Post-Apocalypto vision

Chris Cordes, New York, NY — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 02:34:11 GMT

Anthropologists and archaeologists have a tendency to "gloss over" the human time span of a civilization to only capture the high points of its achievements. It is well known that the Meso-Americian cultures developed many sophisticated advances pertaining to written language and astrological charting, but for the "everyday" population I would surmise their main goal was survival. Having been to most ancient cities in this region, they all speak of violence - their surviving written language, architecture, frescos and objects appear to have been created solely to record it. I have yet to see any of the forementioned areas record how the general population was feeling or doing. The presence of ball-courts in every city, with wall niches for the head of the loser's team, are dominant within main plazas near the temples. These cultures, for all their advancements, were brutal. Mel Gibson's APOCALYPTO focuses on the near-end of a great time span - weeks instead of the anthropologists'/archaeologists' cultural span of 1,000 years - and the relationship of the "everyday" illierate farmer, still eking out a basic livelihood, in relation to a small, "literate," blood-driven ruling class. Gibson's film is a piercing "split-second" look at class struggles and their differences that clash as the momentum of "advance" ideas (good or bad) come into play. We have read about it through out history - so why, now, are the anthropologists and archaeologists being so sacrosanct about the visual sense of the history they are writing?

Post-Apocalypto vision

jim — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 02:53:58 GMT

hello! it's a Movie! Get off Mel's back already! get over it. i can't wait to see it! sounds great.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Lois Schmidt, Milwaukee WI — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 03:18:01 GMT

Oh, please! Mel hit the nail square on the head and you all darned well know it. Too bad if you and the rest of society can't stand to look truth in the face. Maybe if our society could bring itself to do so, we might yet have some faint hope of maitaining our own civilization. Mr. Gibson earns my high praise for his incredible courage and astonishing talent.

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Patrick H (Los Angeles, CA) — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 03:19:08 GMT

"totally fictional action movie".. that's the point.. it's a Hollywood movie.. If an audience member leaves with the impression that the Mayan society (or any society) is ALL bad or ALL good based on a single Hollywood film.. then why should we value that audience members' uninformed opinion or attitude on that culture.. the critics of "Apocalypto"'s (social message)are basically parroting the usual politically correct mantra, which is that Native Americans shouldn't be depicted as anything other than noble and innocent victims of Euopean conquest.. instead of being shown as human beings.

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Ron Bowman — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 04:02:59 GMT

I saw the movie this evening and thought it was great. Best I've seen for a couple years. I didn't like the ending because I thought the Mayan civilization was well over before the Spanish arrived. Then I read the above article about the sects that survived until then. Mel Gibson is the premier film maker of our age, like him or not.

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Zen - Colorado — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 07:58:35 GMT

From our point in history looking back, Mayan life, Mayan ritual looks brutal. But not necessarily so from their point in history. They simply had a different understanding of life and of death, of purpose and meaning. Unlike Western civilization, death of the body is not something every culture loathes or fears. Indeed, it is a part of life.

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Michael Powell — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 12:14:34 GMT

It may be a good movie but I havent seen it yet.It seems these days no matter what you do in film or radio someone always gets offended.Im offended these people arent smart enough to find out its a movie.Those who have brains are smart enough to understand that and any publicity is good publicity,so before the film, Mayans were just a page in a book,brought to light in any form,investigations from the curious will reopen the book of their history instead of a dusty shelf.I think we are dumbing down as a society with anyone up in arms over anything you do.Offended yet? Good!Smarten up please!

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Jennie Sebrasky, Cleveland, OH — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 13:33:33 GMT

The movie was very, very good. The Mayans were around -- and successful -- long before the Aztecs in Central Mexico and the Incas in Peru. I think the end of the movie shows just why there is still a Mayan culture today. Any Mayan villagers who survived simply slipped back into the forest -- the forest they knew and loved. The Aztecs and the Incas were destroyed by the Spanish invasion. Not the Mayans. Did any of the critics in the article above actually SEE the movie? P.S. I'm a female who cannot watch the entire movie Braveheart because of the violence, but loved The Patriot. This was more on the lines of The Patriot. The violence was there, but that certainly wasn't the entire movie.

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Duc Pho Torch — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 13:33:46 GMT

Has Mel been forgiven for slipping and speaking the inconvenient truth in a weak, alcohol-tinged moment? All you had to do was see his appearance on Jay Leno and the huge, near standing ovation response of the audience. I've seen all his movies and will make a point to continue seeing them.

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Doug — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 13:54:19 GMT

Right, its a MOVIE. And a fantastic movie at that. I don't know why there's this whole debate about all of these Mayan things- its was a movie about the hero's journey. If the hero isn't faced with impossible horrific odds, then there isn't hard conflict. It was a movie about mythology- it wasn't on the history channel. Go see this movie if you want ENTERTAINMENT not an EDUCATION. It really is an incredible movie- easily the best I've seen all year. If you care to learn about the Mayan society, read a book then you can make your own decisions about it.

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Peter Jetty, Springdale Arkansas — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 14:51:24 GMT

Fiction is fiction, Hollywood loves sensationalism, when actually the Mayans were very docile, spiritual, math experts. Their major contribution was overlooked in this movie, as they prophesied through the Mayan Long Count the beginning of the Apocalypse where their calendars end on 12/21/12. Censorship of this important event shows how the government controls what we see. You need only to look up the Georgia Guide Stones to understand what the Mayans truly intended.

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James Lee, Las Vegas, Nevada — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:23:55 GMT

"the Maya were ravaged by the diseases brought over by the Europeans". The way in which such statements are presented as fact is irresponsible in light of actual research- which provides sufficient evidence to downgrade the concept to simply a theory, at best, and probably nothing more than a myth. That may be good enough for Creationists (and kneejerk self-hating descendants of colonial people), but those interested in verifiable truth may want to be more specific in their language.

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Michael Vandermark, Denver, Colorado — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:25:59 GMT

The making of a good film is not a simple task. Mel got descendants who walked the walk and talked the talk. Like it or not, it seems accurate to me.

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Adeel — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:36:03 GMT

I don't know why some parts of the media have started to act like such bigots about Mel Gibson. He is one of the most talented actors/directors of our time. This movie like many others is a great example of the man's talent and the gift that he has for entertaining us. So give this nonsense and enjoy the movie. Whatever he said about Jews and stuff is no big deal.People say/do foolish things when the are drunk. So pro-Jew media leave him alone.

Mel ROCKS!!

