Apocalypto (2006)

Director:

Mel Gibson

Writers:

Mel Gibson (written by) &
Farhad Safinia (written by)

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama

Tagline:

When the end comes, not everyone is ready to go

Plot:

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.

Plot Keywords:

Tribe | Jaguar | Temple | Maya | Human Sacrifice

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 13 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

Also Known As:

Mel Gibson's Apocalypto (USA) (promotional title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sequences of graphic violence and disturbing images.

Runtime:

139 min

Country:

USA

Language:

Maya

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | SDDS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:16 | Canada:18A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Ireland:15A | Germany:18 | UK:18 | Australia:MA | Israel:18 | Argentina:18 | Malaysia:18PL | China:(Banned) | Indonesia:Dewasa | Thailand:R-14 | Taiwan:R-18 | Philippines:R-18 | Finland:K-15 | Hong Kong:III | Singapore:M18 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Italy:T (original rating) | France:-12 | Canada:14A (Alberta) | South Africa:16 (V) | Italy:VM14 (re-rated) (court decision) (2007) | South Korea:18 | Norway:15 (original rating) | Norway:18 (re-rating) | Poland:18 | USA:R (certificate #42915) | Brazil:16 | Hungary:18 | Japan:R-15 | Portugal:M/16 (Qualidade) | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:15 | Iceland:16

Filming Locations:

Catemaco, Veracruz, Mexico

Company:

Icon Entertainment International

Trivia:

Because of heavy rains in Mexico, the released date had been changed from 4 August 2006 to 8 December 2006.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When the prisoners arrive at the Mayan City, they run into an old man who is said to have laughing sickness. Kuru is a disease of Papua New Guinea (identified in 1900s) and has not been noted in Central America.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game K N B: (2007-03-15)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Nichos del Tiempo

The Artist As A Tough/Rough Man

One of the roughest, toughest art films I've ever seen. Remarkable, sensational. Non a mean task to put aside all the gossip surrounding the man behind this miracle and look at "Apocalypto" for what it is : a startling piece of art done by one of the most startling artists of our time. But I was able to do exactly that and sit there open mouthed, totally transported to the world Mel Gibson had in store for me. I don't want to get into any spoilers but let me tell you there are, at least, 4 moments - not merely technical but emotional - that are a first for the movies. There is violence in the film yes, but not nearly as much as in "Casino Royale" and definitely more justified. I'll take my wife next time, she stayed home, brainwashed by the avalanche of misinformation claiming it was one of the most violent films ever made. I know my wife well enough to know she will love "Apocalypto"