Apocalypto and the Warning Signs of Societal Collapse (Film Analysis)

Apocalypto is one of the most unique actions films ever made. In its simplest form, Apocalypto is just another "hero's journey," but Mel Gibson also explores a variety of ideas that make it much more. Apocalypto is about civilization and why it collapses. It shows the audience warning signs to look out for in their own nations, and in this video, I point out what those warning signs are.
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#movies

[@direwolf47]

Apocalypto is one of those movies that doesn't need a word of dialogue, everything can be understood because of how well it's put together. Mel Gibson really knows how to make a movie

[@Nobody-df4is]

It's a true gem. Probably the last good movie ever made. He is a drunk weirdo tho. He made 4 good movies. Mad Max 2 - Road Warrior, Braveheart, Passion of Christ and this one, Apocalypto. Amazing gems. I guess you need to be a little bit mad to be a genius. Idk.

[@mauri9289]

There were a lot of historical inaccuracies like a lot

[@Nobody-df4is]

@@mauri9289 Not a lot. It was not that bad and we know there were some historical inaccuracies. The messed up with the clothing. But it is a movie, not a documentary. But I tend to agree, why not make a 100% accurate historical movie?

[@mauri9289]

@@Nobody-df4is yeah, when I saw the smallpox before the Spanish have arrive, I was so over it but when The high priest looked at the eclipse and knew why I thought it was pretty cool

[@axelhopfinger533]

Mel Gibson obviously knows a lot of things. Deep, important philosophical things. Some he will tell you after a few beers.

[@muziknerrd868]

"You can ignore reality, but you can not ignore the consequences of ignoring reality."

[@emarr3720]

Ayn Rand

[@StoneCoolds]

You can ignore the consequences to, but you will feel them eventually

[@Gizziiusa]

For those that havent figured it out yet... All this carbon stuff: carbon credit, carbon footprint, net zero, etc. is our leaders response to climate change...as in you are the carbon that needs to go, sacrificed per depopulation agenda.

[@brunoutechkaheeros1182]

​@@StoneCooldsbut you can not care about what you feel too

[@daviddavidson9923]

"you can ignore reality, but reality won't ignore you"

[@viktorvonzeist]

When I saw Apocalypto for the first time, I was under the impression that I've just seen something close to a masterpiece. Glad the movie somehow finally gets the recognition and credit it truly deserves.

[@Iloveyoubabys]

THE MOVIE IS TRASH LIES. THE SO CALLED G*D OF THE MAYANS WAS A WHITE MAN WEARING A WHITE ROBE AND RED CROSSES. KINDA CHANGES THE ENTIRE STORY DOESNT IT? A WHITE MAN WAS DOIGN THIS TO THE MAYANS SACRIFICING THEM AND THEN HE WOULD TURN INTOR A FIREY SERPENT AND FLY AWAY. SO THAT WOULD WOULD MEAN THEY HAD AIRPLANES ALSO. IT SHOWS FLYING VEHICLES BEING USED DRAWN ON THE OLD TEMPLES OF THE MAYANS. ALTHOUGH WHEN THAT WHITE MAN ATE THE MAYANS MAYBE HE SPROUTED WINGS AND FLEW AWAY. OBVIOUSLY A WHITE MAN WEARING A WHITE ROBE AND RED CROSSES WOULD BE THE POPE.

[@yvonneplant9434]

It should have received every Oscar nomination. Unfortunately Gibson was imploding when it was released.

[@BR-re7oz]

@@yvonneplant9434 "imploding" you mean he was telling the truth about jewish people, our modern day ruling class, so he was exiled.

[@Gizziiusa]

I put it high on my list too, along with "Interstellar", even though both are from differing genres.

