"[5], Other scholars of Mesoamerican history criticized the film for what they said were numerous inaccuracies. Try again nc building code wall framing apocalypto true facts. Gibson and Safinia have said they wanted the film to serve as a reminder to todays world that the precursor to the fall of a civilization is always the same: widespread environmental degradation, excessive consumption and political corruption. But the distorted story of the Maya is likely the only exposure a generation of moviegoers will get to the ancient civilization, and the film does the Maya a disservice. WIRED is where tomorrow is realized. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. Is Apocalypto true story? The Best Password Managers to Secure Your Digital Life. Having Americans and Mexicans of native heritage play such roles and speak in a language still spoken by more than 700,000 Yucatec Maya in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize sends a dangerous message by asking them to portray their own ancestors as evil. 7.8 2 h 17 min 2006 X-Ray 18+. I wrote off apocalypto as fantasy, I don't know much about Mesoamerica and I assumed that the costume accuracy in Apocalypto was as inaccurate to the Maya as Gladiator was to the roman Legion. Not according to biology or history. Source: Wikipedia entry on Maya religion [via Wikipedia]. Costumes are very good, sacrificial victims painted in correct Mayan blue, jewelry. Apocalypto is a 2006 film directed by Mel Gibson that tells the story of a Maya tribe facing the end of their civilization. Considering both the Aztecs and the Maya, they eventually chose the Maya for their high sophistication and their eventual decline. Safinia said that the films narrative is told through the eyes of the central protagonist, Jaguar Paw, and it is his journey that we follow. Those conversations essentially grew into the skeleton of ('Apocalypto'). As the party approaches the Raiders' Mayan city, they encounter razed forests and vast fields of failed maize crops, alongside villages decimated by an unknown disease. The first pair of captives to attempt the run across the arena are struck down. Cynthia Robin is an archeologist of the ancient Maya. I was blown away. Jade was usually reserved for royal families. The temperatures were beyond 100 degrees [38 C] at [the] top, and about 60 degrees [15 C] at the bottom, with the water and the mist. Gibson filmed Apocalypto mainly in Catemaco, San Andrs Tuxtla and Paso de Ovejas in the Mexican state of Veracruz. For a foundation to their story, Gibson and co-screenwriter Farhad Safinia used Spanish colonial eyewitness accounts from the period and certain mythological aspects from the Popol Vuh, a sacred Mayan text that tells the creation story and epic mythological histories of Mayan culture. Meanwhile, Seven and Turtles Run remain trapped in the well after a suspicious Raider severs the vine leading out of it. As director of the Mirador Basin Project, he works to preserve a large swath of the Guatemalan rain forest and its Maya ruins. The Mayas were far more interesting to us. Visually, we wanted to go for what would have the most impact. Hansen states, "We know warfare was going on. . But Gibson was trying to make a story here. Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Max Trujillo, Dalia Hernndez. apocalypto true facts. ", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Apocalypto&oldid=1142525109, Articles with dead external links from May 2019, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from July 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2016, Articles containing Ancient Greek (to 1453)-language text, Pages using Sister project links with hidden wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, BFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film, CFCA Award for Best Foreign Language Film, FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor, FAITA Award for Outstanding Performance by an Supporting Actor, Espiridion Acosta Cache as Old Story Teller, This page was last edited on 2 March 2023, at 22:11. Striving for a degree of historical accuracy, the filmmakers employed a consultant, Richard D. Hansen, a specialist in the Maya and assistant professor of archaeology at Idaho State University. And it's hard to locate the film's setting, geographically. "[13] The mural in the arched walkway combined elements from the Maya codices, the Bonampak murals (over 700 years earlier than the film's setting), and the San Bartolo murals (some 1500 years earlier than the film's setting). What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? 