Apocalypto

Run time: 2h 18m

Intro

This week I decided to watch a film that was recommended to me by my dad, it’s name being “Apocalypto”. Directed by Mel Gibson, this film is a little less well-known than his most popular movie, Braveheart, yet my father swears by it. He rarely recommends a bad movie so I was eager to watch the film and give him my verdict.

Plot

Apocalypto gives us a look into the Mayan Empire at it’s peak, as Gibson pins the camera on protagonist Jaguar Paw, a tribesman who endeavours to break free from Maya raiders’ prison and protect his family. Gibson addresses concepts like religion, morals and family in a philosophical way to an extent that I was contemplating my own philosophy after the film had ended. I would categorise the film’s genre as thriller and it delivers on keeping you at the edge of your seat right the way through.

An epic story that keeps the viewer’s eyes glued to the screen earns it a rating of 9/10.

Acting

The cast is made up of Indigenous and Mexican actors, who provide a solid acting display with a compelling performance from Rudy Youngblood, who plays Jaguar Paw and was just 23 years old at the time.

The cast bring an authenticity to the film and make for an entertaining acting rendition warranting an 8/10 rating.

Characters

Jaguar Paw is the stereotypical protagonist, going to whatever means necessary to save his family. The character Zero Wolf, leader of the Mayan soldiers that raid Paw’s village, is similarly a stereotypical villain. He is brutal and possesses all the qualities of an antagonist that make you hate him.

Although these characters are nothing we haven’t seen before they make for a suspensful and forfilling watch. Therefore, I give them a rating of 8/10.

Dialogue

The dialogue is spoken in Mayan but translated into English subtitles. It portrays the lifestyle of the indigenous tribes and their way of thinking, giving the viewer a glimpse into their minds. The script is wittily written by Gibson and his co-writer Farhad Safinia, with some funny moments included along Jaguar Paw’s intense journey. Amongst the action and suspense there are subtle philosophical lines left there by Gibson which leave you pondering what the film is really about.

The dialogue is cleverly written and plays a significant role in determining the identity of the film. Therefore, I will give the films script an 8/10 rating.

Music

The soundtrack was composed by James Horner and was the 3rd time in which both he and Gibson collaborated. Horner’s compositions really fit the atmosphere and style of the film showing how in sync he is with the director. I was particular impressed by the music used in the Maya raid scene, as it gave a raw and wild feeling to the film.

The music was solid and Horner did a good job of moulding the soundtrack to the film’s story. Therefore, I will give it a rating of 8/10.

The movie is presented in Mayan language with English subtitles so if your a big fan of dialogue you may have to get your reading glasses on. If reading subtitles isn’t your cup of tea, Apocalypto may be a difficult watch. However, I myself found the film captivating. The intriguing plot combined with good acting and a thoughtfully made soundtrack makes this film worth watching in my books