[@oldkingcrow777]

This movie has been one of my favorites since I was a young adult and saw it right when it came out. Even if you don't consciously "think" about the themes, they hit home. The opulent "elites" watching the sacrifices, the idea that FEAR is the greatest cancer of all. Ugh I love this movie

[@robbiedubbelman3024]

It might be a well filmed movie, but anyone who knows anything about the Mayan civilization understands that the quote at the beginning is one the most idiotic quotes imaginable. The Mayans never had an empire, they were always city states and they had a blossoming civilisation for a far longer time than the (Western) Roman Empire. The Mayans didn't have some shitty relationship to nature. In fact they constructed some incredibly impressive systems to catch the very sparse and inconsistent rainfall in the area. The Yucatan peninsula is an area that is incredibly hostile towards the creation of a monumental civilisation. Historians and archaeologists actually note it as an exception as most other ancient civilisations were built around fertile river beds, seas full off fish and areas that were great for raising livestock. The Yucatan peninsula only really allowed for a kind of slash and burn agriculture. And most historians agree that the collapse of the Classical Maya period was due to climatic changes, not misgovernance or faulty use of resources. The "Mystery of the Maya's" can most likely be explained by the Yucatan peninsula simply not being able to sustain the kinds of large civilisation that the Maya had become accustomed to. And still the Maya moved northward where they reinvented their civilisation in Chichen Itza, which had been past its peak by the time the Spanish arrived. So the Maya didn't get destroyed from within, the Maya couldn't sustain their civilisation due to natural changes that were out of their control. On top of that, the moment the Spanish arrived in the Americas the diseases they brought began to spread like wildfire, partially due to the intricate trade network that ran from at least now Northern Mexico all the way to South America. Most of the original population of the Americas died due to disease, again, not governmental mismanagement. Another aspect the movie gets completely wrong is the intensity with which the Maya's supposedly sacrificed. The Itza Maya in the postclassic were known to sacrifice more due to their interaction with the Aztecs and roots in Toltec culture... But Maya's overall didn't enslave giant populations to sacrifice them. Sacrifice took many shapes, like throwing valuable objects in cenotes [giant water holes], letting a little blood fall into a fire or sacrificing animals to the Gods. Yes prisoners of war were sacrificed, but this didn't play any part in the "downfall" or degradation of the Maya's. And in a strange way sacrifice could also be an honor, the Itza Maya would sacrifice the winners of their ball games, so they could meet the Gods as heroes... Strange to us now I know, but certain Christians also let themselves be publicly executed on purpose to die as marters 😶. The Mayan social systems, though hierachical, actually only had peasents working 168 days a year. This actually gave the peasents time to commit themselves to the arts and helping with the construction of architecture... In many ways the Mayan peasents were far freer than the European ones ever were... So this idea of the Maya's as one big slave society is most likely conflating the Maya's with the Aztecs and the Inca's (this conflation is done ad nauseam throughout the war). In the end the Spanish fought a bigone Mayan civilization and STILL the Maya's kicked the Spanish out completely through guerrilla warfare and was only completely subjugated well into the 17th century. The Mayan civilization is up there with the Egyptian, Ancient Chinese, Roman and Ancient Greek, ancient Indian, Babylonian and Assyrian Civilisations. And a poorly researched film clearly written by a nutjob Christian director who can only see a non-Western civilisation as somehow broken, barbaric and savage is an enormous disrespect... So no, this isn't a good film. This is pseudohistorical garbage that distorts the Mayas to be something they're not and can turn many unedicated viewers to believe this their Civilisation was horrible anyway so maybe the Spanish weren't so bad for what they did to them 😒. Do you research, the Mayan architectural, artistic, mathematic and economic systems are something to be marveled at. Don't let Mel Gibson of all people distort your view of them!

[@richbattaglia5350]

Cripes do you even catch your breath? It’s a movie called apocalypto not The ways of the Mayans. Directed by Mel Gibson. You’re welcome.

[@tresojos]

You sound like a communist@@robbiedubbelman3024

[@rotgut14]

​@@robbiedubbelman3024 SOMEBODY WAS TRIGGERED HAHAHAHAHA

[@spinlok3943]

Such a fantastic movie and it still angers me that people write it off just because of Mel Gibson.

[@cornpop7176]

Mel spoke up against the 'chosen ones'. An unforgivable crime in their eyes

[@ivancastro365]

Word bro

[@Jason-gg4lm]

How about the historical inaccuracies 🤷‍♂️

[@Jason-gg4lm]

@@Sercer25 yeah no shit 🤣

[@ivancastro365]

@@Jason-gg4lm no

[@Khadgar07]

You joking? We're sacrificing untold masses to the god of safe and effective right this second.