15 Facts About Apocalypto By Sean Hutchinson Oct 1, 2014 As these stories show, making Mel Gibson's sprawling Mayan adventure film was an epic journey in its own right. Atherton also has a cameo as the cross-bearing Franciscan friar who appears on a Spanish ship at the end of the film. Theatre Release. As they researched the script, Safinia and Gibson traveled to Guatemala, Costa Rica and the Yucatn Peninsula to scout filming locations and visit Maya ruins. What did bug me was the way [], The Mystery Vehicle at the Heart of Teslas New Master Plan, All the Settings You Should Change on Your New Samsung Phone, This Hacker Tool Can Pinpoint a DJI Drone Operator's Location, Amazons HQ2 Aimed to Show Tech Can Boost Cities. There was also increased warfare in some areas. There was heavy deforestation. A few critical errors have brought down Russia's complex and objectively brilliant war of influence in the West. A key consultant among several archeologists who served as advisors on Mel Gibsons Apocalypto said he is disappointed that the film overlooks many of the Mayas cultural and scientific achievements and portrays the people as bloodthirsty savages.. [via Emory University]. As Gibson describes it in the film's extra features, it is a story "set in the last days of the Mayan Empire of one man's heroic struggle to save his family" (Apocalypto Film Promo 2007). Apocalypto subtitles English. When does spring start? While Mel Gibson financed the film through his Icon Productions, Disney signed on to distribute Apocalypto for a fee in certain markets under the Touchstone Pictures label in North America, and Icon Film Distribution in the UK and Australia. Archaeological evidence points to a multitude of factors that could have led to this decline, including internecine warfare, the loss of trade routes, drought, and disease. Similar to Gibson's earlier film The Passion of the Christ, all dialogue is in a modern approximation of the ancient language of the setting. best ipsy brands to choose. Experts say that although the Mayas did practice human sacrifice, it came late to their civilization and was likely picked up from the Aztecs. There's so many historically inaccurate stuff with this film that it's actually very funny. 2 hr 20 min. old trucks for sale by owner'' in ontario; relihan funeral home obituaries douglas, ga; The film was distributed by Buena Vista Pictures in North America and Icon Film Distribution in the United Kingdom and Australia. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The Aztecs [who presided over an empire in Mexico in the 15th and 16th centuries] used a column-shaped stone on which the captive would be splayed out, back arched, allowing the sacrificer to more easily access the heart from beneath the rib cage to make a heart sacrifice. The first-ever documented feature film was made in Australia in . Heres the technology that helped scientists find itand what it may have been used for. About 25 members of the Maya community in Los Angeles were invited to an advance screening of Gibsons film last week. Get our L.A. Zero Wolf and Middle Eye take their men to chase after him. But participants of white backlash movements, some of which have ties to neo-Nazis, love to talk about how those ancient civilizations were degenerate, disgusting and violent. I just caught Mel Gibson's Apocalypto, which was sort of like Die Hard in a jungle with naked guys and pointed sticks. 5. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Northwestern University 633 Clark Street, Evanston, IL 60208 | Evanston: 847-491-3741 | Chicago: 312-503-8649 | webmaster@northwestern.edu. They hunted, but wild game was a relatively small percentage of the diet, and meat in general may have been seen as more of a luxury item. The ancient Maya were a great civilization. Many others seek out these traditions as well. The site's critical consensus reads: "Apocalypto is a brilliantly filmed, if mercilessly bloody, examination of a once great civilization. December 18, 2022. Apocalypto. The movie makes us think that maybe [the Maya] were bloodthirsty savages, Hansen said. apocalypto true facts. But many of the facts are wrong. Though the film exercises some dramatic license, Gibson hired Dr. Richard D. Hansen, Assistant Professor at Idaho State University and a specialist on Mayan culture, as a consultant to ensure a level of historical accuracy. alberta traffic fatalities 2020; purdue division of financial aid; openshift failed to pull image unauthorized: authentication required; wiley students killed in crash Fleeing back into the jungle, Jaguar Paw nearly sinks in quicksand, but very calmly escapes. While hunting in the Mesoamerican rainforest, Jaguar Paw, his father Flint Sky, and their fellow tribesmen encounter a contingent of fleeing refugees, and the group's leader explains that their lands were ravaged and asks for permission to pass through the jungle. [7][8] Hansen published an essay on the film and a critical commentary on the criticisms of the film. