If your IQ is too high and you can't find anyone willing to talk to you, watch Apocalypto, it will bring you down a few notches. This movie was strange and gruesome from the get-go. This is the story of a Mayan warrior trying to escape his death at the hands of other Mayan warriors. It does seem stupid that the Mayans would capture and kill each other, but my understanding is that is actually how it happened, and the historical perspective of this movie actually seems pretty good. There are some really cool action scenes, and the lead character is acted well-enough. Aside from that, Apocalypto is quite lacking. It is basically an over-indulgent glorification of Mel Gibson's ego. The second half of the movie involves a drawn out chase through the Central American jungle that is very reminiscent of the short story The Most Dangerous Game, or the movies Hard Target and The Last Boy Scout. In general, I would say this movie was little more than a waste of time, which was to be expected. I am not sure if this was intentional, but the end does offer a very interesting moment of irony. The arrival of the Spanish, which eventually spells the doom of the Mayan civilization aids the protagonist in his survival, but their arrival makes his short-term escape almost pointless in the long run. I did not have to ask my wife whether or not she wanted to see this movie, nor would I recommend that she or anyone else see it. I read a review that likened this movie to The Last of the Mohicans. Aside from the fact that both movies involve people with dark skin, there is no parallel. Comparing the two is an insult to both James Fenymore Cooper and Daniel Day Lewis. In case I have not been clear, I thought this movie sucked. I give Apocalypto 1 and a half stars.
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