Apocalypto, Mel Gibson's Directorial vision of Mayan "civilzation" is Rated 'R' for sequences of graphic violence and disturburbing images.
Apocalypto is another in a series of historically based films that Director Mel Gibson has developed a formula for writing and producing; a violent depiction of the events that he sees as pivotal in the development of peoples, religons and nations, and in this case the demise of an empire.
The Mayans dominated the Central American land link between present-day Mexico and South America for a thousand years. As their written records were destroyed by fires set by Spanish Conquistadors modern day Guatemalans have not been able to say for certain what caused the decline of the Mayans.
This leaves the story to be told open to the violent imaginings of Mel Gibson's mind and a bloodshot view of the last Mayan "civilization."
The Guatemalan reaction to Mel Gibson's graphic depiction of onscreen barbarity: Human rights activist Lucio Yaxon "Basically, the director, Mel Gibson, is saying the Mayans are savages" with there bone piercings and practice of ritualized beheadings.
"Entertainment Weekly Magazine": Mel Gibson, "You're always looking to do something you have a (blood)thirst to see in your own heart and mind, there has always been this shroud of mystery (which gives him "artistic license" to let his imagination go where it will) about the Mayan civilization. "I went to the Mirador Basin in Peten, Guatemala to see the enormous pyramids" that would have heads bouncing down them in his mind's eye.
So, Mel Gibson's Icon Productions cashes in again, he knows what thrills his target audience.
For more about the imagination of Mel Gibson, Click this Link:
www.associatedcontent.com/article/83900/mel_gibsons_apocalypto_message.html