“Apocalypto” is an adventure story set in the Mayan empire of southern Mexico in the early 1500’s. It is about Mayan forces capturing people of a remote tribe for human sacrifice in their capital city. However, their plans are foiled when some escape and they must pursue them in a very exciting movie expertly directed by Mel Gibson (“The Passion of the Christ” 2004). The tight direction by Gibson, the lean screenplay by Gibson and Farhad Safinia, and top-rate production values in all facets of the movie make for a fast-moving and action-packed 138 minute running time.
The cast consists of Mexican and Indigenous Mayan actors speaking a modern-day version of the Mayan language, Yucatec Maya, with English subtitles. The principal actors are Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Karina Torres, Jonathan Brewer, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolpho Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Israel Contreras, and Abel Woolrich as the laughing man.
The very watchable and the very memorable “Apocalypto” was a hit at the box office for producer Mel Gibson, Touchstone Pictures, Icon Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Makeup, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. There should be an honorable mention for the excellent cinematography by Dean Semler, filmed in Mexico.
Apocalypto (2006)
cinema
My Review
“Apocalypto” is an adventure story set in the Mayan empire of southern Mexico in the early 1500’s. It is about Mayan forces capturing people of a remote tribe for human sacrifice in their capital city. However, their plans are foiled when some escape and they must pursue them in a very exciting movie expertly directed by Mel Gibson (“The Passion of the Christ” 2004). The tight direction by Gibson, the lean screenplay by Gibson and Farhad Safinia, and top-rate production values in all facets of the movie make for a fast-moving and action-packed 138 minute running time.
The cast consists of Mexican and Indigenous Mayan actors speaking a modern-day version of the Mayan language, Yucatec Maya, with English subtitles. The principal actors are Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Serbulo, Dalia Hernandez, Karina Torres, Jonathan Brewer, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolpho Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Israel Contreras, and Abel Woolrich as the laughing man.
The very watchable and the very memorable “Apocalypto” was a hit at the box office for producer Mel Gibson, Touchstone Pictures, Icon Pictures, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution, and The Walt Disney Company. It was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Makeup, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. There should be an honorable mention for the excellent cinematography by Dean Semler, filmed in Mexico.