Apocalypto- uneven, warning SPOILERS

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As said below, in some ways this is a visionary work of art. The insertion of the viewer into another world, albeit one that is also recognizably human, is truly spectacular. Both the world of the first tribe and the world of the Mayans are rendered with brilliance in every aspect- cinematography, the language, the dress, the activities of the daily life.
Unfortunately about 1/2 way through this movie starts to rely on the creakiest of plot devices - the deus ex machina. And there are too many such moments. In particular:
the miracle of the eclipse
the miracle of the jaguar
the melodramatic birth in the midst of an already melodramatic crisis
the return to save the wife with seconds to spare
yelling over the noise of a waterfall and being heard at the top
pulling the spear out of the chest (it's gone all the way through to the other side) and going on at full speed
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. But I wish it had not pulled me out of the movie world so often with eye-rolling moments such as above.
If the plot itself and the chase had risen to the artistry of the setting, this would indeed be a classic. It still is, in many ways. But it's flawed.

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The Cable Cooker

Topic - Apocalypto- uneven, warning SPOILERS - tunenut 15:48:15 12/17/06 (5)

Don't forget the quicksand scene - LesF 11:59:43 12/22/06 (0)

All of the above (and below) plus - Road Warrior 20:49:27 12/19/06 (0)

Anyone else see Gibson on Fox News last week? - DWPC 12:41:38 12/18/06 (0)

To add insult to injury (spoilers) - Analog Scott 12:05:44 12/18/06 (0)

I agree with your SPOILER list . . . - mr grits 17:16:53 12/17/06 (0)

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