Apocalypto (Blu-ray) (2006)

"...a mesmerizing vision of the past refracted through the dark obsessions of the present.  Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide
"...a film of blunt provocation and bruising beauty.  Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
"...a virtuosic piece of action cinema...sickeningly powerful.  Scott Foundas, L.A. Weekly
"...a sinewy, taut poem of action.  Stephen Hunter, Washington Post
"...an absorbing, disturbing, savagely beautiful "trip" movie...  William Arnold, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Editor's Note Mel Gibson (BRAVEHEART, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST) tackles the downfall of Mayan civilization in his latest turn as writer/director. Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) and his fellow villagers lead a peaceful life in the forest until a savage, unprovoked attack turns their world upside down. After hiding his pregnant wife and young son from the invaders, Jaguar Paw joins in the fight, only to be taken prisoner with the rest of the survivors. Uncertain of what the future holds and taken from his home to a thriving metropolis that might as well be a foreign country, Jaguar Paw has just one goal--to return to his wife and child. Jaguar Paw's journey is a coming-of-age saga running the gamut of love, loss, courage, and redemption. Filmed in Mexico with a cast of indigenous Americans speaking in the Yucatec dialect, this is a tale filled with contrasts. Muted greens and browns define the forest village while the city is awash in bright colors. The wealthy live in opulence, sporting elaborate jewelry, clothing, and hairdos while the villagers wear twig and bone ornaments. The villagers respect both life and nature, but the rulers of the great stone city condone violence in an effort to appease their gods. Gibson's point is clear: the more "advanced" society is corrupt and unrepentant, while the more primitive Mayans have far greater faith and humanity. Gibson also drives home the recurring theme of rebirth with symbolism, including rain, pregnancy, and the arrival of Christianity. Beautifully filmed by Dean Semler and scored by James Horner, APOCALYPTO could benefit from some framing at its beginning to give the viewer a sense of time and place, but otherwise offers a rare glimpse into a lost world.

	Dalia Hernandez
	Jonathan Brewer
	Morris Birdyellowhead
	Rudy Youngblood
	Dean Semler - Cinematographer
	Farhad Safinia - Writer
	James Horner - Original Music By
	John Wright - Editor
	Kevin Stitt - Editor
	Mel Gibson - Director
	Mel Gibson - Writer
	Mel Gibson - Producer
	Naaman Marshall - Art Director
	Ned Dowd - Executive Producer
	Roberto Bonelli - Art Director

Rolling Stone
3.5 stars out of 4 -- "It's pure adrenaline....Gibson has made a film of blunt provocation and bruising beauty." 12/14/2006 p.134

New York Times
"[A] model of narrative economy, moving nimbly forward and telling its tale with clarity and force....A muscular and kinetic action movie, a drama of rescue and revenge..." 12/08/2006 p.E1

Total Film
4 stars out of 5 -- "APOCALYPTO is terrifically made; the action sequences shot with dazzling skill....There's an exhilarating sense of rhythm and a good deal of daring." 02/01/2007 p.34

Sight and Sound
"There can be no doubting Gibson's ability to excite. Numerous sequences are breathtaking..." 02/01/2007 p.41

Box Office
"[T]here's much to admire in its component parts..." 02/01/2007 p.72

Entertainment Weekly
"[A] fresh-faced cast resurrects the captivating ancient Mayans." -- Grade: B 05/25/2007 p.69

Ultimate DVD
4 stars out of 5 -- "Gibson pulls off a cracking adventure yarn; heavily reliant on visual storytelling, and cannily employing universally recognizable archetypes..." 07/01/2007 p.22

ReelViews 9 of 10
With Apocalypto, Mel Gibson has proven it's possible to create a compelling action/adventure film in almost any setting. Gibson's theme (which is only partially developed), as revealed in an opening caption, is that all great civilizations fail when they begin to rot from the inside. Over the next 2 1/4 hours, he provides glimpses into the degeneracy of the Mayan society on the eve of its encounter with the Spanish conquistadores. However, Apocalypto is not a political tract or a dissertation about why the Mayan age came to an end. Instead, it's a high-octane adventure that concludes with one of the most intense extended chase sequences in recent movie history...I appreciate that Gibson set this in a time and place we don't often see on screen. The cameras, operated by Dean Semler, make this long-dead world come alive. - James Berardinelli

Variety 10 of 10
Mel Gibson is always good for a surprise, and his latest is that "Apocalypto" is a remarkable film. Set in the waning days of the Mayan civilization, the picture provides a trip to a place one's never been before, offering hitherto unseen sights of exceptional vividness and power...Notwithstanding the fantastic sets, costumes, makeup, body and hair designs and natural locations, perhaps the greatest impression is made by the performers' faces, which are superbly photogenic and unlike any normally seen in movies...Production is a wonder. Dean Semler's camera moves relentlessly through the densest of foliage and over the roughest of terrain on locations near Veracruz and in the rainforests of Catemaco, with some additional shooting done in Costa Rica and the U.K.; Gibson clearly knew the impact the lenser of the second and third "Mad Max" films could deliver. - Todd McCarthy