Apocalypto (2006)

As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, the rulers insist the key to prosperity is to build more temples and offer human sacrifices. Jaguar Paw, a young man captured for sacrifice, flees to avoid his fate.

Director:

Mel Gibson

Writers:

Mel Gibson, Farhad Safinia

Stars:

Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernández, Raoul Trujillo

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 14 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rudy Youngblood	...	Jaguar Paw
Dalia Hernández	...	Seven
Jonathan Brewer	...	Blunted
Morris Birdyellowhead	...	Flint Sky
Carlos Emilio Báez	...	Turtles Run
Amilcar Ramírez	...	Curl Nose
Israel Contreras	...	Smoke Frog
Israel Ríos	...	Cocoa Leaf
María Isabel Díaz	...	Mother in Law (as Isabel Diaz)
Espiridion Acosta Cache	...	Old Story Teller
Mayra Serbulo	...	Young Woman
Iazua Larios	...	Sky Flower
Lorena Heranandez	...	Village Girl
Itandehui Gutierrez	...	Wife
Sayuri Gutierrez	...	Eldest Daughter

Storyline

In the Maya civilization, a peaceful tribe is brutally attacked by warriors seeking slaves and human beings for sacrifice for their gods. Jaguar Paw hides his pregnant wife and his son in a deep hole nearby their tribe and is captured while fighting with his people. An eclipse spares his life from the sacrifice and later he has to fight to survive and save his beloved family.

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Plot Keywords:

jaguar | tribe | forest | prophecy | hunting | 

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Taglines:

When the end comes, not everyone is ready to go

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sequences of graphic violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [de] Quinta Communications [fr]

Country:

USA

Language:

Maya

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto

Filming Locations:

Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,360,110 (UK) (5 January 2007)

Gross:

$50,859,889 (USA) (2 March 2007)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Icon Entertainment International, Icon Productions, Touchstone Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

139 min

Sound Mix:

DTS SDDS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Jaguar's attack is portrayed accurately. Other big cats asphyxiate their prey with a bite to the throat; Jaguars kill with a penetrating bite to the brain.

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Goofs

Sick Girl's facial wounds change color and shape. At one point, when she is staring forward, the wounds are inverted, most notably the one on her chin.

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Quotes

[first lines]
title card: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." W. Durant

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Crazy Credits

Daniel Paredes ...... Crazy Student and Son of a Driver

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Connections

References Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)

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Soundtracks

"Apocalypto"
Written by James Horner

User Reviews

My, Oh, Mayans

Though I had no interest in the subject, I took a risk and just came back from seeing Mel Gibson's new flick and it is an exciting adventure which engages from the start with touches of humor that allow us to relate to the characters rather than hold them at a distance.

The accusation that it portrays the people unfairly has no merit. Both sides of human nature doubtless existed in each culture from the start. Look at The Fast Runner - a movie about a much smaller aboriginal community in which we see no matter how small your clan is someone will be a criminal and all soap opera elements will be represented.

Rudy Youngblood especially stands out here as the hero. Reading the subtitles will add comic relief to your screening, but the story itself plays visually. Again more is made of the violence than there should be. There is violence but it moves the story along and generates suspense.

I would give it a ten except that I understand IMDb sometimes discounts the tens and ones. Even if you had political reasons you did not like The Passion - or Braveheart for that matter - if you like a good motion picture Apocalypto is a good bet.