Apocalypto

By Larry Anklewicz

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Technically, Apocalypto is an excellent film. It has some beautiful cinematography, the acting is good; and all the technical aspects are first rate.

But--and this is a big but, many of the other elements are seriously flawed.

This film was directed and put together by Mel Gibson. He had complete artistic and financial control of this film and as such, must shoulder the responsibility for the film’s short comings.

Apocalypto is set during an idyllic, yet harrowing time at the height of the Mayan civilization in Mexico and Central America. A peaceful village is attacked by a violent tribe. Many villagers are killed and the survivors are taken prisoner and marched off to the invaders’ city. There, the prisoners are beheaded in an effort to appease the angry Mayan gods.

The film was shot with all the dialogue being spoken in the Mayan language. It’s a nice touch, but it does mean that Gibson has had to use subtitles for those of us who do not speak this language. It is a bit of an annoyance.

The film also contains numerous scenes of brutality and violence and culminates in the beheading of the prisoners and the tossing of the heads down a long ramp. Not a pretty sight. Nor are the pictures of the rest of the bodies being thrown down the ramp.

This is not a film for the faint of heart. It may not be much of a film for any of us, although its depiction of the ancient Mayan civilization is exquisitely handled.

Finally, how can we avoid mention of Mel Gibson’s own erratic behaviour and strange beliefs? His recent drunken anti-semitic outburst is not easily forgotten nor is his unique take on Christianity which he made clear in his last film, The Passion of the Christ. Gibson marches to his own drum beat and happens to be wealthy enough to do as he pleases.

It will be interesting to see how Apocalypto stands up to some severe criticism and whether the American public will flock to the theatres to see it.

Monkey Warfare

You better hurry up and go out and catch this flick soon; it won’t be around in the theatres too long.

Monkey Warfare is a Canadian film trying to find an audience in Canada. Not an easy thing to do.

Despite the fact that this film was praised by most critics and has received a great deal of good word of mouth, it is unlikely to have much of a theatrical run.

The subject matter iscertainly not uplifting. Don McKellar plays a burned out radical, who with his significant other, has been reduced to picking garbage and salvaging things others throw away in order to make a living. He has lost the fire of his youth and is now happy when nobody bothers him and he is left alone.

But his interest in life perks up when he meets a young girl who offers to provide him with marijuana and who is fascinated by his revolutionary interests and books. Then, McKellar’s character gets frightened when his new found friend decides to engage in violent acts of terrorism in order to show her opposition to the system.

McKellar is excellent in this role and proves once again that his talents include acting as well as writing and directing.

Overall though, the film left me unsatisfied. I thought it was a look at a part of society that has become passe. It felt like it should have been made 10 or 20 years ago and seems irrelevant now.

Recent DVD’s

Air Buddies

This is a great family film. It focuses on five puppies sired by Air Bud. The puppies are very cute and will win the hearts of any child. Then there is the fact that these puppies can talk. What can be more adorable?

When the puppies’ parents are kidnapped, the puppies mount a rescue mission and run into all sorts of obstacles and challenges.

Then with a little help from the people in the movie and a champion sniffer dog, the parents and the puppies are all saved and the dogs and the people get to live happily ever after.

This film will delight children of all ages and the DVD includes all sorts of extra features, such as how to train your dog to be a star, an interview with all five puppies, and a feature that lets you learn about each puppies’ likes and dislikes.

There is also a music video performed by Jordan Pruitt.

Little Miss Sunshine

An American road comedy that sets new standards in family relationships. The Hoover family contains the biggest group of losers you are ever going to run into. A fluke gets the youngest child, Olive, into the "Little Miss Sunshine" competition in California. As a result, the whole Hoover family rallies behind her pile into their rusted-out VW bus and head West on a three-day journey that will change the entire misfit family. The acting is superb and Alan Arkin is a wonder to behold.

Starring: Alan Arkin, Abigail Breslin, Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Greg Kinnear.

My Super Ex-Girlfriend

You want to be careful when you decide to break up with your girlfriend and your girlfriend is a super-hero. Jenny Johnson is the perfect and beautiful girlfriend, but when Matt Saunders decides to end the relationship, Jenny decides to take out her anger on him. She humiliates him in an attempt to break up his new romance with a co-worker. A very funny and entertaining film.

Starring: Uma Thurman, Luke Wilson, Anna Faris, Eddie Izzard, Rainn Wilson, Wanda Sykes.