Post-Apocalypto vision

coatl temictiani -Aztlan- — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 15:40:50 GMT

neltiliztli ixcococ tlacayectli neltiliztli, tehuantin yoliliztli

Post-Apocalypto vision

Kelly, Phoenix AZ — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 16:31:56 GMT

I think Mel is drawing good similarity between the Mayans and America. America has already been destroyed from within by Liberal ideology. And the Spaniards (terrorists) are here.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Kathleen Mincks, Denver Colorado — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:03:03 GMT

This film is more racist than Mel Gibson's anti-Semistic remarks which everyone says they will not tolerate. This movie is so racist, the problem is that the white culture doesn't even see it. The irony being that perhaps the Mayans have once again shown their wisdom, since this film and its maker do not portray them but ourselves and our own violence. Although the Native Peoples should not be portrayed as Noble, nor should they be betrayed as savages--that is such an old conquest imperialistic model. But hey enjoy your violence-filled feast, may it fill you up with what you need.

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Mad Max — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:16:08 GMT

"Instead of choosing to create a movie that was nothing but violence, it would have been very interesting to have a movie that showed the drama and courage of a people who created a mathematical system, who created a complex religious pantheon, who created a superb writing system"

yeah, that is what I want to see a movie about; the birth of a mathematical system. Woo hoo!! EXCITEMENT!!!

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John Doe, Seattle, Wash — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:28:43 GMT

Mel Gibson is a raving anti-semite. I want to be entertained as much as the next person when watching a movie, but knowing what we know now - when we spend our money at the movie theatre this season, aren't we in a way supporting this guy and his crazy world view by seeing this one? Boycott Mel Gibson. I don't care if this movie is the best thing since Star Wars. I will not even rent "Mel Gibson's Apocalypto."

PS someone tell Mr. Gibson that including an anti-semite's name in any movie title is bad for ticket sales

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Don Kerns Manzanita Or — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:35:25 GMT

Art is intended to raise one's thinking above a single concept. History needs to be disected to gain an understanding on how to mold future societies that will rise. Movie making is just one process. I just hope someone will do a movie on the political culture of the United States, and leave no stone uncovered.

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Nate, Cincinnati, OH — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 18:17:37 GMT

The only reason why people are concerned with this movie is because there is a large group of Guatemalan immigrants (both legal and illegal) here in the United States. Otherwise, no one would care. When movies are made about Nazi Germany, they are historically accurate and gruesome at the same time...to a far greater degree than Mel Gibson's depiction of the Mayan culture.

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Alan Boyle — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 19:14:05 GMT

By the way, I *think* the comment from our Aztlan friend above is Nahuatl for "Sad truth, virtuous truth - this is our life." But I could be wrong. Any Nahuatl-speakers out there?

Post-Apocalypto vision

Guillermo Fregozo N. Hollywood ca — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 19:57:36 GMT

I do not know from where you all people get the idea that this is a great movie. all I saw was degradation of a great civilization, I did not see any of the great pyramids, i did not see any of the great economic power the maya were. nor any of the great astronomical or mathematical advances they had, or any of the social structure of the maya, All I saw were barbaric hunters, and lots of blood, very distorted and shameful portrait of a great civilization. i regret paying the admission price

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Rick Wall, Montgomery, AL — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 20:37:13 GMT

How come there's so much focus on how 'violent' Mel Gibson's movies are, but no mention when all the other violent film directors out there come out with their films? Typical. Go Mel!

Post-Apocalypto vision

RICHARD HERNANDEZ, LAS VEGAS, NV — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 21:24:36 GMT

THOSE WHO FORGET THE PAST ARE DOOMED TO RELIVE IT A THOUGHT PROVOKING MOVIE.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Fati. Fatilua, Albany, New York — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 22:16:48 GMT

The movie is also a statement about preserving our environment and natural resources. Man only takes and takes and when finally the world has no more to give, what is to become of man?

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Bob Bickers, Murrysville, Pennsylvania — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:24:22 GMT

My wife and I saw the movie and loved it. Country boy with a good heart manages to outwit the evil city dwellers who would do him harm. A classic tale well told, but not a documentary any more than a Clint Eastwood movie tells you all you need to know about 19th century America. One person's story at one place at one time. Violent? Yes, but while the Spaniards were no saints, perhaps a little reminding as to why they reacted so strongly against the Aztecs and Mayans is not such a bad thing.

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Dave, Olympia, WA — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 06:50:17 GMT

I can see a movie being made about Moslem extremists, and critics decrying it because the movie doesn't inform the viewer of the great accomplishments of Islamic culture. Critics who think that any movie maker should show any culture in this or that light, or that a movie should have included this or mentioned that, should make their own movies. Any movie that does not purport to be an objective presentation of history is merely a story. Movie makers tell their own stories, not anyone else's. Get over it.

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David Arnest, Honolulu, HI — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:34:33 GMT

I think a lot of people are missing the point when they see the arrival of the Spanish as 'the good guys' showing up to restore law, order and decency (possibly alluding, as has been suggested, to the 'deus ex machina' ending of 'Lord of the Flies' where grown-ups arrive to 'stop the kids from fighting').

In the world of Apocalypto, the Spanish are the ones who have come to take the Mayans down, fully in the sense of the quotation at the beginning of the movie. 'Apocalypse' as a word has to do with endings, not beginnings.

Jaguar Paw refuses contact with them for his 'new beginning'. The Spanish are not a 'new beginning', just a force to obliterate decadence.' Just part of a cycle.

So I think that critics who have questioned the cohesiveness of the film merely haven't taken the time to 'get it'. C'mon folks - anyone can see that, beside his abilities as an artistic director and storyteller, Mel Gibson is also an intelligent and thoughtful individual. Whatever his faults and flaws might be.

Post-Apocalypto vision

L. A. WEISMAN, OKLA. CITY, OKLA. — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 07:52:57 GMT

I HAVE STUDIED THE INCA, MAYA, AND THE AZTEC CULTURES FOR 40+ YEARS AS A READING-HOBBY. THIS MOVIE SEEMS TO ME TO HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD SO TO SPEAK. THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE BLOODTHIRSTY BEHAVIOR PORTRAYED FICTIONALLY IN THIS MOVIE. THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE IS FICTION. MEL GIBSON'S RECENT ALCOHOLIC, ANTI-SEMETIC RANTS HAVE VERY LITTLE TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS A GOOD MOVIE. QUIBBLING ABOUT THE INACCURATE USE OF THE GREEK WORD FOR THE TITLE IS A WASTE OF TIME. THOSE WHO GIVE THIS MORE THAN A SENTENCE OR TWO ARE MISSING THE POINT...ON PURPOSE. CRITICISE THE FLIC ON IT'S MERITS OR LACK THEREOF. IS THIS A GOOD STORY, WELL TOLD? IF SO, SAY SO. THERE HAS BEEN PLENTY OF TIME TO RAKE MEL GIBSON OVER THE COALS FOR HIS PUBLIC STUPIDITY. IT IS POSSIBLE TO MAKE GOOD, EVEN GREAT ART, AND STILL BE AN ASSHOLE IN ONE'S PERSONAL LIFE. JUST GO SPEND SOME TIME AROUND THE MOVIE BUSINESS...YOU'LL SEE.