[@Vitlaus]

truths like this keep me going 💪

[@jaydwy8069]

The irony is thick

[@ESMDto239]

Yooooooooooo!

[@thomaskositzki9424]

Praise the money and everything will be GREAT!

[@biggzee4341]

Most points are metaphorical.

[@easternrebel1061]

The themes of this movie are more relevant now than ever before, yet so few care to even think about looking for these warning signs

[@CBEnoddyy]

A mirror/ reminder that our society is not to dissimilar.

[@Ladyjuliet-uv5qt]

People saying our society is going to collapse Espeically Socially are ignorant to how societies actually collapse the realitity being They dont They decline but even then that is a metric to not count on

[@userbosco]

It still amazes me that so many people haven't even heard of this movie, especially since I've watched it probably 20 times since its release. It follows Gibson's predictable theme and plot lines, but still stands out in so many ways.

[@jakesheldon7637]

You failed to mention that the ruling class certainly knew that the eclipse would happen at that exact time (being a civilization with advanced [in that day] understanding of the stars and their calendars) and it’s no coincidence that these sacrifices took place on that day at the exact time the eclipse was to start. The masses were frightened by the eclipse and the ruling class used this fear to keep the citizens in submission, to need to look to the leaders to keep them safe from the gods.

[@krystalgardiner5591]

Weird that the same things are happening today

[@josephwheeler2672]

@@krystalgardiner5591 people don’t change. Those in power will always seek to maintain and increase it. Those being ruled over will always, like sheep, “baaa” their way to the altar.

[@jonathanjobickson9483]

Aka the Corona

[@mania4270]

Kinda like what white empires do

[@mania4270]

@@josephwheeler2672 shut UP. You sound like a wuss. "ppl in power are scary" 🤣🤣

[@taylorneal5825]

One of my favorite things about the movie is that Mel Gibson didn't use any big-name actors. So many movies are ruined because they use the same actors that you see in every single movie and it ruins any sense of immersion. Every actor in the movie is Native American or Mexican, which is awesome.

[@nodescriptionavailable3842]

Some of those actors look straight outta ancient carvings, masterpiece

[@lucabaar1]

Big name actors don't matter with cadaver reanimation. It is possible to just program the human bodies that are used as actors to move around in all the necessary ways. It all has to do with well timed stimulation of the proper nerve pathways. These are puppets being orchestrated, not human actors in their element. This is the inherent irony in the statement, "No humans or animals were harmed in the making of this film ...". There ALWAYS has been harm / death / loss in the making of any modern cinematic production. For the last century now, that's all an American celebrity has ever been; a reanimated cadaver that is used to deceive the masses.

[@taylorneal5825]

@@lucabaar1 lmao wtf take your meds.

[@dylangonzales-qq9ru]

@@nodescriptionavailable3842 beautiful

[@juniorsanchez7441]

​@@lucabaar1What a dumb comment

[@shaney8275]

"...gratitude and humility leads to health and stability: greed and arrogance leads to decay and chaos." I consider myself as fairly good at seeing the deeper story, but the analogies you present have made me realize that I did not see into this film nearly as well as I could have. Well done. Societal collapse is something we, out here in the masses, ought to be more concerned about, rather than "bread and circuses."

[@ashv2440]

Lmao 🤣 all these comments thoughhhhhhhhhhhh o how funny 🤣

[@popeye5274]

One of the best films ever made. Great story, great acting, great cinematography, and great directing. Bravo Mr. Gibson… bravo!

[@Efactor87]

Leaders are saying, "we've made mistakes" not because they believe it, but because it's expected of them and it looks humble on camera.

[@ApplePotato]

Exactly, but tend to say the other side have made the mistakes and they are only picking up the pieces.

[@humpteedumptee8629]

I to hate the fake humble shit.

[@shawntailor5485]

While they are really thinking ,"we dont even have to pretend we are "accidentally" arse hornin you peasents anymore . Haha he he ho ho ha ha !

[@slimj091]

@@shawntailor5485 And if you were made to be the leader you would be the same way.

