'Apocalypto' does disservice to its subjects

SF Chronicle ^ | December 11, 2006 | Zachary X. Hruby

[veronica]

"Apocalypto," Mel Gibson's new thriller about the ancient Maya civilization, is exactly that: thrilling. But this entertainment comes at a price.

The Maya at the time of Spanish contact are depicted as idyllic hunters and gatherers, or as genocidal murderers, and neither of these scenarios is accurate. The film represents a step backward in our understanding of the complex cultures that existed in the New World before the Spanish invasion, and it is part of a disturbing trend re-emerging in the film industry, portraying non-Western natives as evil savages.

"King Kong" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" show these natives as uncaring, beastlike and virtually inhuman. "Apocalypto" achieves similar goals, but in a much subtler fashion.

As in "The Passion of the Christ," Gibson utilizes native language to invoke a veneer of credibility for his story, in this case Yucatec Maya, a technique that unfortunately does much to legitimize this rather strange version of Maya history.

[Ken522]

I take it Zack is an expert on Mayan civilization?

[farmer18th]

portraying non-Western natives as evil savages.

Hollywood, in other words, is getting back to the truth.

[the invisib1e hand]

what's the upshot of the critique? That it was thinly veiled anti-Semitism? Or right-wing propaganda?

[veronica]

Did you read the article?

[veronica]

Did you read the article?

[Cicero]

Is Mel unfair to the Mayans, or unfair to left-wing, politically correct, revisionist anthropology professors?

[CzarNicky]

I thought the Maya were extinct by the time the Spanish arrived and this was about the Aztecs.

[Uncle Hal]

Its a movie folks. Its a movie. Relax.

[RobbyS]

As opposed to portraying them as noble savages?

[veronica]

I take it Zack is an expert on Mayan civilization?

It would appear that he is: Zachary X. Hruby...

"Mel Gibson’s movie “Apocalypto,” which opened Dec. 8, gets a thumbs down from University of California, Riverside Maya scholar Zachary X. Hruby, who was asked to pre-screen the movie by National Geographic."

[RobbyS]

The Mayans are alive and cutting your lawn.

[Rodney King]

I'm sure the Mayan's all sat around singing Kumbaya in between a daily routine of smoking pot and engaing in homosexual sex, as the SF Chronicle imagines them.

[Brad from Tennessee]

I go to movies for entertainment. I go to the beer joints around here for anthropology. I will probably see this movie.

[CzarNicky]

The guys who cut my lawn are either White or Black but nice try at thread hijacking.

[BenLurkin]

I recommend to all interested in theMayans.

[uncbob]

"King Kong" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" show these natives as uncaring, beastlike and virtually inhuman.

King Kong was in Central America ?

[Rodney King]

King Kong was in Central America ?

The author must associate apes with central americans. Who is the racist now?

[elhombrelibre]

Thanks for the post. To please my wife, I saw the movie. As a history major, I went in realizing there would be some major flaws. There were; it's not to be viewed in that light. I place this movie in the category of escapists schlock, like a Stephen King novel or a Charles Bronson movie. Anyone a quart low on schlock should see it and enjoy it as such. I personally prefer the original Bronson, such as "Hard Times."

[xcamel]

Movies are movies, and most of the critics are on crack.