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Apocalypto: Is there an Oskar for Anthropology?

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If you get your nut on anthropology this is your anthem. Beautifully filmed and filled with enough scarring, tattooing, and piercing to sate the most hardcore freak.
Trusting the movie is well researched, we are dropped into a culture like never before. Everyday life with jokes, nagging mothers-in-law, and a world undisturbed by the dreaded "western" culture.
Our peaceful natives are brutally disrupted by a raiding party set on taking captives for slavery and (spoiler). This the raiders do by destroying the village (and a nearby also) and binding them altogether for a hike to "Emerald City". Once there the fun begins as we make our way through the corp fields, outskirts, and finally straight to the main event. Once our protagonist escapes he begins an epic flight filled with all the spills and chills of a good car chase.
Note: this is not "Patriot" gone native. This is really pretty good.
There was a lot of care used to put this together but my main gripes keep it from becoming a classic for three cheesy reasons:
1) There was not enough time spent in "Emerald City" exploring the decadent culture.
2) Jaguar Paw had just too much energy and speed to have been wounded twice after his escape.
3) The beach scene had a maximum cheese "event" that could have been left out.
Unfortunately this is not a monocle and Dom deal. But I do give it a large Diet Coke and Barrel of Popcorn.

Grits: "Rewarding, very, very, VERY REWARDING!"

Follow Ups:

I think this one is cursed by Mel Gibson's baggage - Analog Scott 13:40:55 12/10/06 (3)
I think it will get some nominations and then be shut out
- Actually, I went expecting to see a gross-out fest. I think most people feel that's what it is. I'm hyping it. * - mr grits 15:40:24 12/10/06 (2)
  .
  Grits: "Rewarding, very, very, VERY REWARDING!"
  - Just saw it myself - Analog Scott 19:03:00 12/10/06 (1)
    While I think there is a lot to like about it in the end I think it is a bit too linear and simple. Not that simple is bad but, I don't know, I knew where it was going from the get go and where it would end so it kind of took away from the relentlessness of the pursuit. Don't get me wrong, I thought it was good. Not great. My predictions as far as Oscars go have more to do with the attitude towards Gibson rather than the merits of the film. Were it a great film I suppose some of the Gibson haters would grudgingly come around. I think the voters can probably ignore it and feel like they didn't do something political. I do think it will get some technical nominations and then not get the Oscars for those nominations. I think it is well worth seeing though. Oh and I thought the brutality was in some ways the most honest and believable aspect of this film. I thought it was just ridiculous in The Passion. Here it is totally right.
    - That's why I mused Oscar for Anthropology . . . - mr grits 19:13:42 12/10/06 (0)
      Simple and straightforward but a showcase of culture and custom. I think simple was best and would have loved it without some of the obvious cheese.
      
      Grits: "Rewarding, very, very, VERY REWARDING!"

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