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Mario Ponce, Chicago, Illinois — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 12:27:02 GMT

Wow! What a movie. It achieved exactly what a great action movie should - edge of the seat & hair raising scenes. I haven't been this affected since "The Killing Fields". While all the - so called - experts decide whether to provide their critical spin, you can't deny that this movie is compelling & gripping, and worth your every cent. Importantly, I walked away with both respect and disdain for the Mayan culture. Moveover, it gave my wife and I plenty of material for forthcoming conversations.

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bob rushing middletown new york — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 14:49:01 GMT

It's just a movie? Just entertainment?

The book 'The Turner Diaries' is 'just a book' and fictional to boot yet it was a motivating factor for Timothy McVeigh.

The problem is too many people believe Hollywood and what they see on either the silver screen or on T.V. Hollywood has one objective and that is to make money. They don't care about facts or historical accuracy. Let's face it folks, sex and violence sells and stupid movies DO have an influence on the way people think.

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K McGehee — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 18:45:35 GMT

I have yet to see the movie myself but plan to.

I wonder if the opinions of some would be such were the movie by Tarantino? ...or even Polanski? I'm sure that if Oliver Stone did it, people would love it.

What I gather from commentary is that the movie depicts but one side of a great civilization. It reflects on one aspect, not the whole picture. The movie is meant to tell the story it tells: nothing more nor less.

Ironically, many people who dwell on this are guilty of the same when thinking of their own society. People lose site of the big picture and this is what causes the downfall of a society.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Patrick S., Tulsa, OK — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 20:45:27 GMT

OSCAR! I hope that Hollywood can get over itself enough to recognize that it has been outdone in just about every detail by this film. Excellent in every way!

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Steven, Duluth, GA — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:17:01 GMT

Like the other guy said...it's a movie...not a documentary! How about finding out how much truth is in Michael Morons movies...?!

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LCF, Santa Clara, Ca — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 21:21:06 GMT

well I for one am glad that Mel stayed away from hollywoods need to cast caucasians as native americans! that's just ridiculous.- With an all native cast and still with all it's inaccuracies what a great film.- very realistic yet entertaining in it's true language and form, or at least as close to as you can get in Hollywood.

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Jim Wright — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 22:20:35 GMT

If the Maya were such brilliant, docile, intellectualy curious saints, as many people on this discussion have suggested, then why did they die out? It seems that you people are missing the point. This movie was about the decay of a civilization, not about a civilization at its peak. And just remember, Braveheart depicted Scots in a much more barbaric light than anyone had seen up to that point as well.

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Scott Gilmer, Los Angeles, California — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 01:03:21 GMT

I saw the movie yesterday and agree with the comments about violence reaching the level of pornography. In fact, I believe the very same film could have been made with less hyper-realism resulting in a more moving film. My complaint isn't so much with the sacrificial scenes but with the slow motion oozing of blood and guts, the closeup of spirting blood from a man's head and such. No witness to that kind of scene would have taken in all of the gore that was shown.

The quotation at the beginning of the film is not just a comment on the Mayan religious practices, but also on the society that demands such gore for cinematic entertainment. It also condemns the interest of film makers such as Gibson in producing this kind of show.

Also, many of the images surrounding the sacrificial moments were cliches. The fat princeling and the self-absorbed queen/princess were straight out of Saturday morning Tarzan movies. Was this creative quality? I think not. But it speaks volumes about Mel Gibson's depraved soul. He has a thirst for torture and gore and uses legitimate historical topics to justify wallowing in it. I doubt he could make a decent film without violence.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Louis Snyder, Houston, Texas — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 03:58:56 GMT

The movies by Mel Gibson are simply not according to the best and latest scholarship and differ in many significant and demonstrable ways. I would think a major film undertaking of either the crucifixion of Jesus and the Mayan society would have chosen instead to follow what is in the best and most reliable scholarship. The shame of it all is this is likely to result in more ignorance than anything else.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Blahdy Blah on Hollywood — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 04:26:53 GMT

Guillermo Fregozo of N. Hollywood CA appears to have analyzed the film quite adequately. Are not most of Gibson's films rather violent, superficial, and tabloid-esque renditions aimed more at lower brain stem functioning audiences than in the accurate elucidation of history?

Post-Apocalypto vision

Chris Cordes, New York, NY — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 04:46:08 GMT

I am dismayed by National Geographic's on-line comments in relation Gibson's new film, because they clearly indicate that they had not seen the film before making their hasty comments. Gibson clearly acknowledges, and visualizes, the central GREEN issues that "history" tells us were some of the key components in the demise of these Mesoamerican cultures - deforestation and draught. He shows deforestation as trees tumble and the landscape before the farmers fields have been stripped of all trees; he shows that the population surrounding the temple complex are farmers as we trod their dry fields, dead plants and starving humans. Because of a draught, with fields of dead corn stalks (interestingly behind an unfinished ball-court which Jaguar Paw, et al, have to run through), the complex's small ruling class, in near demise and trying to rebuild its glory, needs sacrificial bodies - hence to the jungle - beyond the complex and its supporting microstructure. Gibson clearly shows the greed, decadence and separation of the inbred ruling class in relation to the lower-class farming communities who have put themselves in abusive servitude. In this film, Gibson has woven an incredible story that meshes four society levels at the point of major cultural confrontation - the "illiterate" GREEN jungle/hunter, the "illiterate" domestic/farmer, the "literate," blood-driven ruling class, and the "literate," religious Spanish. Where history went from there is similar to where we are today - ecological, social and political deterioation. Gibson's piercing two-hour glance has cut through centuries of class struggles, showing it filled with human caring, wit and savage brutality.

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Wade Whitlock, Aberdeen, MD — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 13:50:27 GMT

Gibson, unfortunately, has the attitude that one should never let the facts interfere with a good story. See "Braveheart". That was no compliment to William Wallace!