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. Two captives are sacrificed, their still beating hearts torn from their chests. [Gibson] wanted to have some reason to have the guys go after Rudy Youngblood, to go after the hero.That was entirely Mels scenario -- but its highly reasonable.. Apocalypto (/pklpto/) is a 2006 historical epic film produced, co-written, and directed by Mel Gibson. APOCALYPTO is a true gem; a refined and genuinely great flick. After a local man swam into the river and calmed the cow, it climbed up on . This is amazing to know! "[45] The film's focus on "gratuitous violence"[46] led Julia Guernsey, a professor of Mesoamerican art and culture, to condemn the film, stating in an interview, "there's a lot of really offensive racial stereotyping. June 17, 2022 . Gibson has said of Hansen's involvement: "Richard's enthusiasm for what he does is infectious. Start your day off right, with a Dayspring Coffee stockport council wards map; 0 comments. As Climate Fears Mount, Some Are Relocating Within the US. But its a feature film -- not a documentary -- which may let down those looking for accuracy at every turn. Principal photography ended in July 2006. Did you know if the Maya used sculpted animal heads like the aztec eagle & jaguar warriors? This equipment was used in a scene in which Jaguar Paw leaps off a waterfall. Source: Apocalypto. It may be modeled after Tikal in Guatemala, a great Mayan city. "[47], Apocalypto has been criticized for its depictions of mass sacrifices that were more typical for Aztecs than Mayas. So we should think of it more as a social reorganization than a collapse. Although the film has been nominated for three Academy Awards - in makeup, sound editing and sound mixing - it has received mixed reviews from critics and scholars. WIRED may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. In one memorable scene, a Maya priest slashes open the chests of frightened prisoners, rips out their still-beating hearts and decapitates them. The production team consisted of a large group of make-up artists and costume designers who worked to recreate the Maya look for the large cast. The two researched ancient Maya history, reading both creation and destruction myths, including sacred texts such as the Popul Vuh. There are many causes for the fall of that form of Classic-period social organization. The first film with a $100 million budget was True Lies, which was made in 1994. The Aztecs were clearly ruthless in their conquest and pursuit of sacrificial victims, a practice that spilled over into some of the Maya areas. Animatronics or puppets were employed for the scenes injurious to animals.[16]. [24], On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 65% based on 200 reviews, with an average rating of 6.40/10. Pyramids were never more than 20 kilometers away from anywhere in the Maya world. The U.S., Mexico and Guatemala are predominantly Christian nations but have a vibrant religious pluralism. Heres why each season begins twice. Sending Out Veterans' Benefits, The Executive Branchs Response to the Flood of 1927, The Case For Calling the Language "American", America Fought Its Own Battle Over Books Before it Fought the Nazis. Mel Gibson wanted Apocalypto to feature sets with buildings rather than relying on computer-generated images. [34][35] Director Quentin Tarantino said, "I think it's a masterpiece. [citation needed], According to Mel Gibson, the Mayan setting of Apocalypto is "merely the backdrop" for a more universal story of exploring "civilizations and what undermines them". A great deal of research went into the making of the film. Historians are not kind to the steaming jumble of inaccuracy and ignorance that is apocalypto. Olmec, Toltec, Teotihuacn! There is a little doohickey that comes down from the ear through the nose into the septum that was entirely their artistic innovation. It tells of the time when the Mayan civilization was declining and the rulers recommend offering human sacrifices and building of more temples to appease their gods and restore the civilization to prosperity. Gneros: Accin, Aventura Sinpsis: Garra de Jaguar (Rudy Youngblood), un joven capturado para el sacrificio, huye para evitar su destino. [21] Due to an enthusiastic response from exhibitors, Disney opened the film on more than 2,500 screens in the United States. Read full review. Meanwhile, the two remaining Raiders chase Jaguar Paw towards the coast, where all three are astonished at the sight of Spanish conquistadors making their way to the shore. Can we bring a species back from the brink? Safinia says that reality was far more intense than the film shows. Source: Op-ed by anthropology professor Zachary X. Hruby [via the San Francisco Chronicle]. The decline in social organization may have made the upkeep of