[@mastercheif878]

Doublespeak. That's the complexity of modern politics, something this video's moral message didn't necessarily achieve to address. I suppose in its place, true action should be seen instead of promises and admittance to wrongdoing.

[@JuanSalazar-jo6of]

It still blows my mind how tight the visual storytelling it is in this movie, first time I saw it was without subtitles and was able to basically follow the plot almost seamlessly.

[@arja2317]

Mel Gibson is a great director. The historical accuracy of his movies is not there, but the man knows how to make a film. It's sad that people conflate the two but that isn't the director''s fault. I feel the same way about Clint Eastwood.

[@eric2500]

OOO- now that's worth a try! Just turn subtitiles OFF, and plunge in!

[@Annatomova7]

I too saw it without subtitles and I understood the majority of it just through the imagery. It was pretty wild.

[@Gawillamon]

There's very little dialogue in the movie at all anyways so that makes sense. It actually amazes me that a film with such minimal dialogue can be so good.

[@osas5211]

same bro i was 9yrs oldjus human emotions

[@afridgetoofar1818]

"There are a handful of movies that make you think maybe modern time aren't so bad." There are plenty of dystopian sci fi movies that make me want to go back to the 1700's.

[@whataweirdnameful]

A clockwork orange.. it's not the most brutal dystopian film out there, but it felt depressingly accurate

[@phillipkrassenstein]

So what conclusions can we draw? Life's shit

[@KalashVodka175]

@@phillipkrassenstein Nah, the conclusion is living in the 80's (as long as it's in america and you aren't black in the deep south) is the goldilock zone of existence.

[@josephwheeler2672]

Mel Gibson is a fantastic filmmaker/storyteller and Director. His work on Braveheart, the Patriot, the Passion, Apocalypto, We Were Soldiers, Hacksaw Ridge- all incredibly well done movies in their own right. This one is one of my favorites! That quote at the beginning puts the entire story into context and the final shot of the conquistadors about to come ashore is the dramatic conclusion, as we all know what happens next.

[@grumbogee1772]

Movie isn't accurate at all

[@josephwheeler2672]

@@grumbogee1772 not at all?? Really? Not the language spoken? Or the costumes? Or the cultural depictions? Or the archetypal struggle of the father trying to save his family? I think you may be mistaken

[@grumbogee1772]

@@josephwheeler2672 I'm sorry to burst your Mel Gibson hardon but most of the movie is really just bullshit. not grounded in facts at all. Essentially a Rambo movie directed by a dude who knows nothing about the Mayans.

[@josephwheeler2672]

@@grumbogee1772 so instead of answering any of my questions, your response was to suggest that I’m sexually attracted to Mel Gibson? I suppose that’s one way of losing credibility, but not sure how that helps your case 🤷🏽‍♂️

[@grumbogee1772]

@@josephwheeler2672 certainly sounds that way. Check out historybuffs video on Apocalyto if you'd like to see why.

[@rincewindtwoflower3989]

"Say what you will about the man but he understands story structure"

[@limp_dickens]

Ah my nipples they hurt! They hurt when I twist them!

[@diegotavel5872]

I understood that reference

[@griz312]

@@diegotavel5872 *twisting nipples* Oh Yes!!

[@AKdaJuiceGuy]

@@diegotavel5872 👏👏👏 You want a cookie?

[@kaj7135]

AH! MY NIPPLES! THEY HURT WHEN I TWIST THEM!

[@SuperMIKevin]

"If a problem is not acknowledged we can never fix it " Well said. I say it pretty much all the time. Very necessary these days.

[@josendjasminconstante8107]

The problem is not seeing the problem

[@SuperMIKevin]

@@josendjasminconstante8107 That rarely ever happens. What usually happens is they see the problem and think it's not their problem. Or I don't need to worry about it because someone else will. Or They look at the problem and think, this is not a problem, this is a solution.

[@whalesong999]

@@josendjasminconstante8107 The pride has become blinding. It occurs individually and then across the population. Sometimes a "crash course' will occur to reorient, especially a turning point for an individual. It might be just what's needed for correction.