See his work for what it is. Exploitation of history to make money. The Maya did great things. They had their faults, at least in our eyes, in theirs it was right. Check out the Toltec, Aztec and many others.

As for the Spanish, they had nothing to recommend them!

By the way, I won't be seeing the movie. I swore off Gibson after seeing Braveheart.

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Apache Biomedical Engineer — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:39:39 GMT

Most Native Americans were killed off by smallpox. I have never seen a "Cowboy and Indian" movie that shows this. Is probably not photogenic enough for the Hollywood producers. So they never mention it in their fake movies. See the link for some history.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallpox

While the European and African populations were increasing, the Natives were dying off with just a few left by 1900. Since that time, the majority of modern Natives are now part white. A historian studying DNA told me most southwestern Natives have Spanish ancestry in their DNA. This is due to the hundreds of years of slavery imposed by the Spaniards (or criollos/peninsulares as they called themselves) and the fact that tribes took captives at times (i.e. Quanah Parker's mother). So even the Navajos are most likely part Spanish. There aren't too many full-blooded Natives left. They are from another time.

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April Davis — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:41:36 GMT

I think my Time-Life movie about the Mayans showed hieroglyphic depictions of drunken crowds engaged in the use of alcohol enemas. The film ventured to guess that this was a large representation of the degradation of their culture. ???? Any historians out there?

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mark a jimenez — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 15:42:31 GMT

it was a good movie, not at all like had heard about, the gore, the pornography, there was nothing pornographic or gory about it, just good entertainment, two thumbs up for me

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S. Knipmeyer, Central Illinois — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 16:34:49 GMT

Kudos to the Melster for reminding us that the relatively peaceful society we live in today is far removed from the romantic vision of history we are used to viewing. If you want a really shocking movie, try filming a few of the atrocities that have occurred in the past decade. The list is long and varied including Central Africa and the Mideast for starters. The enormity of scale may have changed... but man's inhumanity hasn't.

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Lisa, Middleton, Idaho — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 17:40:37 GMT

First off, keep in mind this IS a movie and not intended to be a documentary. And what is the purpose of a movie after all? Duh, TO ENTERTAIN. If you want to LEARN about the Aztecs, go read a history book for crying out loud. Second, humans are so hypercritical. They don't mind their good actions mentioned or applauded, but don't you dare talk about their not-so-good-deeds. It's just not "PC" to do so! I'm sure that with a thorough research, you would find that every race/civilization has it's accomplishments and also it's less-than-proud-of moments. Yes, even America. Denial does not make them any less true or make them go away. Don't attack Mel just because 'Apocalypto' portrays a gruesome aspect of a society. If Ron Howard had made this film you wouldn't be seeing half this hoopla. Face it, the Aztecs DID sacrifice people for different reasons. Like it or not, it is a TRUE & HISTORICAL fact. Humanity just can't tolerate it's 'darkside' examined too closely. It does not like to admit that it does bad things. It only wants to acknowledge the 'good', and not the 'bad' or the 'ugly'. It is just not 'PC' to criticize anyone or anything even if it is true. To do so is to risk being called a 'racist'. We must only praise them even if it's not true. Too bad none of these critics have the intestinal fortitude to use the same standards they're using to bash Mel & the movie on other movies & people. Like I said, hypercrites!

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L. Potts, Arkansas — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:08:21 GMT

I do not know where Danien got this viewpoint...."His view that the Maya were corrupt from within and were saved by the Spaniards is nonsense," ...In the movie, the ending was the arrival of the Spaniards, which to me tied with the opening statement in that this was the death knell for the Maya...the new beginning was Jaguar Paw taking his family further into the forest to try to start their own new life away from the decadence and destruction by the Spaniards.

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Ray, Tampa, FL — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:08:38 GMT

An excellent movie. Forty years ago in elementary school, I did a school project on the ancient Indians of Central and South America. Very little was factually known by the general population about the cultures back then, and despite everything I've ever read since then, nothing can compare to Apocalypto's conceptualization of this great society. Mel Gibson has brought to the big screen an incredible visualization of what might have been!

I take everything I see or read with a grain of salt, and encourage everyone else to do so likewise.

A stunningly spectacular presentation with all the prerequisite elements of a good story... life, death, love, greed, compassion.

Was the violence presented too graphically? Not at all. That's what violence is, graphic!

Realistic wounds have an impact all their own. Who after watching the movie can't imagine the horror of standing atop the ancient temple awaiting your turn on the sacrificial altar? Even a minor head wound can cause a "pulsing" effect such as witnessed in the movie. Watching life drain slowly away, one pulse after the next, has an impact all it's own.

Too much graphic violence? Probably so.

Despite that, I recommend this movie to anyone who has ever wondered what life in the ancient Meso America world may have looked like. The costumes and ornamentation, from jungle dweller to chieftain to priest was incredible. The depiction of the village and city is awesome!

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Shelly, WS, NC — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:09:55 GMT

My husband and I saw this movie yesterday. I have read the many responses and varied reactions posted here.

I am confused by those who feel the movie did not represent true and accurate "historical facts". Decade after decade archaeologist dig up more "historical facts" that add to our knowledge of ancient civilizations. But the issue of interruption of those facts seems to never be addressed. Opinions on ancient artifacts are varied. Can anyone actually present a TRUE and ACCURATE unbiased account of a long gone civilization? No! The more pieces of the puzzle the easier to view some of the scene, but we will never have all the pieces and be able to know all the facts to be certain that we have a TRUE and ACCURATE account.

That leads me to a comment on the "overly violent sacrifice" scenes. Those demanding TRUE and ACCURATE historical facts may find the depiction of a "true and accurate" human sacrifice a bit too much. Reading about Mayan sacrifices is one thing, the reality of 'seeing' it is another. And let us not forget that MANY ancient civilizations practiced human sacrifice. From now on when I read the words "human sacrifice" it will mean WAY more than just understanding the definition of the words written!

I saw the issues of deforestation, crop failure, climate change, poluted water, disease, starvation, forced labor, rich vs poor, and rural vs urban that were depicted. All these things are still with us today.

The main thing that I came out of the theater thinking was that the more things change, the more they stay the same. The scenes atop the pyramid spoke volumes to me. The rulers (political), the military (those sent to round up the captives), the religious (the one who performed the sacrifice to the gods), and scientists (the one who spoke at the eclipse) were all 'above' the people. It was NOT the group atop the pyramid nor their castes that physically built the pyramid stone by stone. It was the lower caste members of the society that made it possible for them to be 'above'. Are our lives any less at the mercy of politics, religion, military, and science? We still have rulers of countries that 'speak' for their populations, the military that wages wars on the orders of rulers, religious differences that causes conflict and sacrifice, and scientists that want to think they have answers. And of course, the 'people' are still building the 'pyramids' that they are elevated upon. (Think tax dollars here!)

