Movie Title: Apocalypto
Overall score (out of 5): 2.375
Rated: R
Running time: 2h33m
Genre: Drama
Main premise: A story rooted in ancient Mayan folklore which tells the epic journey of one man in his fight to stay alive.
Main Cast (alphabetically):
Jaguar Paw – Rudy Youngblood
Overall score breakdown
Storyline and/or writing: 1
1 (amateur) – 5 (brilliant)
Comments (if any): The only story is Jaguar Paw’s struggle to stay alive. While it was endearing to witness the strength of this character’s human will, there was no other depth to the picture.
Dialogue: 3
1 (inane) – 5 (excellent)
Comments (if any): This was a movie that was not dialogue driven, but whatever lines were spoken were in a supposed ancient tongue. The subtitles are delivered in small chunks that are quick to read so you do not miss much of the scene. Also, in scenes where there is much activity to take in, there is no speaking so you are not distracted by reading subtitles. They did an excellent job conveying the idea that these people were able to speak telepathically.
Cinematography: 2
1 (irregular) – 5 (breathtaking)
Comments (if any): No special techniques, but beautiful scenery. They choose to enter the body of one of the tortured people and the audience experiences the sights of being stretched over the altar, disemboweled and then, ironically enough beheaded and having the head tossed dizzyingly down the tower steps, rolling head over heals into blackness – all while the camera is seemingly inside the victim’s head.
Sets and/or location: 4
1 (common) – 5 (outstanding)
Comments (if any): Filmed in the jungles and in a spectacular computer generated Mayan city.
Animation or Special Effects: 3
1 (satisfactory) – 5 (amazing)
Comments (if any): The computer generated Mayan city was breathtaking. The effects of the savagery described below were believably real.
Graphicness: 0
1 (intolerable) – 5 (tolerable)
Comments (if any): The graphic violence of this film was beyond intolerable. The filmmakers chose to address many of the rituals we assume happened in the Mayan culture. The audience is witness to numerous explicit disembowelments, beheadings and general overall torture and slaughter at a ceaseless, rapid-fire succession. The savagery and inhumane brutality was nauseating. I spent a lot of this movie with my eyes averted and was so exhausted when it was over that I was not sure if the film had lasted 2 ½ hours or 2 ½ years.
Soundtrack: 1
1 (average) – 5 (extraordinary)
Comments (if any): A few numbers of native drumming caught my attention.
Cast and/or Acting: 5
1 (weak) – 5 (powerful)
Comments (if any): An entirely unknown cast and riding on a dialogue that possibly disguised bad acting, the movie was delivered with believable authenticity. The young child cast as the prophetess was unfalteringly strong and chilling with the intensity she was able to hold in her eyes. Jaguar Paw, as well, spoke infinite volumes with his direct gazes. I was moved by his wife, a regal beauty, who portrayed untiring strength and tenacity. The rest of the cast behaved so believably savage that I actually felt afraid.
Overall score (out of 5): 2.375
Rated: R
Running time: 2h33m
Genre: Drama
Main premise: A story rooted in ancient Mayan folklore which tells the epic journey of one man in his fight to stay alive.
Main Cast (alphabetically):
Jaguar Paw – Rudy Youngblood
Overall score breakdown
Storyline and/or writing: 1
1 (amateur) – 5 (brilliant)
Comments (if any): The only story is Jaguar Paw’s struggle to stay alive. While it was endearing to witness the strength of this character’s human will, there was no other depth to the picture.
Dialogue: 3
1 (inane) – 5 (excellent)
Comments (if any): This was a movie that was not dialogue driven, but whatever lines were spoken were in a supposed ancient tongue. The subtitles are delivered in small chunks that are quick to read so you do not miss much of the scene. Also, in scenes where there is much activity to take in, there is no speaking so you are not distracted by reading subtitles. They did an excellent job conveying the idea that these people were able to speak telepathically.
Cinematography: 2
1 (irregular) – 5 (breathtaking)
Comments (if any): No special techniques, but beautiful scenery. They choose to enter the body of one of the tortured people and the audience experiences the sights of being stretched over the altar, disemboweled and then, ironically enough beheaded and having the head tossed dizzyingly down the tower steps, rolling head over heals into blackness – all while the camera is seemingly inside the victim’s head.
Sets and/or location: 4
1 (common) – 5 (outstanding)
Comments (if any): Filmed in the jungles and in a spectacular computer generated Mayan city.
Animation or Special Effects: 3
1 (satisfactory) – 5 (amazing)
Comments (if any): The computer generated Mayan city was breathtaking. The effects of the savagery described below were believably real.
Graphicness: 0
1 (intolerable) – 5 (tolerable)
Comments (if any): The graphic violence of this film was beyond intolerable. The filmmakers chose to address many of the rituals we assume happened in the Mayan culture. The audience is witness to numerous explicit disembowelments, beheadings and general overall torture and slaughter at a ceaseless, rapid-fire succession. The savagery and inhumane brutality was nauseating. I spent a lot of this movie with my eyes averted and was so exhausted when it was over that I was not sure if the film had lasted 2 ½ hours or 2 ½ years.
Soundtrack: 1
1 (average) – 5 (extraordinary)
Comments (if any): A few numbers of native drumming caught my attention.
Cast and/or Acting: 5
1 (weak) – 5 (powerful)
Comments (if any): An entirely unknown cast and riding on a dialogue that possibly disguised bad acting, the movie was delivered with believable authenticity. The young child cast as the prophetess was unfalteringly strong and chilling with the intensity she was able to hold in her eyes. Jaguar Paw, as well, spoke infinite volumes with his direct gazes. I was moved by his wife, a regal beauty, who portrayed untiring strength and tenacity. The rest of the cast behaved so believably savage that I actually felt afraid.
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