public buildings a difficult economic and political endeavor. And to watch Gibson's "Apocalypto," one might not realize that the Mayas were in fact a highly sophisticated people: They mapped celestial objects, developed an accurate 365-day calendar, created. "[20] In 2013, director Spike Lee put the film on his list of all-time essential films. That view is quite difficult to. Native Americans - like African-Americans, gays and lesbians - are at constant risk of hate crimes. Every actors stretched earlobes were actually custom-made silicon prostheses crafted by makeup designers Aldo Signoretti and Vittorio Sodano. AKA: i, Mel Gibson's Apocalypto. In some areas in the north, the construction of pyramids and other buildings continued unimpeded [after A.D. 900]. [5] In the audio commentary of the film's first DVD release, Safinia states that the old shaman's story (played by Espiridion Acosta Cache, a modern-day Maya storyteller[6]) was modified from an authentic Mesoamerican tale that was re-translated by Hilario Chi Canul, a professor of Maya, into the Yucatec Maya language for the film. FACT: The Maya had a pantheon of gods, the most important of whomwas probably the Maize God because he signified the changing ofseasons. Principal photography took place in Mexico from 21 November 2005 and ended in July 2006. Here, the Indigenous Yucatec Mayan language is spoken with subtitles, which sometimes refer to the language as Mayan. Source: Maya Civilization Timeline [via the Canadian Museum of Civilizations]. A National Geographic team has made the first ascent of the remote Mount Michael, looking for a lava lake in the volcanos crater. The movie is mixing two vastly different time periods. By the time the Spaniards arrived, the social problems associated with the Classic period collapse, as portrayed in Apocalypto, did not exist. Press J to jump to the feed. He has but a pale visage under the dark hood and he . It emerged at the bottom alive and dazed, banging along rocks near the bank. apocalypto true facts. They figured out the concept of zero, for instance, putting them in the same league as the Chinese and Arabs. Traci Ardren, anthropologist, wrote that the arrival of the Spanish as Christian missionaries had a "blatantly colonial message that the Mayas needed saving because they were 'rotten at the core. A New Computer Proof Blows Up Centuries-Old Fluid Equations. In the twilight of the mysterious Mayan culture, young Jaguar Paw is captured and taken to the great Mayan city where he faces a harrowing end. Even after death, the bones of those captives were owned [by the sacrificer]. Near the time of the collapse, people were generally undernourished, which is reflected in their bones, and they had bad problems with their teeth. [13] Another disputed scene, when Jaguar Paw and the rest of the captives are used as target practice, was acknowledged by the filmmakers to be invented as a plot device for igniting the chase sequence. "[31] The Boston Globe's review came to a similar conclusion, noting that "Gibson may be a lunatic, but he's our lunatic, and while I wouldn't wish him behind the wheel of a car after happy hour or at a B'nai Brith function anytime, behind a camera is another matter. These animals can sniff it out. Call (225) 687-7590 or what can i bring on a cruise royal caribbean today! MYTH: When the Spanish arrived in the Yucatan, the Mayan way of lifedied instantly, just as the syphillis-smeared prophet chick says in Apocalypto. There was a great sense of political connectedness between different groups. Apocalypto. Seven gives birth to another son, who is born under the surface of the dangerously rising water. It was a combination of religion and politics, but not in the sense that we think of an Egyptian pharaoh as a living god. Villagers who survived a savage attack are taken by their captors through the jungle to the central Mayan city. Cheap Blu-ray movies and deals. "[40] Some scholars have pointed out that the depiction of mass human sacrifices and widespread slavery was more typical of the Aztecs. Has to be one of the funniest Apocalypto quotes throughout the whole movie. Led by Aldo Signoretti, the make-up artists daily applied the required tattoos, scarification, and earlobe extensions to all of the on-screen actors. The actor who played the Mayan King was a local dockworker in Veracruz. The historic facts in Apocalypto is mainly pick-and-choose, which is very common in Mel Gibson movies, Braveheart is another prominent example. Gibson and Safinia were also interested in portraying and exploring an ancient culture as it existed before the arrival of the Europeans. All of the jade in the film is actually painted and treated wood. Flint Sky notes that the refugees were sick with fear and urges Jaguar Paw to never allow fear to infect