There are two things you need to know before you see “Apocalypto:

1. it’s graphic.
2. it’s entirely in subtitles.

Is the graphic violence justified by the plot? Yes. Could it have been avoided and not disrupt the integrity of the film? Probably.

What about the “R” rating?

In addition to the violence there was also national-geographic-style nudity. Was it justified by the plot? Absolutely. Could it have been avoided without disrupting the integrity of the film? I think great pains were taken to minimize the nudity. The costuming was excellent and authentic enough for my uneducated eye. The nudity would have been a fact of life for the characters of the film but to us it stands out, so Gibson needed to have it but use it sparingly. He did just that.

Larger Story

I didn’t run out to see this film, but I couldn’t miss it either. The question is, “what was Gibson trying to say with his first film after ‘The Passion of the Christ?’” Was he just trying to go as far away from making a religious statement as he could so that he doesn’t get type cast? Not with the tag line, “when the end comes, not everyone is ready to go.”

This story is about primitive living in a place you have dominion over. Being taken captive by an aggressive society as a sacrifice to try and maintain their dying system. If you escape, you are pursued by an enemy who is both relentless and sadistic. Then the end comes and the system will die, but those who are brave enough have a chance for a new beginning.

The film setting and events are plausible. The Mayan empire (which lasted 2500 years) kind of faded off the scene instead of a cataclysmic end. The introduction of westerners was a final straw more than a death blow. The environment of Central America was delicate and the process Mayans had for building their amazing cities destroyed their ability to make enough food.

There is some good stuff in this movie, like the way one of our hero’s tormentors renames him, “Almost.” Over all, this is a good movie but if your major motivation in seeing it is to glean mythic truth then you are going to have to wade through a lot of violence to get there. I’m going to call this one a video pick. Watch it with remote in hand and if it gets too much push stop.