Apocalypto (2006)

A small village in the forest, where all the people live as a peaceful community is suddenly ravaged by the Holcane warriors who have come to capture all the inmates of the village for human sacrifice. The declining Mayan kingdom believes that human sacrifice would save their kingdom from the impending drought and bad times.

'Jaguar Paw' singlehandedly takes on the Holcane warriors after he is saved just in the nick of time by the solar  eclipse. As his buddies die around him, he literally goes through a hell of pain to get back to his pregnant wife and young kid, who are hidden in a deep pit. Finally, he seeks a new beginning in his own forest with his wife, young kid and his newborn baby. He epitomizes the term 'one man army'

Hits

• Such pain, raw action, high octane visuals have never been seen before. Mel Gibson continues from where he left off in Passion of the Christ.
• The action is on a scale never seen before. Jumping from the top of the waterfall, running across a field through a slew of arrows and spears, escaping the clutches of a fearsome jaguar, coming out of quick sand, eliminating the last set of Holcane warriors singlehandedly etc. etc.

Comments

• The customs detailing human sacrifice are too much to digest for the faint hearted
• The torture scenes are one too many
• The raw action and pain are also not meant for all. 

VERDICT

Hats off to Mel Gibson for his intricate effort and detailing to show a brutal civilization. High octane stuff. 

Classic: Braveheart (1995)

Whats it about:

           It traces Scotland’s war for freedom from the English, inspired by Sir William Wallace, a true warrior. William looses his father and brother to the English, at a very young age. He grows away from Scotland under his uncle’s eyes. He returns to Scotland to lead a trouble free life but as a well trained warrior. He courts his lady love, marries her secretly and makes love to her. But the English destroy his peace by killing Murron, his wife.

          William is instigated by this mindless violence by the English, lead by the greedy Edward the Longshanks. William inspires his fellow Scots & leads them to victories over the English at Stirling and at York. William is knighted by the Scots. 

          But, the Scottish king and the nobles don’t want to rub the English on the wrong side. The English have bribed all the Scottish nobles and the king with lands, gold and money. William isn’t convinced by the Scottish royalty. Only Robert the Bruce, the Scottish king in waiting, is behind William’s passion for freedom. The wife of the gay English prince, Princess Isabelle also has great respect for Sir William’s noble intentions.

          After a betrayal at the battle of Falkirk by the Scottish royalty, Sir William goes berserk and kills many people and his passion for freedom grows stronger. Then the nobles try to put an end to him and Sir William is betrayed one last time by the Scottish nobles in the name of freedom and this time he is brutally murdered by the English. Till the end, Sir William refuses to beg for mercy and maintains his passion for freedom.

         Inspired by Sir William, the Scots lead by Robert the Bruce, do take on the English at the battle of Bannockburn and win their freedom finally.

                                                                          

Hits

• Mel Gibson. Such passionate film making. The scenes ooze emotion. Particularly the battle scenes where Sir William’s face is all painted up in blue. He inspires us to tears with his war time speech. Goose bumps were all over me after the victory cries at the battle of Stirling.
• James Horner. Such a moving BGM score. Divine. Mesmerizing. Wordless.
• Breathtakingly real battle scenes. Such raw energy aided by some great cinematography.
• Two beautiful leading ladies with very striking characterization. Catherine McCormack as Murron moves us with her innocent beauty. Sophie Marceau as Princess Isabelle also comes across a beautiful strong minded woman.
• Angus McFadyen as Robert the Bruce impresses with his helplessness at the same time passion for Scottish freedom.
• Sir William’s trusted aides also make a mark with their loyalty and devotion to their leader. Particularly Hamish and the Irish guy.

VERDICT

A great tribute to Sir William Wallace, with one of the best war movies that man can ever make. Salutations to Mel Gibson.