him. [22] The filmmakers intended for the collapse of Maya to mirror issues seen in contemporary society. Later, heavy rain begins to fall, threatening to drown Jaguar Paw's family, who are still trapped in the pit. Researchers found fossils of a "Mega Penguin" that stood over 6 feet tall and weighed in at over 250 pounds. Apocalypto 's Costumes The costumes were designed by Mayes C. Rubeo, a Mexican designer known for this film as well as Avatar (2009), John Carter (2012), World War Z (2013), Warcraft (2016), Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Jojo Rabbit (2019), the last of which earned her Oscar and BAFTA nominations. [23] Gibson has defined the title, based on Greek word (, apokalupt), as "a new beginning or an unveiling a revelationEverything has a beginning and an end, and all civilizations have operated like that". Apocalypto (/ p k l p t o /) is a 2006 historical epic film produced, co-written, and directed by Mel Gibson.The film features a cast of Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors consisting of Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Srbulo, Dalia Hernndez, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza, and . [50] Hansen states that this is "conjecture", saying that "all [Gibson was] trying to do there is express the horror of it". Though it gave rise to awe-inspiring architecture and surprisingly advanced science, the Maya civilizationwhich thrived in what are now Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, and Hondurasbegan declining around A.D. 800. The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking, new connections, and new industries. Gibson wasnt the only brief cameo. accion Ttulo Original: Apocalypto Ao: 2006 Duracin: 138 min. But archeologists point out that nobody knows why the Mayas, who ruled in the Americas for more than 1,000 years, abandoned their cities and allowed their majestic pyramids to become overgrown with jungle. In countless interviews, Gibson has stressed the flick's authenticity, right down to using the Yucatan Mayan language instead of silly accents ala Dances With Wolves. (Related: In Search of the Lost Empire of the Maya). Let's have a little smackdown between the myths of Apocalypto and the world of facts, shall we? percheron breeders near me; manchester public schools teacher contract; arizona cardinals schedule 2022 2023. chevy 350 compression ratio chart; matthew gunner ohanion There were too many people, and the pie simply wasn't big enough. The Girl with All the Gifts (The Girl with All the Gifts, #1)byM.R. Mel Gibson made a very. Generally captives appear to have been taken during war between polities. He was trying to depict opulence, wealth, consumption of resources.. Cueva, Diquis, Inca Empire, Olmec. The buildings look weird, the CGI artists just mixed different Maya styles into one. Apocalypto Blu-ray Release Date July 28, 2020. FACT: Mel Gibson directs movies about mostly-naked men smeared in oiland blue paint who often run really fast so we can see their musclesflex or bend over and show off their ass cracks. apocalypto true facts. Among the reviews on the IMDb website is one which refers to Mel as "one of the greatest artists of our time." Some of the other reviews are not so complimentary. All the while, the populace screams and gesticulates wildly as each severed head comes bouncing down the steps. All rights reserved. The film features a cast of Native American and Indigenous Mexican actors consisting of Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Mayra Srbulo, Dalia Hernndez, Gerardo Taracena, Rodolfo Palacios, Bernardo Ruiz Juarez, Ammel Rodrigo Mendoza, Ricardo Diaz Mendoza, and Israel Contreras. Source:Political philosopher Albert Memmi. It even displaced memorable Mexican premieres such as Titanic and Poseidon. Villagers who survived a savage attack are taken by their captors through the jungle to the central Mayan city. The calendar [angle] is so rich, Hansen said. To find out what the Maya Empire was really like, Stefan Lovgren checked in with Zachary Hruby, a Maya expert at the University of California, Riverside. The roughly 5,000-year-old human remains were found in graves from the Yamnaya culture, and the discovery may partially explain their rapid expansion throughout Europe. True , a movie is a fictional account that, in most cases, places the drama ahead of the historical verisimilitude. The jungle scenes were shot just outside of the city of Catemaco and the pyramid city set was built in Veracruz. Apocalypto, 2006 is a movie directed by Mel Gibson. - Micro B Life They had important inventions and made many advances, such as in higher mathematics. Simon Atherton, an English armorer and weapon-maker who worked with Gibson on Braveheart, was hired to research and provide reconstructions of Maya