We are a violent species that continues to "sacrifice" in many ways. We sacrifice our planet, its creatures, and our fellow humans daily on the altar of monetary gain, continuation of our life style, and progress. Yet everyday we put on our rose colored glasses and think of ourselves as "civilized" and beyond the "barbaric" history of our ancestors. Same story, different methods.

I don't care who wrote the script or who financed its production or who starred in the movie. It was more than entertainment to me. It made me really THINK about what was presented! That is a rare occurance upon leaving the theater as most movies are just a means of passing free time.

These are just my reactions and opinions. They are no more or no less than anyone else's reactions or opinions. Each person is an individual and will have varying reviews.

Post-Apocalypto vision

Aaron, Indiana — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:15:50 GMT

First off, all you people that think you know exactly what the mayan culture was, tell me, were you there when all this happened? Were you there to see them for what you say they were? No? I didn't think so. Time travel and 500 year lifespans aren't here yet.

This is a movie... a movie. Not a documentary on the Mayan culture or something along those lines. If I wanted to see something about their contributions to mathematics, I'd watch the history channel. This was a great 'movie' just like all his other 'movies'.

Also, anyone who sits there and calls Mel an "anti-semite" or a racist should take a look in the mirror. Everyone has done or said something at some point in their life that was. Just because he is in the spotlight doesn't mean I want to hear your opinions about him. Keep your views to yourself and shut up.

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L. Potts, Arkansas — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:24:44 GMT

All in all, I think the movie was very well done--especially the costuming research. But did no one catch the symbolization of the felling of the Ceiba as they entered the city? However, they did play loose with the fear of the eclipse--they Maya would have known that was coming but then they needed someway for the hero to escape. The movie had me on my seat the entire time and was over with before I knew it. Yes, it was violent, but you have to view it with different cultural eyes, see it through a different society with different values at that time. And, at the same time, realize that people are people down to the depth--as people we can be kind and loving but we can also become corrupt and cruel through greed and fear.

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Peter Griffin — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:38:33 GMT

Wouldn't it be ironic if future archeologists pointed back to Mel's Mayan Melodrama as evidence of some decadent American bloodlust heralding the fall-from-within of the once great ancient United States civilization?

Makesyathink! huh? huh? Mel's violence - unintended burlesque of its own message, or a clever warning? Yeah...who's trapped in
a hall of mirrors now?

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Astrochronic Macedon, NY — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:00:13 GMT

I just love the reverse delusional discrimination. Its O.K to paint the Spaniards as brutal, enslaving destructive conquerers but not to depict the Mayans as brutal, enslaving, human sacrficing, tortureing savages. Apparently the Mayans contibuted more to modern civilization than the Spaniards. I guess the same can be said for The Native Americans and the Anglo-Saxon Europeans. Progress steamrolls obsolete cultures. Should we celebrate progress or whine about the loss of stagnant and nolonger viable cultures?

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Astrochronic Macedon, NY — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:07:00 GMT

In response to the person saying "keep your views to your self and shut up." You should probably take your own advice. Mel knew he was a celebrity and he knew his comments would have a hot bright spot light on them. He is an artist and an icon and his views are important if we are to correctly interpret the messages he puts in his movies. At the same time we should not read too much into the drunken angry insults hurled at a police officer as having a great depth of meaning. Plus this is America and wether or not you want to hear others opinions is irrelevant.

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Mark, Portland, Oregon — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 20:25:12 GMT

I loved the movie and feel that it's a pretty good depiction of certain aspects of a society. Should one think that Saving Private Ryan was indicative of western civilization during the "40"'s. Of course not. No more than this movie is indicative of Myan civilization during the 15 to 16 hundreds. It's just a portion of society revolving aroudn certain eventsw. That said, it was a very engorossing movie that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

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Wenonah, Portland, OR — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:24:23 GMT

First and foremost this was a movie created to be entertaining. It did it's job, i loved it. I thought it was well presented.

To all of you who keep posting that Mayan Mathamatical, astronomical and social structure was not fairly represented, need to realize a majority of us moviegoers are educated even fans of history that do know all the accomplishes of this amazing civilization. Moreover if you are a descendent of these people, as I am, you eat their history up. Many more people then you realize know all this going into this fictional movie.

I personally was stuck by a point i feel Mel was trying to convey. That the difference between the small society that Jaguar Paw and his tribe to what those touched by the larger city dwelling people is how each society was touched by 'Fear' and how they reacted to it. Also, I feel we were made to see what the captives saw, it might have been a enlightened civilization, but they only saw mistreatment, hordes of people and sacraficing that they didn't understand, at that point their interest in the mathamatical, astronomical, and social stucture to them wasn't something they were thinking of.

I enjoyed it and still know what a grand civilization they were before a majority of them were wiped out by disease and domination of a people they saw as barbarians.

Violent?, bloody?, Yes, but i had time to close my eyes, and i feel it was a necessary and made for a good movie.

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Uzisolo, Toronto, Canada — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 21:57:33 GMT

Well... dear friends. I am really frantic with your comments. What reflects glorification or degradation of one of the most civilized and by many admired cultures of the Americas? As many well-studied people would agree, our Mayan civilization grew out too much too fast... powerful too. None of the comments take a really good look at the reality that Mayans lived under such circumstances as climate change and overpopulation.

It does reflect still today and Mel Gibson's attempt to portray the beginning of the END for the Mayans seems to attest that. I've been waiting most of my life for a movie, historically proven, of this great Civilization. I am sure a cartoon or a fictional movie would have satisfied the pundits. But let's get real here... it’s the message that lingers in our daily lives: Climate change and overpopulation. Is there any room here to breathe? Well done, aficionados.

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E.P. Grondine, Fredericksburg, VA — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 23:20:02 GMT

Hi Allan,

Here's a piece I did back in 2001:

AN EXTREMELY LOW COST APPROACH
TO DEALING WITH THE NEO HAZARD

Hello Benny -

In recent weeks we have been greeted with repeated announcements of the reduction in funds available to NEO programs, as governments whose revenues are coming under stress due to the economic slowdown seek to economize. In view of these developments, which trend is likely to continue for at least the next couple of years, perhaps it is time to re-consider the use of the ancient Mayan technique for dealing with the hazard of asteroid and comet impact, specifically that of human sacrifice.

