CS Weekly Archive > Weekend Read > 12/09/06

Die Hard in the Jungle

By peter clines

Mel Gibson's latest historic epic takes viewers to the last days of the sprawling, crumbling Mayan Empire, as seen through the eyes of a young man who goes from being a hunter to a slave to a fugitive. Surprisingly, his epic, near-mythic tale is far more Braveheart than Passion of the Christ.

Apocalypto

Mel Gibson & Farhad Safinia (former also directed)

Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) is the son of Flint Sky (Morris Bird), the headman of a small village of hunter-gatherers deep on the fringes of the Mayan Empire. Their peaceful forest life comes to an end, however, when raiders led by the vicious Zero Wolf (Raoul Trujillo) attack, seeking slaves and sacrifices. While Jaguar Paw is able to hide his wife and son, the rest of the young hunter's small tribe is taken prisoner and forced to march through miles of jungle to a massive city of stone, where a lucky (and perhaps prophesied) coincidence frees the few survivors from the sacrificial altar. After escaping a brutal "shooting gallery" that uses excess prisoners, Jaguar Paw races back to his jungle homeland before heavy rains can submerge his family's hiding place. With Zero Wolf and his warriors close behind, the young hunter remembers that he is not helpless in his native forest, and brutally begins to turn the tables on his pursuers.

Co-writer/director Mel Gibson begins his story with a quote from philosopher William Durant: "A great civilization is never conquered from without until it has destroyed itself from within." And while this theme is evident in the story, it is far from the main thrust. Surprisingly, Apocalypto is far more of an action movie than anything else, feeling like an odd rainforest mix of Roots, The Fugitive, and The Most Dangerous Game. "I wanted to make a high-velocity, action-adventure chase film that keeps on turning the screws," says the writer/director. Co-writer Farhad Safinia brought up the idea of setting the story during the decline of the Mayan empire, which also appealed to Gibson's desire to write an enjoyable movie with powerful ideas beneath it.

In this sense, Apocalypto is a fine film. Despite a few lulls, the pacing is brisk and gradually increases to the breakneck speed of the finale. Almost all of the characters fall into traditional action-movie roles (the loveable screw-up pal, the ruthless-yet-noble villain, the crazed henchman), while the unique setting and language keep them fresh and interesting. Jaguar Paw is a strong, remarkably rounded character whose motivation springs from love for his family more than a desire for revenge. Like many classic Hollywood heroes, it's not until he's forced to fight that we realize what a capable and dangerous opponent he can be.

Along with his slowly drowning family, additional suspense comes from the underplayed prophecy uttered by a plague-ridden oracle, warning the slavers of their deaths and the man who "will lead you to your end." Unlike some stories, there is an almost Shakespearean subtlety in how Jaguar Paw comes to fulfill each part of these predictions. These moments are never hammered home, but simply left for the audience to realize on their own. Also, like any decent, film-worthy prophecy, it doesn't end up meaning quite what everyone expects, as Jaguar Paw does ultimately lead his pursuers to a fate none of them could have foreseen.

Again, all this is not to say some of the heavily publicized moral lessons about civilization are not present. "I think the first thing that strikes you about this story is the great adventure in it," notes Gibson, "but beneath that are the underpinnings of all that has set Jaguar Paw's journey in motion." While the young hunter and his extended family still live in balance with nature, the Maya of the city have expanded too fast, burning up their surrounding resources faster than they can replenish them. Their upper classes live in catered luxury while the lower classes starve, kept in their place through fear and religious manipulation. However, rather than beating the audience with these facts, viewers experience them on the same level as Jaguar Paw: as simple observations while he gets his bearings in this strange new world, and waits for his chance to escape.

While some may dread a message-heavy film, co-writers Mel Gibson and Farhad Safinia have done a fine job of layering their script with enough fun, fights, and stunts that these lessons work their way in painlessly without ever supplanting the actual story. Apocalypto is a solid, classic tale moved to a new setting and given a fresh coat of paint, and an excellent lesson in well-scripted, yet dialogue-light, storytelling.

Apocalypto

Touchstone Pictures
Rated R; 138 min.

Buy tickets now

Peter Clines has had a lifelong love affair with the movies. He grew up in New England, where he studied English literature and education, and now lives and writes somewhere in Southern California. If anyone knows exactly where, he would appreciate a few hints.

Apocalypto courtesy Touchstone Pictures

From the Trenches
Working screenwriters discuss in their own words a particular aspect of screenwriting, from the mechanics of writing to the personal and professional impact that writing has had on their lives. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Art of Craft
Screenwriting experts discuss how to approach various aspects of writing and the writing life. A mini-seminar each week from the people who write the books and teach the classes. > VIEW ARCHIVE

The Big Picture

Features that cover all aspects of screenwriting, from our "Seven Best" lists to analysis of old favorites and new classics. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Expert Witness
A panel of experts assembled to provide the facts about the screenwriting business. Readers will be able have their questions answered by an agent, producer, entertainment attorney, and WGA representative—and without paying that 10% commission. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Son of a Pitch
A weekly tutorial on how to write a script. Each week deals with a different element of creating a script, with the ultimate goal to provide a step-by-step instruction manual for new writers. The guide for this is a writer just diving into screenwriting himself, who asks the pros questions any new screenwriter would have about this brave new world. > VIEW ARCHIVE

Weekend Read
Film, book, web site and technology reviews from a writer’s perspective. How can these items help a writer on his or her journey, or make that journey more enjoyable? > VIEW ARCHIVE

DVD Review of the Day
DVD reviews from a writer’s point of view. What aspects of this script and features of this DVD illuminate the writing, development, and storytelling process? > VIEW ARCHIVE