Apocalypto

I first saw Apocalypto when it was released on DVD about a year and a half ago. I found the film to be original and impressive; a breath of fresh air in a historical genre that had become predictable and stale. Whatever you think of Mel Gibson as a person, it's hard to deny that he's a good director. Apocalypto was a huge financial risk on his part, considering he'd taken a very obscure part of history and put his own inventive, original twist on the story. It took a lot of guts to cast unknown Native American actors and have them speak in the Maya language; a risk that most conventional directors would have never taken as it would have beeen box office suicide (especially when you consider the 18 rating). The result is one of the most breathtaking, exciting and vibrant historical epics of the last few years. Gibson took a story that most Hollywood film executives wouldn't touch, and made it into a heart pounding and exhilirating action-adventure. Although the film might sound like your typical art film (subtitles, unknown actors, elaborate costumes, 138 minute running time) Gibson manages to make the film easily understandable without sacrificing its substance. The film although set in the past, is hardly a history lesson. If anything, the film has been widely criticised for its numerous historical inaccuracies, perhaps the largest being that the film is set during the 16th century, but Classical Maya Civilisation had already collapsed between the late 9th and early 10th centuries. With that in mind, it's worth covering the story which is simplistic but displayed with a lot of verve. It revolves around a young hunter named Jaguar Paw who lives in a isolated village, deep in the Yucatan Jungle. Soon enough, the idyll is disrupted when vicious Holcane Warriors descend on the village to slaughter and enslave its people. Jaguar Paw sends his pregnant wife and young son to the relative safety of an abandoned water well, but is himself captured. He is led off on a trail that takes him to the decadent Maya city to be sacrificed to the gods. Making his escape, he must find a way back home to save his family, a journey fraught with danger, where the Holcane Warriors are never far behind. The film is more action adventure than historical drama, and it works very well in that regard. The chase scenes are heart poundingly intense, while the fights are great, although considering its a Mel Gibson film, they are predictably gory - which is not to mention the scenes of human sacrifice - which Gibson portrays with disturbing relish. This is the first Blu-ray film I've purchased and I chose it because I knew that the film was visually stunning: from the colourful costumes and sets, to the scenes of the natural world. I wasn't disappointed with the image quality, as it is displayed with crystal clear clarity on my 1080i screen. I had a copy of the Apocalypto DVD at hand to compare the two, and I can confirm that there is an obvious rise in quality, as the DVD version seems muddy and unclear in comparison. The sound is also brilliant, as you can hear every leaf rustling in the background, and would no doubt be even more impressive on a good quality sound system (I only have small speakers). In terms of special features, the Blu-ray is no different from the DVD. It contains a Backstage director's commentary from Mel Gibson and writer Farhad Safinia, as well as a short and rather pointless delted scene (in very poor quality) complete with its own commentary. There's also a 'Making of' documentary called Becoming Mayan, which explains the backstory for the film. The only original material is a section called 'Movie Showcase' which displays some of the best scenes from the film to showcase you "The Ultimate in High Defintion Picture and Sound". This section is rather pointless considering you'll see these scenes anyway if you watch the film. Overall this is a great film on a brilliant Blu-ray. It could have had more special features, but that aside it's a worthy purchase for anyone with a Blu-ray player. Blu-Ray Features: No of disks: 1. Rating: 18 (contains Strong Bloody Violence and Gore). Running Time 138 Mins (2 hours 20 mins approx). Image: 1080p High Definition/ 1.85:1 plus bonus 1080i & 1080p Definition. Audio: Mayan 5.1 Uncompressed (48khz/24-bit)/English 5.1 Dolby digital. Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish. Bonus English SDH.

Wow! This film is amazing. Its almost the perfect film for Blu-Ray: The vibrant colours, jungle scenery, fast paced action and good story all made for a very fascinating watch. The attention to detail is also quite impressive (as you'll see in extras). This is also not just a chase film as I had thought it would be from install reviews. It offers a lot more by immersing us in a Mayan culture before the Spaniards turned up. A very vivid and bloody portrayal, as it may well has been in that time. You should of course not read this as a historical documentary, but Mr Gibson creates a very real and convincing environment. The characters are also quite convincing and you can really empathize with them, especially through some of the harrowing moments they endure. I really enjoyed how the personalities were brought to life from these long gone Mayan people; both cruel and kind. I also enjoyed how the film ends (you wont see it coming!) ... well I didn't anyway. All in all, a film you can watch whatever you mood. You know you going to be entertained by this and I certainly was. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. A lot of gore (lock the kids away. Not in a Belgian way though), a lot of stunning scenery (some of the panoramic shots in HD are just worth it alone) and a lot of fun. Interesting extras too. Highly, highly recommend this. Worth all 5 stars.

