The Colby Echo

Issue date: 2/16/07 Section: Arts & Entertainment

Media Credit: Courtesy

Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" was supposed to bomb. Violent, allegedly pretentious, and sub-titled, many wrote this film off as a star's showy project not worth giving a serious look. And then, of course, there was Gibson's drunken rant. For a while, many questioned whether or not Disney would dare to release the movie after such a scandal. Indeed, it was released, and indeed, it is deserving of a very serious look. "Apocalypto" proves that Gibson is an exceptional, unique director. He creates a world that is both foreign and astonishingly real. It is an adrenaline fueled, gruesome odyssey set in the dying 15th century Mayan culture. Shot in Mexico, this film is even more aesthetically stimulating than it is intellectually invigorating. On the big screen, it seemed as though you were in the jungle feeling the torrential rains and watching the trees come alive with battles and epic chases. At times, actually, it was too real for comfort. Strangely, that is perhaps what I enjoyed the most.
The movie opens with scenes which bring the tribe to life with characters to whom we can relate. They playfully hunt together, tease each other, and build fires to keep their village alive. Thy have family problems, sexual insecurities and a delicate social dynamic. They live in a mystical, natural world built largely on tradition and routine, but this is destroyed when the village is brutally attacked by a rival tribe. The grisly images that unfold during the ambush are harsh and disturbing. Men, women, and children are slaughtered, raped or beaten and tied to a pole to be taken from the village. The violence in this scene initially had me covering my eyes, gritting my teeth and cursing my boyfriend for bringing me to the theatre. When it was over, however, I realized this was probably the effect Gibson was going for. It felt terrifyingly real.
The adventure that follows primarily involves Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood), a courageous Mayan youth who is trying to save himself and his village. He is the son of the chief, the next in line man who would make Braveheart proud. After hiding his pregnant wife and son in a cave, Jaguar Paw is whisked away to face snakes, spears, warriors and tribal leaders that are just dying to rip his heart out. "Apocalypto" is essentially his journey to avenge those who have offended his tribe and to escape the fate of an early death. Agile, strong, sincere, and loyal, Jaguar Paw is a protagonist that is only too easy to love.

This film is an adrenaline rush, yes, but it's more than just shocking violence or intense action sequences. "Apocalypto" is simultaneously the story of dying cultures and doomed societies. It's easy to parallel the Mayans to present day Americans. We are cultured and civilized, strong, impressive, and intelligent, yet we are still essentially engaging in human sacrifice and self-injury. We are ruining our environment, relationships, and lives. Gibson's movies are never solely cinematic.

Gibson has truly made a provocative and scarring beauty. It is absorbing, disturbing, and intensely memorable. It is breathtaking to watch a jaguar in full stride, the vast expansion of the rain forests, and the grace of the human body. Gibson's character may be in question, but it's absolute that he is a respectable filmmaker. This movie is a beautiful trip, a vivid vision of the past, and is seriously worth watching. "Apocalypto" is anything but a bomb.

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