Apocalypto [Blu-ray]

So...I went into this with conflicting feelings. I asked around and got mixed reviews from nearly everyone I asked. I was told things like 'It's just gory, there's nothing great about it' to 'It was really intense.'The truth is, it's all up to the viewer. You can see this as a gore filled film that's not dialogue heavy, a gritty look at how beliefs can lead to destruction of lives or even just a great chase film.I enjoyed it, after the cgi heavy movies that keep coming out it was nice to see something that didn't really have that. Sets were made, I think there was an animatronic like animal used at one point. The story has been done before, main character gets captured, his world is shattered and he must find his way back home, if you've seen 10,000 BC then you know what I mean.What this film does differently is that at some moments the 'villains' are almost relatabley human, they're not seen as these untouchable gods of destruction. I actually liked the pack leader of our band of 'bad guys', he was relatable and almost like our main characters opposite in a way, the two view points of their lives complemented each other.It didn't feel overdone set wise either, in fact I don't know what I was expecting but set wise I was really surprised at the choices.In many ways, this film seems really underrated. I had only heard about it in passing and I'm glad I managed to find the time to see it.At the end of the day, it was a good film, well shot and well paced. Characters motives were done well and didn't feel clunky or like it was done just because they wanted it to be cool. Maybe there were a few cultural inaccuracies but it was not as bad as some films I've seen that border on insulting.And that ending, whoo!

This is what blu-ray presentation was made for. An absolutely stunning film that uses the technology to the full. Every rustle of the grass, every whisker of the jaguar's face, was picked out with astonishing clarity. I almost felt I had to wipe the humidity of the jungle off my brow as I watched it. The story is a straightforward tale of a community ripped apart by violent outsiders and the struggle for one of its inhabitants to flee from his captors and return to his doomed family. But it is in such simplicity that the story is made. The villains are bad beyond redemption and you long for their deaths, you root for the hero from the moment he is taken, and you prey for a happy ending to his plight - may his family be saved. Gibson knows exactly what he is doing and the viewer actually cares about what they are watching. Before viewing the movie, I was troubled about the level of violence contained in the film and, whilst there is undoubtedly some gore - ripping out a beating heart is never going to be pretty - I found nothing that wasn't essential to the plot or added to the menacing atmosphere of the period depicted. Don't let the lurid tales put you off. As an archaeologist, I was also drawn into the debate about authenticity but such thoughts were quickly banished by the pulsating intensity and sheer brilliance of the film. Similarly, the subtitles are forgotten and the foreign language even adds to the feeling that what you are witnessing is real; this actually happened. Apocalypto is stunning - an experience rather than a movie.

Wow! This film is amazing. Its almost the perfect film for Blu-Ray: The vibrant colours, jungle scenery, fast paced action and good story all made for a very fascinating watch. The attention to detail is also quite impressive (as you'll see in extras). This is also not just a chase film as I had thought it would be from install reviews. It offers a lot more by immersing us in a Mayan culture before the Spaniards turned up. A very vivid and bloody portrayal, as it may well has been in that time. You should of course not read this as a historical documentary, but Mr Gibson creates a very real and convincing environment. The characters are also quite convincing and you can really empathize with them, especially through some of the harrowing moments they endure. I really enjoyed how the personalities were brought to life from these long gone Mayan people; both cruel and kind. I also enjoyed how the film ends (you wont see it coming!) ... well I didn't anyway.All in all, a film you can watch whatever you mood. You know you going to be entertained by this and I certainly was. I actually enjoyed it more than I thought I would. A lot of gore (lock the kids away. Not in a Belgian way though), a lot of stunning scenery (some of the panoramic shots in HD are just worth it alone) and a lot of fun. Interesting extras too. Highly, highly recommend this. Worth all 5 stars.