This is what blu-ray presentation was made for. An absolutely stunning film that uses the technology to the full. Every rustle of the grass, every whisker of the jaguar's face, was picked out with astonishing clarity. I almost felt I had to wipe the humidity of the jungle off my brow as I watched it. The story is a straightforward tale of a community ripped apart by violent outsiders and the struggle for one of its inhabitants to flee from his captors and return to his doomed family. But it is in such simplicity that the story is made. The villains are bad beyond redemption and you long for their deaths, you root for the hero from the moment he is taken, and you prey for a happy ending to his plight - may his family be saved. Gibson knows exactly what he is doing and the viewer actually cares about what they are watching. Before viewing the movie, I was troubled about the level of violence contained in the film and, whilst there is undoubtedly some gore - ripping out a beating heart is never going to be pretty - I found nothing that wasn't essential to the plot or added to the menacing atmosphere of the period depicted. Don't let the lurid tales put you off. As an archaeologist, I was also drawn into the debate about authenticity but such thoughts were quickly banished by the pulsating intensity and sheer brilliance of the film. Similarly, the subtitles are forgotten and the foreign language even adds to the feeling that what you are witnessing is real; this actually happened. Apocalypto is stunning - an experience rather than a movie.

The name given to Jaguar Eye by one of his tormentors, "Almost", sums up the experience for me. I'm no expert on the Mayan civilisation but would be willing to bet there were historical inaccuracies in the film, even without being told! That said, feature films are not history lessons and it is unrealistic to expect total fidelity to known facts in the development of a movie. The story has a hypnotic quality and it is very easy to root for the hero. The suspension in reality that results in the superhuman feats of both hunters and hunted is well-maintained, and the backdrop is suitably stunning. Subtitling can be off-putting but in this case, resistance is quickly overcome by the momentum of the story, and the strength of the characters. The quality of acting, direction, photography and sound is outstanding throughout. Other film anoraks may like to note the similarity in theme to Gibson's earlier project, "Braveheart", where ingenuity takes on brute force and sort of half wins. I've held off giving five stars simply because this is quite a harrowing film, and probably not one I would want to watch over and over. There is cruelty a-plenty, which generally speaking is not often to my taste, but it is definitely worth seeing the film at least once.

I remember being blown away by this film when it first cam out. It's long running time seemed to pass in minutes and it wasn't long before this masterpiece was over and I was left stunned. If your haven't seen this film yet - you must - and Blu Ray is the perfect platform for it. But what of those - who like me - have already seen it and own a copy on DVD? Is it worth buying it again on Blu Ray? The simple answer is yes. And especially at this great price. This, quite simply is one of the sort of things Blu Ray is meant for. The Jungle seems to come alive as birds tweet and flys seem to buzz around your surround sound speakers. The scenery is staggeringly beautiful and the jungle seems that much lusher and denser now we can see it in stunning detail. The colour of the sky and the costumes at the temple scene seem vivd, and the people covered in white chalk dust at the mines, and the men painted blue for sacrifice seem to spring from the screen in their vibrancy. The manufacturers of the DVD seem to realise this too, and one of the extras on the Blu Ray is a selection of 'best for Blu Ray' chapters: an option that takes you straight to scenes from the film that look spectacular on Blu Ray and show off what this format is all about (no doubt this will be being used a lot by shops up and own the country trying to sell you all new TVs) To sum up, Apocalypto is as stunning and enjoyable film at the best of times - but those times just got even better. And at this incredible price of under £7 - they just got even, even, even, better again! [...]

One of the best made films ever. It was not perhaps recognised as such for several reasons, and if only because Mel Gibson has been appropriately ostracised for inappropriate behaviour in his personal life. But the film was also perhaps misunderstood because most people have little understanding, appreciation, or interest in the history or culture of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Thirdly, the film's dialogue is in original local (Mayan) languages with English subtitles. This can be " off-putting" for some viewers. There is also violence that some might consider gratuitous, though, in fact, it is not. The film does an excellent job of portraying life as it most likely was. (Gibson had well known and highly regarded professional/academic advisors on the project.) It was filmed in Mexico and Costa Rica. The cinematography, film editing, and acting are of Oscar quality. Remarkably, the actors -- and there are hundreds of them -- are 99% locals, mostly untrained. They are there because they are authentic, though costume design and make-up are also extraordinary. Once viewed, the film commands additional viewings. One cannot watch this film once. There is also a Director's cut on most DVDs that features Gibson and his co-writer viewing and commenting on the film together, which offers interesting background and perspective on the making of it. In sum, Apocalypto is a worthy effort and a superb film. And regardless of what one may think of Mel Gibson as a person, he is a superb filmmaker.