weapons. [26] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B+" on an A+ to F scale. It depicts a nation that probably destroyed itself from within without any influence from outsiders. Set in the waning days of the Mayan civilization, the picture provides a trip to a place one's never been before, offering hitherto unseen sights of exceptional vividness and power. As a chase movie, Apocalypto is top-notch, said Richard D. Hansen, a professor of anthropology at Idaho State University who has written extensively about the Mayas. SUPPORT HISTORY BUFFS ON PATREON https://www.patreon.com/HistoryBuffsSpecial thanks to AlternateHistoryHub for being in this episode. Capture, humiliation, and torture of an elite warrior meant usurpation of their goods and resources. He played a major ceremonial role. Mel Gibson's latest film, Apocalypto, tells a story set in pre-Columbian Central America, with the Mayan Empire in decline. [27], Richard Roeper and guest critic Aisha Tyler on the television show Ebert & Roeper gave it "two thumbs up" rating. Uncategorized. Though set in the early 1500s, the actors speak the Mayan language of today's Yucatan Peninsula, which nobody spoke in the 1500s. As the two Raiders are confounded by the Spanish ships and begin walking towards the coast, Jaguar Paw uses the distraction to flee and return to his village. Apocalypto Cast NI FOCUS Then and Now Real Name and AgeApocalypto NI FOCUS 1 Ricardo Diaz Mendoza Cut Rock2 Rodolfo Palacios: Snake Ink3 Gerard. The evidence we have suggests that sacrifice was a very personal thing, and so even the captives were personal objects. True, a movie is a fictional account that, in most cases, places the drama ahead of the historical verisimilitude. This is Hollywood, first and foremost, Hansen said. Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Review: Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre is classic Guy Ritchie and not in a good way, Review: The teen drama Palm Trees and Power Lines tells a searing story of abuse, Review: The documentary Ithaka attempts a difficult defense of Julian Assange, Jonathan Majors dubs Michael B. Jordan Michael B. Handsome at Walk of Fame ceremony, Review: Natural beauty and a touching ecological tale center the female-forward Blueback. Apocalypto is a 2006 film directed by Mel Gibson that tells the story of a Maya tribe facing the end of their civilization. As a joke, Gibson inserted a subliminal cameo of the bearded director in a plaid shirt with a cigarette hanging from his mouth posing next to a group of dust-covered Maya. Mel Gibson's road to rehabilitation after his anti-semitic outburst last summer appears to have hit a pothole: his Mayan epic Apocalypto has been condemned by a . Tourists travel to Maya sites such as Chichen Itza, read books about Maya calendric systems and even attend ceremonies led by modern-day Maya shamans. Set in Yucatn, Mexico, around the year 1502, Apocalypto portrays the hero's journey of a young man named Jaguar Paw, a late Mesoamerican hunter and his fellow tribesmen who are captured by an invading force. The movie follows the journey of a young man named Jaguar Paw, who is captured by a group of warriors and taken to be sacrificed to the gods. Gibson does merge historical facts from earlier Maya times, different Maya locales, and to some extent, contemporary neighboring civilizations such as the Aztecs. apocalypto true facts. Apocalypto (7,728) Logo Imdb Outline Logo Imdb Outline 7.82 h 17 min2006X-RayR As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, a young man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression. '"[44] According to Ardren, Apocalypto "replays, in glorious big-budget technicolor, an offensive and racist notion that Maya people were brutal to one another long before the arrival of Europeans and thus they deserved, in fact, they needed, rescue. The film is set in the early sixteenth century. Now theres a breakthrough. [3], We started to talk about what to do next, but we specifically spent a lot of time on the action-chase genre of filmmaking. StarringRudy Youngblood Jonathan Brewer Dalia Hernndez Carlos Emilio Bez Morris Birdyellowhead Directed byMel Gibson the main theme of it is spot on: thre Maya were obsessed with warfare and in the end, this was what destroyed their society from within. Set in Yucatn, Mexico, around the year 1502, Apocalypto portrays the hero's journey of a young man named Jaguar Paw, a late Mesoamerica n hunter and his fellow tribesmen who are captured by an invading force. The king was the one who supposedly conducted rituals in front of a large audience. Goes Out newsletter, with the week's best events, to help you explore and experience our city. A heart stopping mythic action-adventure set against the turbulent end times of the once great Mayan civilization.