Apocalypto

[Zenji]

Ok so I checked out Apocalypto... I think there was some confusion in the movie trailers or I'm just retarded.

So here I think the movie's about the Mayan civilization and events leading up to collapse of their culture. But it's not. Doesn't even seem to have anything to do with anything like that.

It does an ok job showing some of the cultural extravagances... but doesn't really speak much about the culture. Furthermore the movie is built on some mysterious "prophecy" that some would think was directed at the civilization but was instead just directed at a particular group of men. In classic movie fashion, the "prophecy" is played out in very climactic (and a little more than coincidental) zeal and not much gets resolved.

It's a really cool movie, don't get me wrong. It's got some good scenes if you're into the shock value of raiding, pillaging, torture, sacrifice and survival with a small spattering of supernatural and romantic notions. I think I may go see it at the theatre next time for full thematic effect.