he left in a hole when his camp was raided, which will slowly fill up with water over the coming days. While many may disagree with the reading because of Gibson’s past, Apocalypto does appear to push a very heavy anti-colonialism message, whether it’s the rich city using smaller tribes to gain hold over the people and for slavery, or the eventuality of Cortez and the Spanish ominous reality of what the audience knows will eventually happen in history, colonialism isn’t exactly looked at positively. With that being said, for those who aren’t necessarily wanting those elements, I think it’s important to discuss the great elements regarding this film. Some may not be able to get past this, and that’s okay, this film will not satisfy those people, and it’s a fair criticism. It’s mixing many elements of what a layman might know about the Aztecs, the Mayans, and the Incas, and sort of making a concoction and an amalgamation of these cultures to tell a sort of legend or tale.
Just to acknowledge the elephant in the room, this film should not be looked at as accurate, and in no way do I think it tries to be. Whether for its use of violence, it’s depiction of Central American people, or its fast and loose play with historical accuracy, Apocalypto has had a very mixed reception. Since it’s release in 2006, Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto has been the center of controversy, maybe even more so than he previous effort Passion of the Christ.
Charles Marlow in The Heart of Darkness "The conquest of the earth, which mostly means the taking it away from those who have a different complexion or slightly flatter noses than ourselves, is not a pretty thing when you look into it too much."