Fridae

Mel Gibson may have gotten into a lot of trouble for saying that Jews are responsible for all the wars in this world. But if you can put aside his anti-Semitism and watch his latest directorial effort Apocalypto, you may be amazed by his vision and artistry. Indeed, this action film actually carries a strong anti-war message that is so relevant to our times.

Apocalypto is set during the last days of the ancient Mayan civilization in the 15th century. Our hero Jaguar Paw (played by newcomer Rudy Youngblood) belongs to a tribe of hunter-gatherers who are attacked by a warring sect. He is captured and taken to another city, where he is to be sacrificed in the name of his enemy's God. (How many innocent people have been killed in the name of God � be they the victims of terrorism or Bush's ridiculous war in Iraq?) But Jaguar Paw manages to escape and goes to rescue his own family, while his enemies pursue him...

Mel Gibson has done the impossible: In an age where multi-million dollar movies and computer-generated spectacles have become so common, Mel has actually managed to inspire awe and respect with this incredibly grand and majestic epic. Again and again, Apocalypto will impress you with its authentic details of the Mayan people and places, such as the populous urban city where Jaguar Paw is taken to.

Mel's last film, The Passion of the Christ, had Biblical characters speaking in Aramaic. Apocalypto has 15th-century Mayan characters speaking in Yucatec. Mel obviously doesn't speak any of these ancient, exotic languages. Yet the fact that these two films manage to be so powerful, profound and universal simply attests to his talent and perseverance.