Now many in the scientific community may scoff at the idea and dismiss it out of hand, but as the Mayan priests pointed out, once they began human sacrifice, they were never again pounded by the sky gods. So by inductive demonstration, the technique appears to work. It has the further advantage of being an extremely low cost scheme to put into operation, as it requires no payment for any telescopes, electronic devices, computers, or staff, and even less paynment for the bureaucrats who manage these programs.

Of course, one does run into the problem of obtaining human sacrificial victims. While the Mayan resolved this problem by sacrificing their unwanted, literally their poor bastards, given the current economic conditions and the prevalence of extra-marital sex, such a plan may not gain wide public support today. But perhaps a ready solution to this problem may lie immediately at hand, specifically, in the use of lawyers as human sacrificial victims.

To my knowledge I do not believe that anyone in the NEO community has ever previously considered the use of lawyers for this purpose. What advantages does the use of lawyers as human sacrificial victims bring, aside from the fact that there appears to be an over-abundant supply of them?

Well, first off, they seem to be universally despised, and this seems to be true in every nation. Given the international scope of the NEO effort, it is nice to find a common point about which the ciizens of most nations can agree.

Second, lawyers could easily be captured for this purpose by the simple technique of placing a newspaper advertisement seeking an attourney for a lawsuit against a wealthy corporation. Once obtained, my understanding is that lawyers may usually be sedated by the administration of flavored alcoholic beverages.

Of course, one problem with the plan may lie in ripping their beating hearts out out of their living bodies, as it is widely reported that lawyers have no hearts. On the other hand, it is also widely reported that lawyers have no feelings, and this may make the entire process somewhat easier to accomplish, in the case that lawyers can indeed be found who have hearts.

In the case where it does turn out that lawyers indeed do not have hearts, then that does not necessarily mean that the scheme of using human sacrifice to fend off the next asteroid or comet impact must be abandoned. It is still possible that the scheme could be realized by the use of government bureaucrats instead.

Yours in science,
E.P. Grondine
Man and Impact in the Americas

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Clayton, Chicago, IL — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 19:05:40 GMT

I was a history major as an undergraduate and I did some studies focused on Meso America and the Classical period. There are several parts of the movie that are historically inaccurate and depict the Mayan culture in a way that is hardly accurate. I sat through the movie commenting on the fictional parts. Still, you have to remember that it is just a movie! It was not meant to be historically accurate but rather entertaining. If documentaries were making as much money as box office hits, then maybe Mel would make one of those. It is unfortunate that many people will base their knowledge of Mayan civilization on 2.5 hours of images instead of a few hundred pages of literature. Still, anyone with common sense knows better. Foolish Americans are so wrapped up in violence and racism that we fail to focus on the truly intriging aspects of Mayan society. Their completely phenomenal grasp of time and the calendar. The underlying themes of fear and loathing. The strength of the native women. Pyramids in separate societies that have no contact at all. The native scriptures that predict the end of the world being marked by the coming of white men (the fact that the coming of white men was the protagonist's saving grace is ridiculously paradoxical). White men (seeking slaves, resources and riches) condemning the natives as savages and then slaughtering the better part of the population with war and disease. The truth is that people have always been and will always be racist. So, let's shift the focus because there is so much more to be examined here.

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MS, Washington, D.C. — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:03:10 GMT

My speciality is in Classical and Medieval history. These discussions make me wonder why everyone is so obssessed with the historical accurracy of Apocalypto (which I thought was great), when there was no furor and outcry over the many, many egregious and systemic historical errors in movies like Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven. I enjoyed those movies too, but anyone going to them for actual information about ancient Rome or medieval Europe and Near East would be an idiot.

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ce, honolulu, hawaii — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:34:40 GMT

maybe forget the historical setting for a moment and just focus on one man's journey to the discovery of peace and strength within himself.the civilization itself was fearful, the people, the warriors, the chiefs. jaguar paw's father said not to fear; jaguar paw did not understand that at first; but through adversity and trials, he came to realize the meaning of his father's statement and to discover the strength within himself. he persevered and believed in his heritage and his present and his future. "no weapon formed aganist you shall prosper" Isaiah 54:17. this is afterall the journey of all men when faced with adversity whether Mayan or American...to discover the strength within one's self and to persevere the course he has to follow.Great movie!

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Isaac T, Phoenix, AZ — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 06:56:27 GMT

Whoever boycotts this movie because of Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic statements is most likely a hypocrite! We have all made statements or have taken actions that do not truly display our heartfelt feelings. Why do so many people walk the Earth attempting make themselves out to be all knowing and without flaw. Mel Gibson made mistakes but this does not take away from his talent/skill as a writer or director. He did not approach this film ignorantly. He did his research and worked with a well know anthropologist to create a film based on facts or logical conclusions. A reasonable person should only expect a level of fiction for the sake of entertainment. I look forward to watching this film.

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Walter Morales, Fontana, California — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:37:12 GMT

Apocalypto was a great entertaining movie, hence, a semi-fictional movie. Half-real because as a full-blooded member of the Pocomam (Maya) of El Salvador, captives as well as the general public embraced death whent it came to sacrifice and did not whine. Customs are based on relativism not absolute truth. Yes, we were cruel and cruelest to the point of boiling, though not to the point of downright genocide. I saw the movie in support of Mel's charitable act of helping out my northern Mayan brothers in Mexico as well as my Native American brothers in the U.S.. It's historical inaccuracies and personal shortcoming were not important. Overall the movie should be oscar caliber inspite of the unknown cast of the film.

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Pablo, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:13:56 GMT

It is a great movie. The terrible violent people of Christian and European ancestry are shown how a truly godless society behaved. The Maya were much worse. Thank You God for Cortez! Cortez used the eaten, victims of Aztec cannibalism, to defeat the eaters, that would be the cannibalistic Aztecs. To defeat a city state of 100 thousand with 300 men. The Native American Society was grateful and was able to develop in humanity as well as in science since their friend Cortez had come. He was not aware of the diseases he brought to these primitive peoples. He, however, brought Christianity and morality to a lost meaningless society.

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Pablo, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:24:36 GMT

Clayton is Politically motivated and is one of those people that is aiding the rest of the country in condeming the European Christian heritage of our country. Cortez conqouered the Aztec empire with 300 men. He had help. He did not bring war to these people he was responsible for stopping the thousands of contiuous years of war that these people had subjected themselves to in a disorganized metalic-less society (they were fancy cavemen). Mel got it right.

