Apocalypto DVD > Reviews > End of the Great Mayan Civilisation

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Loved it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Outstanding
Special Effects	Standard
Soundtrack	Average

Advantages:	Action packed, Gripping,
Disadvantages:	Not for everyone .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (2006) may sound at first like a pretty dull and uninteresting film to watch but then you would be wrong this film is as potent and powerful as it is violent and brutal that can only be shown from the ancient Mayan civilization upon which it is set.

The whole film is spoken in the extinct Mayan language with English subtitles this gives it more depth and realism than if the people spoke in English as have many of films of this type. The film starts you off with some of the main characters hunting in the jungle for food to feed there small peaceful village where there is a development of the characters, Its then in the early hours of the next day that there peaceful world is shattered by a violent invading force who attack the village capturing as many of the villagers as they can while the villagers fight for there lives and freedom or attempt to escape.

The survivors are then tied up in groups as captive and start to move of to an unknown destination and a fate that is unclear, the children are left to fend for themselves, one of the main characters pregnant wife and son managed to hide from capture but are trapped as he is forced away. They then face a long forced march to their unknown destination where the character development of the captors and their relationship with the villagers is made.

As they approach there destination there is a diseased little girl that tell the captors of a prophecy that will bring an end to them all, they arrive at there destination the capital of the Mayan civilisation and it becomes clear that the men are to be sacrificed on the alter of the sun god in front of huge crowds in a hope that it will Aleve the plague that is afflicting their crops.

When it looks like all is lost and they are to all be killed a twist of fate as there is a solar eclipse means that they are given a chance of freedom but first they have to escape which is when you first find out who the main character is when he manages to escape by killing the captors leaders son, and driven on by the power of his love for his family makes a break for home to rescue his family while evading the captors once again who are out for revenge. It is very clever how they all believe more in the little girls prophecy as the evens unfold and when the end comes it make sense if you have a grasp on that period of history.

All in all it is a good watch that keeps you interested all the way through to the end. But if you want to know what happens in the end, does he survive to rescue his wife in time or do the captors kill him? And what is the prophecy talking of?? Well you will just have to watch the film to find out!
Summary: Watch it you wont be disapointed