Brilliant dvd, very gory in places. Apparently the historical accuracy is doubtful but anyone in that situation would react that way.

I first watched this movie on terrestrial tv and didn't know much about the storyline or what to expect. I enjoyed the movie so much, I decided to purchase the DVD. From the first few minutes, I was absolutely hooked. A really absorbing movie. I felt totally exhausted after watching it as you feel like you have lived and breathed events with the main character 'Jaguar Paw'. The cinematography is beautifully shot and the the acting first rate. I tend to shy away from movies with subtitles but strangely with Apocalypto, I kind of forgot that there were subtitles, if that makes any sense! Whatever you may think of Mel Gibson as a person, he sure knows how to make a cracking movie! Word of caution though, there are some pretty brutal scenes but this all contributes towards making it feel more authentic. Also, don't watch it before going to sleep because the adrenalin will be pumping through your body, making sleep nigh on impossible! Brilliant. I think it is quite possibly one the best movies I have watched in the last few years.

All Mel Gibson movies are awesome, including Mad Max, when he was very young and a newbie to the movie world. He has now matured into a superb film maker after being a successful actor. In fact, he is a better film maker, than actor. Apocalypto is a must watch on a big screen an awesome surround sound. If you have a mediocre system at home; wait till you have a good home theatre to watch this splendid work. The best scene is the jaguar chasing the protagonist. I initially thought it was a panther because it is actually black. Watch it and you will know what I am talking about. Worth every penny Cheers!!

Bom filme !