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Pablo, Atlanta, GA — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:37:31 GMT

Lets go back to the pre-Christian rules. Cannibalism is OK Even the Egyptians, Romans and Greeks (civilizations older than the Mayan's) gawked at. Cutting that beating heart out of a live person. Teaching the Natives a belief system that they believed you needed to experience the after life in was a good thing. Things in America were much better after Columbus.

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John, Ocean Springs, MS — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:44:47 GMT

Oh, to hear the bleating of the sheep. This movie was too violent! There was too much nudity! The Mayans were a peaceful people who only did what they had to do in order to survive!

Horse hockey!

Central American cultures practiced human sacrifice, from the Toltecs, to the Aztecs, to the Incas, to the Mayans. Sorry, but that's just the way it was. The Mayans may not have been a bloodthirsty as, say, the Aztecs, but rest assured, they did their part.

As for the graphic displays of violence, I'd wager that the majority of you have never been involved in anything worse than a schoolyard altercation. Welcome to the real world. Weapons, particularly those with pointy ends and shard edges are designed to hurt people. When Jaguar Paw strikes his nemesis with the war club, he isn't giving him a love tap or challenging him to a duel; he's trying to kill him. Life or death combat is bloody. When you cut the beating heart from someone's chest, it's bloody! Deal with it!

In the course of the film, I saw nothing resembling blatant pornography, so I'll dismiss that claim out of hand. In an era before mass manufacturing in a largely tropical climate, people did not wear a lot of clothes. It never ceases to amaze me, the number of people who object to social nudity. Get over yourselves!

Another thing that I think no one has considered; were the attackers also Mayan, or might they have been Aztec? I believe that where our hero was Mayan, his aggressors were Aztec warriors. This might serve to satisfy those who proclaim that the Mayans were not as bloodthirsty as depicted.

Overall, I thought it was a good film. Not great, perhaps, but certainly worth the money I paid to see it (which is more than I can say for some of Hollywood's recent releases). The only complaint I have was the anachronism. I don't think the Mayans used the f-word.

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Chris Cordes, New York, NY — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 04:56:30 GMT

I think that "John, Ocean Springs, MS" comment is to the point - but I think that Mesoamerican cultures had some alternative to the "f-word" after seeing the grafetti images drawn on walls within the underground passages of Tikal, Palenque and Uxmal (perhaps Mr. Gibson just used it to "snap" the viewer into his/her own timeline). I think John's comment regarding the Aztec aggressor is interesting, because one of the "flaws" I saw in this film was the "emperor" on the temple with his elaborate pheasant-feathered headress - clearly more Aztec (as history "tells" us) than Mayan, while the population in the temple complex has the Mayan "persona" depicted on frescos, pottery and stele. For what ever faults this movie may have, it is worth seeing because of its profound visual snapshot of the class struggles that mesh at the point of cultural confrontation and "advancement".

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Jim Larzelere, Graham N.C. — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 01:03:59 GMT

By producing this film (accuracy aside) Gibson has given the Mayan a vote of recognition in this lopsided ball of muck called human civilation. If the indignant protests of the affected and/or unaffected (but nevertheless insulted) should lead to a closer and more accurate study of this ancient civilation then I say "Viva Gibson!". How else can a sub-culture rise above its externally created niche in society? It must first be recognized, acknowledged and then accepted by the neighborhood before it can begin the long climb toward the top of the heap as did the Persians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Scots, British and Americans. Gibson may seem to be eccentric (cud be) but I think he is a little deeper than first appearances seem to indicate. Let's see, time will tell.

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Walter Morales, Fontana, California — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 05:23:56 GMT

The movie Apocalypto was a great action movie, nothing more.

It is shameful to know how many americans think christianity was the answer to humanity's problems. That this country was based on christian ideals or greek democracy.Our democratic principles resemble more that of the six leagues of the Iroquois. (i.e., "It would be a very strange thing if Six Nations of Ignorant Savages should be capable of forming a Scheme for such an Union and be able to execute it in such a manner, as that it has subsisted Ages, and appears indissoluble, and yet a like Union should be impracticable for ten or a dozen English colonies." -- Benjamin Franklin to James Parker, 1751)

Second, I would like to point out that Cortez was as savage as our christian President Bush, sending kids to their inpending doom. That we were fancy caveman, not!.Here is something to consider:

Fiction: Europeans "discovered" scientific knowledge, but American Indians "stumbled upon" it – they didn’t know what they were doing.

Fact: All scientific knowledge comes from a process of trial and error – a messy guessing game that involves many false starts and much stumbling. Scientists first make an educated guess based on their observations. Then they test it and carefully observe the results to see if the guess was correct. If it wasn’t, they guess again. The dependency of this process led Albert Einstein to say, "If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?"

Pre-contact American Indians used trial and error, carefully observing the results of these trials. Three pieces of evidence, selected from many, are:

- Indians in the North American Northeast used foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) to treat heart problems. They administered it with extreme care since high doses were needed and the plant is highly toxic.

- Manioc, a staple food crop of Mesoamerican, Circum-Caribbean and South American Tropical forest peoples, is poisonous in its natural state. Four to five thousand years ago indigenous people discovered a process to detoxify the plant and began cultivating it.

- Indigenous people of Mesoamerica invented a four-step process to cure vanilla, transforming it into a flavoring ingredient. Vanilla processing plants were not established in Europe until the 1700s because Europeans couldn’t figure out the indigenous process.

Also, that we were novices compared to the egyptians and greeks, not!, for my mayan ancestors were noticeable mathmeticians, astronomers, engineers, scientist, and philosophers. There is no oral or written history about us crossing a bridge, for we were independent on intuition, not someone elses as eurocentric and afrocentric thought prescribe. Simply, it is manifest destiny and self fulfilling prophesy rolled in to one. It astonishes me how academia will twist history and romanticize greco-roman culture.

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Kansas — Fri, 29 Dec 2006 07:21:54 GMT

"Danien totally disagrees with the view, seemingly implied by the movie's ending, that the Maya did themselves in and that the Spanish colonizers brought enlightenment. On that point, Gibson made a mistake of historic proportions, she said.

" 'His view that the Maya were corrupt from within and were saved by the Spaniards is nonsense,' she said."

I'm confused. How does the movie portray that the Spanish "saved" the Mayans? It says the exact opposite. The little girl recites a prophecy that states that those the Jaguar leads the warriors to will destroy their world. So I don't know where the idea that the Spanish brought "enlightenment" can ever be understood.

