Warning: The following article contains graphic and gratuitous plot spoilers.
Is Apocalypto America? Is the number one movie in America calling Americans bloodthirsty savages? Is Mel Gibson trying to say that Americans have an insatiable appetite for blood and gore? Is Gibson telling Americans that they are out-of-control imperialists who rape and plunder at will in the name of God? Is Gibson alleging that like his inaccurately portrayed Mayans that Americans are under the sway of false religious and political leaders and that Americans are worshiping a false God who requires blood sacrifices? Is Gibson saying that Americans need rescuing from themselves like the Mayans needing saving by the saintly Conquistadores?
The Washington Postreports that Mel Gibson holds that there are parallels between Mayan civilization and modern America."People think that modern man is so enlightened, but we're susceptible to the same forces," says Gibson. "{Y}ou see these cycles repeating themselves over and over again."
At the beginning of Mel Gibson's Apocalypto - its official title - there is a quote from Will Durant: "A great civilization is not conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." Gibson was "trying to make a social statement," saidRichard Hansen, the anthropologist who was consultant in making the film.
The problem has been for many in trying to understand what the social statement Gibson was trying to make in Apocalypto. There's not much talking in the movie and then it is in modern Mayan dialect. An action movie does not lend itself to subtitles or explanations.
The cast is Native America except of course for the Conquistadores. The cinematography is high-definition. If highly realistic mass sacrifice is your thing, you can feast your eyes. If you enjoy the sight of decapitations, complete with sputtering blood, and headless torsos being kicked down pyramid steps, then you will love Apocalypto. Also, you can see brains beat to pulp, hearts ripped out, bowels pulled out, and a Jaguar masticate a man's face.
All of this has lead many critics to say that the whole point of Apocalypto is simply to make money off people's lust for graphic and gratuitous violence. Add to that the plot is about as complicated as a Bugs Bunny cartoon, with characters developed about as deeply as Wiley Coyote and Yosemite Sam. Without any apparent redeeming social violence, Apocalypto could be said to meet the classical standards for pornography. Further, there are all the incredible inaccuracies, such as there being no evidence for the Mayans having ever practiced mass sacrifice.
As to Gibson's alleged intentions of making comparisons with America, here are some insights from some Apocalypto fans:
"I think Mel is drawing good similarity between the Mayans and America. America has already been destroyed from within by Liberal ideology. And the Spaniards (terrorists) are here."
"Mel hit the nail square on the head and you all darned well know it. Too bad if you and the rest of society can't stand to look truth in the face. Maybe if our society could bring itself to do so, we might yet have some faint hope of maitaining (sic) our own civilization."
"Whatever he said about Jews and stuff is no big deal. People say/do foolish things when the (sic) are drunk. So pro-Jew media leave him alone."
"As long as it shows that these pre-illegals are a blood thirsty lot who will ultimately overcrowd our class rooms its good enough for me."
"The movie is instructive on many levels: If you have wondered what multiculturalism looks like in practice . . ." James P. Pinkerton, Newsday columnist.
Mel was right. History does repeat itself. Modern people are susceptible to the same dark forces. Many people still want blood and gore and will pay anything to see it. They'll love it even more in the name of God and country. And there will always be someone willing to make big bucks off delivering the gore while pretending to be doing something sacred and profound.
So, if Mel is saying that Americans are a bunch of bloodthirsty, ignorant devil worshipers who will pay any price to get their taste for blood, where does that put him? To me, it sounds like it puts him right in league with the likes of al-Qaeda who says that it is alright to use violence against a violent empire.
B. 1952, GA, USA. D. To Be Determined. Beloved husband, father, grandfather, lover, confidant and friend of many from bikers to Zen masters; American writer and speaker, known for his criticism of Mammon's unholy trinity of big business, big government and big religion; served the least of them professionally as psychologist and voluntarily as activist for decades; loved to shoot basketball, billiards and the bull; lived free, died game. (memorial sketch by davidhewsonart.com)
Now you've gone and done it. Insulted Wiley Coyote and Yosemite Sam. They're very deep. About as deep as Lucy or our "love" for her. They can all be counted on to give us exactly what we expect from them. No disappointments.
The ghastly gore of the plot wasn't spoiled for me. I wouldn't give Mel Gibson one dime of my money to see one of his movies.
I've always wondered about people who seem to get off on in-your-face graphic violence. Anyone remember the good old days when a man was just as dead from a single shot to the chest and a little trickle of fake blood running out of the corner of his mouth? We got the idea then, and we'd still get it now.
by
Sandy Sand (143 articles, 0 quicklinks, 196 diaries, 1381 comments)
on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 3:14:20 PM
I truly did not intend in anyway to insult Yosemite Sam or Wiley Coyote, both of whose characters are beyond reproach, which cannot be said of Gibson's barbaric treatment of the Maya.
by
Richard Mathis (130 articles, 108 quicklinks, 5 diaries, 120 comments)
on Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at 4:04:55 PM
2 comments
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