Brutally Honest (Apocalypto)

The Weekly Standard ^ | 12/15/06 | Sonny Bunch

[-YYZ-]

I thought it was "people who like this sort of thing will find that this is the sort of thing they like."

[ansel12]

I think I'm going to have to drag myself to the theater for this one.

From what I've read, women are going to it as well, it sounds like a good adult date movie.

[woofie]

I thought it was good

[KC_Conspirator]

This liberal multiculturism/policial correctness expressed by the academics in this article prove that what they teach in class is nothing but lies.

[Valin]

Last year I bought myself "The Wild Bunch" (Sam Peckinpah) and by todays standards it's pretty tame. And NO, I would not recomend it to you, the last part is nothing but blood and gore.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

"I want to see this movie."
Unfortunately, you'll also have to read this movie! I HATE movies with subtitles! If I wanna read, I'll stay home with a good book. So much has been invested in the cinematography, that it seems a shame to have to constantly detach yourself from the beauty of the film, to read the subtitles. I go to the movies to be immersed in the experience, and, to me, having to read subtitles because the dialog is gibberish, greatly detracts from the experience. Flame away!

[Cyclopean Squid]

I liked it. I wouldn't call it a masterpiece but it is very good. A couple of lame scenes/plot lines kept it from reaching the next level for me. But definately worth seeing for the visuals and for the commentary on decadent societies.

[Cyclopean Squid]

Honestly, after a few minute I didn't even notice I was reading subtitles. That's the same for me with other good subtitled films, such as Amelie.

[decimon]

MURDERER!

Guess I won't talk about the shrimp rolls. :-)

[ROLF of the HILL COUNTRY]

"...this will make it harder for me to lie to my students about how horrible Westnern culture is and how sweet and innocent the pre-Colombian peoples were,..."

I do believe that is precisely why Mel made this movie.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

I thought the Aztecs were encountered by the Spaniards, not the Mayans. I had been taught that the Mayans civilization had been mostly extinct and a newer, more violent version had taken over in the form of the Aztecs.

[Mazda3Fan]

I really enjoyed this movie. The cinematography, acting, and story were great. As for people who don't want to face the truth about their past, get over it, we all have dark pasts that we aren't proud of.

[fish hawk]

My take on this great movie: It's "The Naked Runner" (Cornel Wild) and "Rambo First Blood" mixed, only better.

[unlearner]

Good analysis, but there should be a spoiler warning as it gives away the first and second act plot points - which means it discloses what happens well into the second half of the story, even if it does not give away the ending entirely.

Christian viewers should be advised against taking any children. I heard Michael Medved's review and was expecting lots of violence which is not offensive to me, but I would not expose children to. However, he failed to mention the nudity - men, women and children. Though none is intended to be erotic, some did occur in a sexual context as well.

The family in front of me in the theater endure a lot of this before deciding to leave.

Overall it is a well told parable about the decline of a great civilization, but only for adult viewers.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Julia Guernsey, an assistant professor in the department of art and art history at the University of Texas told a reporter after viewing the film, "I hate it. I despise it. I think it's despicable. It's offensive to Maya people. It's offensive to those of us who try to teach cultural sensitivity and alternative world views that might not match our own 21st century Western ones but are nonetheless valid."

This is what drives me crazy about the prejudices of contemprary academia. On the one hand the science departments are run by naturalistic materialists who believe that the eighteenth century enlightenment was the greatest thing to ever happen in human history. On the other we have the humanities departments run by "third world" fundamentalists who believe that indigenous religion is beyond critique by European rationalist standards. Yet instead of attacking each other these forces "tag team" against chr*stianity.

It really is like pro rasslin', you know. The "heels" never feud with each other.

[2ndClassCitizen]

It may not be regression. The squalor and poverty may be an improvement. Empire building on slavery and human sacrifice is not necessarily high culture.

[ViLaLuz]

"That being said, it is specious for professional historians and grievance groups alike to argue that Apocalypto is a wonton desecration of the memories of the Mayan people."

Main Entry: won·ton
Pronunciation: 'wän-"tän
Function: noun
Etymology: Chinese (Guangdong) wàhn-tAn
: filled pockets of noodle dough served boiled in soup or fried

[Palladin]

I feel sorry for all the little girls who have been named "Maya" in the past several years. Isn't there some outraged group that can protest this movie on their behalf?

< / s a r c a s m >

[chilepepper]

Isn't a Guernsey a cow?

yeah, but cows have more sense...

[Dead Dog]

It's not often that you see a culture regress.

I've just returned from Napoli, Itally. I'm afraid cultural regression is so uncommon. In the case of Napoli, I don't think it's recoverd from WWII.