And as far as it being racist:

Anyone who walks out of a movie theater under the impression that the Mayans are a lesser civilization are just plain stupid, and that is their problem. The movie is a story. It's a story told through the point of view of a prisoner of the Mayans. Of course it's going to be negative. I think most audiences understand that. Gladiator negatively depicts Rome, despite the fact that many democratic ideas emerged, in the same manner.

If you want "a movie that showed the drama and courage of a people who created a mathematical system" then make your own. That was not the intent of the movie and therefore you cannot criticize it on those grounds.

I think, despite its flaws, it is a great movie that reveals many similiarities between all ancient empires.

PS. for those of you who praise cortez, give me a break. Praise him because Christianity in history has been any less violent? Crusades? And I personally left the movie with the idea that the Mayans must have had a different perception of life than we do today. I am under the impression that they considered that time in there life as just a stepping stone to something greater, so death wasn't a catastrophe, just a step. Open your minds......

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Jose — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:33:59 GMT

It would be interesting to see a film like this, created by an idiot like Gibson living in the future (maybe in 2000 years) stressing certain aspects of the present Western Civilization. Certainly that hypothetical idiot eager to please the audience thirsty to have their lives amused with some obscenity will have lots of material from the current civilized reality we live in now.

In fact I can see how a film like this can encourage many Westerners to get more convinced than ever that after all mankind has gone "forward" and after all this civilization is the best possible ever. Good for them.

As for what they know or understand about any other civilization apart from the glorious Western thing, they do not know nor understand more than their ancestors who took the serious task to get those savages civilised (who cares if they were noble or plain...)

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Philip Saenz, Mathis, TX — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 02:20:02 GMT

Sure, Mr. Mel Gibson gets drunk now and then, and says some bad things sometimes. However, Mr. Gibson is a genius when making a movie, a genuine genius. You darn right I like his movies!!! I'll bet some people who hate Mr. Gibson are jealous.

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Amy Pipe, Windsor, ON — Fri, 25 May 2007 04:28:53 GMT

I am not a scholar of Mayan history, nor do I know much about their rise and fall. However, I know films and I understand art. Critics do not see Mel Gibson for his art at all! The last five minutes as you watch the Spanish come in, there is no sense that Mel is leaving you with hope for the Mayans, hope for a faith that they would push on them! He is depicting their end. Their ultimate destruction by the Spanish!

There is a reason that Jaguar Paw does not want to go to them. Mayan culture was not bashed completely in this film. It was depicted in many ways as it was! Just as Anglo-Saxon white culture has to look at its history with shame over the way it treated African-American black culture, and the way Germans hold Adolf Hitler in their history, so too does the Mayan culture have its past, its evils.

Jaguar Paw and his community balance the mayan depiction, showing the honesty, the love, the beliefs...there is just as much beauty! I don't understand why everyone has to make this such a controversy! Enjoy the beauty of Mel's magnificent and incredible vision!

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T.A. Dustin Richfield, Ut. — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:46:56 GMT

the so called "enlightened" christians fathers etc. destroyed thousands of documents and "scriptures" due to the fact that they were considered "of the devil" so lots of the true history has been lost of what these cultures really were!!

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Bob McNabb, BelAir, MD — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 16:55:22 GMT

I watched this movie for the first time last night. It was like any movie; entertaining! Mel Gibson, I believe gave us a product. Whether this product is accurate or not I don't really believe is the point. I think the point is whether it met its entertainment worth. Did you enjoy the movie? Great! Did you not enjoy the movie? We'll that's ok as well. It just wasn't for you. Go see a movie that you will enjoy. I don't think that a talking mouse is accurate either, but a lot of us have come to love that little guy! I know Minnie did!

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Jay D'Ambrosio — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:13:00 GMT

I finally got around to watching Apocalypto last night. As an ancient history teacher, I immediately noticed several historical inaccuracies, however, the story ultimately captured me. Looking at the story through the lens of myth and ritual masculine initiation, it was very powerful.

Jaguar Paw, the Mayan hero, is taken against his will from the wildness of his jungle home, by an invading horde, and sets out on a forced journey to be sacrificed. One by one, the men chosen for the ritual Mayan sacrifice are dragged through a corrupt and chaotic Yucatan city. They are marched to the top of the pyramid and their hearts are cut out and offered up to the Mayan gods.

Civilization does this to the masculine soul, doesn't it? It civilizes a man and in essence, rips his heart out. Just like Jaguar Paw, we need to risk the pain, the wounds, and death to flee the things in life that kill our hearts. His heart was in the deep forest, his heart was with his wife and sons. The journey revealed the true meaning of his name, Jaguar Paw. Though dead, he united with his father in spirit and became one with the wild. The symbols and story were very powerful and bore real substance.

http://eteaching101.blogspot.com

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mel,Tain,Scotland — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:19:04 GMT

they died out because there was a massive drought!!!!

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RW Bentley Port Townsend,WA — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 17:05:05 GMT

Just to be politically correct, Mael should've credited the savage Mayas as
the first to do open heart surgery! After all the distortion and BS about the "noble" American indian with their values of common property, conservation, and wholesale suffering at the hands of invading whites,
we finally get to see the horror and gore that occur in totalitarian regimes of any cultures-the PÇ critics simply don;t get it that the Spanish didn;t invent torture, abuse, slavery,etc. and their Hollywood
ultra liberal propagandist never seem bothered by the facts when they portray their own PC values as the truth-but let someone like Gibson dare to depict that this civilization had indeed decayed from within BEFORE the Spanish arrived-and all these PC hypocrites can do is protest. In fact this movie depicted the nobleness of the hero, rural
native against the excess of the Mayan regime; it depicted the other causes of demise-famine, tyranical political and religious manipulation and the arrival of the Spaniards simply introducing beginning another era.

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Common Sense — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:02:18 GMT

In regards to the comments about the lack of mathematical development and the greatness of a civilization, I ask if you make this comment on every movie, or if you just see racism because it's not about white people. Take Gangs of New York for example. It didn't have anything about the 1st subway system in the US, and didn't even mention Abraham Lincoln or his greatness even though it took place during the Civil War. The only Irish people were gang members, and all the politicians were corrupt. But, the movie wasn't about that. It's about a small portion of that. There actually was a gang problem then, and there still is today, and the movie was presented as historical fiction. Did you bash this movie too? Did you bash Star Wars for giving NASA a bad name, in that it suggested space flight will just spread violence? Was the movie Cast Away an attack on FedEx? Of course not, you're just being rediculous.