Manches Mal erinnert mich dieser Mensch Mel Gibson an Klaus Kinski in seinen wildesten Tagen. Exzessive Auftritte, verbunden mit irrwitzigen verbalen Entgleisungen, dazu Suff-Therapie, Auftritte vor Gericht und vieles andere dieses unnötigen Zeugs mehr. Und dann bringt er 2006 wieder einen solchen Film, der einem schlichtweg aus den Schuhen haut. Gibson produzierte ihn nicht nur maßgeblich mit, sondern er war auch am Drehbuch beteiligt und führte genial Regie. Das Ergebnis ist ein Film über einen Maya-Krieger, der den Untergang seines Stammes und den Beginn der Ausrottung seiner Zivilisation miterlebt. Das sind rund 130 Minuten, in denen jeder Zuschauer gefesselt dasitzt und mit Herzklopfen das Geschehen verfolgt. Der Film hat KEINE Jugendfreigabe - und das ist gut so. Wenngleich, die stattfindende Gewalt ergibt sich zwangsweise aus dem Geschehen, der Zeit, dem Umfeld und den Zwängen - genau so wie es in soliden, aufklärenden, geschichtlich genauen Büchern über diese Zeit umschreibend angedeutet wird. Ich behaupte, dass übliche Horrorstreifen wesentlich gefährdender sind, weil dort das Geschehen nur um der Bestialitätwillen gezeigt wird und solche Plots eigentlich totaler Blödsinn sind. Dass dieser Film nur zweieinhalb Jahre vom Drehbuchbeginn zum fertigen Produkt benötigte, erklärt sich beim Ansehen des Bonusmaterials - denn dort wuselt dieser Wahnsinns-Gibson wie ein Irrwisch durch die Kulissen und treibt die Leute zu außergewöhnlicher Leistung an. In jeder Maske, bei jedem Kostüm - wohlunterscheidend vom einfachen Menschen aus dem Busch, über den Vertreter des Mittelstands bis hin zu den Repräsentanten der herrschenden Großkaste - erkennt man den sachkundigen, fachlichen Rat des renommierten Archäologen Dr. Richard Hanson, dessen bevorzugtes Interesse dem Volk der Mayas seit jeher gegolten hat. Allerdings verzichtet Gibson zugunsten der Erzählung dieses packenden Lebensabschnittes des Kriegers namens PRANKE DES JAGUARS auf historisch-faktische Ansprüche. Der Dreh reduziert sich auf das Erleben dieses Kriegers in Person des kraftvoll aufspielenden Rudy Youngblood (stark, überzeugend, beeindruckend der Cherokee-Nachfahre in dieser Idealrolle für ihn), der wie die anderen überlebenden Bewohner seines Dorfes verschleppt und versklavt wurde, nachdem er gerade noch seine hochschwangere Frau und den gemeinsamen Sohn in einem tiefen Erdloch verstecken konnte. Daraus können sie sich von alleine jedoch nicht befreien. Dies weiß er genau und genau das fördert seinen nie erlöschenden Willen, bei erstbester Gelegenheit zu fliehen und schnellstmöglich seine Familie aus dieser schier ausweglosen Situation zu retten. Ein fast unmögliches Unterfangen, denn die kriegerischen Holcane, unter Führung ihres gewaltorientierten Klanführeres (unheimlich Rodolfo Palacios) verstehen ihr Handwerk. Ein Naturereignis rettet Pranke-des-Jaguars aus auswegloser, grausam blutiger, religiös bedingter Situation. Ein brutal-realer, die Verfolger dezimierender, Wettlauf beginnt, wobei sich der Protagonist der Tatsache erinnert, dass das der Wald seiner Väter war, sein Wald ist und dies der Wald seiner Kinder bleiben soll. Währenddessen wird die Zeit für die Frau und das gerade geborene zweite Kind knapp. Schließlich kommt es zu einem grandiosen Finale mit letztlich überraschendem Ausgang, der den Helden nötigt, sich weiter in die Tiefe der Wälder zurückzuziehen, einer ungewissen Zukunft entgegen. Mel Gibson ist und bleibt Fachmann für skandalverdächtige, kompromisslos, aneckende Filme. Auch hier fließt hektoliterweise Blut, die Kamera ist hautnah dran, doch letztendlich wird sich kein erwachsener Zuschauer daran stören, sondern sich nur über die Scheußlichkeit der Situation in die der Held gerät ereifern. Und jeder Statist muss jederzeit gewärtig sein, in Großaufnahme ins Bild zu kommen. Das merkt man den Akteuren an. Jede Hintergrundszene sitzt, als wäre sie Teil des Haupt-Handlungsstrangs, und die 700 Statisten, spielen sich die Seele aus dem Leib. Allesamt Laiendarsteller, die schauspielerisches Können durch intensive körperliche Präsenz ersetzten. Natürlich wird es die üblichen Bedenkenträger geben, welche die knapp fünfminütige, detailliert gezeigte Massenenthauptungsszene als überflüssig ansehen. Aber warum sollte Gibson darauf verzichten. Das geschah zu dieser Zeit und es war kein Akt der Brutalität, sondern eine vermeintliche Notwendigkeit, die sich religiös begründete. Und warum soll nicht endlich einmal auch gezeigt werden, was hinter dem verniedlichenden Wort MENSCHENOPFER steckt und wie dumm ein solches ist, gerade wenn es eine Religion fordert. Auch christliche Hexenverbrennungen waren schließlich MENSCHENOPFER, und würde sich ein Regisseur endlich einmal in christlichen Landen daran wagen, das im Bild realitätsgetreu zu zeigen, würden manche Menschen diese vorgeblich ach so humane Religion mitsamt den Taten ihrer Vertreter möglicherweise unverbrämter sehen können. Das Drehbuch baut sich aus dem Erleben des jungen Mayakriegers auf und das Geschehen wächst damit. Gibson konnte, gerade weil er diesen Film möglichst realitätsnah gestaltete, auf große digitale Effekte verzichten, was man wohltuend erkennt und das diesem Werk keinesfalls schadet oder es in seiner Wirkung mindert. MEISTERHAFT, nur so kann ich die handwerkliche Umsetzung des Stoffs apostrophieren, und man merkt, dass Gibson von Kamera, Schnitt, Musik bis hin zum Fachmann für altertümliche Waffen nur die Besten ihres Fachs engagierte. Streiten darf man sicherlich darüber, ob der durchgehend in einem Maya-Dialekt gedrehte Film nicht doch besser hätte synchronisiert werden sollen. Zugegeben, man muss immer wieder die Augen auf die Schrifteinblendungen wenden. Doch diese Original-Laute vermitteln eine ungeheuerliche Authentizität. Ich gewöhnte mich schnell daran und empfand es bald nicht mehr als Mangel. Warum dieser Film (zumindest zum Zeitpunkt dieser Rezension) nicht von AMAZON sondern nur von sonstigen Mitbewerbern angeboten wird, ist für mich total unverständlich. Fazit: EIN FILMKUNSTWERK, DAS VIELLEICHT NUR MEL GIBSON AUF DIE LEINWAND BRINGEN KONNTE! ABSOLUT EMPFEHLENSWERT!!! HMcM

Scenery is absolutely beautiful and stunning. A Mayan village is brutally attacked, many killed but many women and men are taken captive to be sold as slaves. There daily lives are are now a product of hell. From the jungle to a city made of stone. What man can do to another man, is truly unbelievable- sacrifice- blood and a beating heart, is everything. Just a fantastic movie that needs to be seen for its beauty and brutality.

Très bon film, j'avais été le voir au cinéma quand il est sorti et j'avais fortement apprécié. Ce qui est original, c'est que les acteurs parlent la langue maya et c'est simplement sous-titré. On est donc complètement immergé dans l'ambiance du film. Ce n'est pas du tout dérangeant à lire car le sous-titrage ne fait qu'une ligne ou deux, vous ne perdez rien du tournage.