[@Iloveyoubabys]

THE MOVIE IS TRASH LIES. THE SO CALLED G*D OF THE MAYANS WAS A WHITE MAN WEARING A WHITE ROBE AND RED CROSSES. KINDA CHANGES THE ENTIRE STORY DOESNT IT? A WHITE MAN WAS DOIGN THIS TO THE MAYANS SACRIFICING THEM AND THEN HE WOULD TURN INTOR A FIREY SERPENT AND FLY AWAY. SO THAT WOULD WOULD MEAN THEY HAD AIRPLANES ALSO. IT SHOWS FLYING VEHICLES BEING USED DRAWN ON THE OLD TEMPLES OF THE MAYANS. ALTHOUGH WHEN THAT WHITE MAN ATE THE MAYANS MAYBE HE SPROUTED WINGS AND FLEW AWAY. OBVIOUSLY A WHITE MAN WEARING A WHITE ROBE AND RED CROSSES WOULD BE THE POPE.

[@SuperMIKevin]

@@Iloveyoubabys lol alright then. First, why is your complete text in capital? Second, are you really so closed minded about aliens that you immediately imagine, it must be the pope? Maybe you are just being sarcastic and I'm missing it.

[@kukuyeah]

I recently watched it for the first time, after unfairly dismissing it for a long time… honestly, there's no way around it, it's a masterpiece. The build-up as they approach the city, and the scenes in the city itself were really fascinating to me. So much is said in these scenes, with barely any dialogue or exposition.

[@jglg7238]

unfortunately i never got a chance to watch this film in the cinema's, but i can only imagine how people for the first time watching this in the big screen felt, great underrated film.

[@barbiquearea]

I think even the elites of the Mayan society knows that the human sacrifices they make weren't going to pump the breaks of their society's steady downfall, but were done as nothing more than a public show to give the masses something to cheer for like the gladiator games in Rome. The head priest was essentially mocking the captives by calling one of them "brave warrior, willing, eager" even though that man wasn't brave or willing, he just had the misfortune of having his home raided and getting a knife plunged into his heart for someone else's entertainment.

[@CavemanSynthesizer]

I've been watching a lot of KZbin docs on meso-America, and while it might not be universally true that the human sacrifices were willing and eager, it seems that it was so ingrained in their society that even the sacrifices themselves would mostly submit without struggle. Even if you weren't eager the whole weight of society was against you and you didn't have much recourse with respect to escape. I'm mostly going off of docs on the Aztecs (not the Maya) but it seems that the "battles" that they engaged in to capture prisoners were often just ceremonial confrontations to extract tribute from subject tribes. I guess what I'm saying is that the whole society was organized around these ceremonies so it's possible some of these guys did go to sacrifice willingly.

[@Janecek185]

Whole movie is fantasy anyway.. Slavary, arogant rules etc were everywhere, most of civilization felt ( if not in war ) due to overpopulation causing other problems. Luck of sanitation and medicine, deforestation since wood was main material, degradation of soil causing famine and all these reasons could once again lead to war over resources. Long drought can start this spiral of unfortunate, but without massive population, there would not be any civilization.

[@mahmoudibnemir8704]

@@CavemanSynthesizer Interesting point. However, given the evidence that's been gleaned from suicide bombers having to be locked/sewn into their vests, I doubt that the majority of the sacrifices went willingly. Additionally, the new evidence of tonic immobility in humans and the beheading victims of ISIS may cast further doubt on the subject of willingness. On the other hand, entire societies can, and do, go batshit crazy...

[@fretted4life]

@@mahmoudibnemir8704 Even the most brainwashed can have a last minute moment of clarity to not go ahead with the plan. This is why ISIS & associated terror/militant outfits make them pre-record a video testimony showing their face & what they plan to do. I remember when the insurgency in Iraq produced so many suicide bombers one of the female suicide bomber decided to back out of the attack she went to the police station & was tied up outside the station next to pipes in a handcuff while bomb disposal arrived. I think she lived to tell the tale.

[@mahmoudibnemir8704]

@@fretted4life that's taken from the hurt locker.

[@d.s.19]

We're a bit more sophisticated in our sacrifices to gods.

[@snigie1]

Sacrificing ourselves to 'save grandma'

[@no2party]

Don't be so sure. I work in retail and saw the results of the Pandemic Panic.

[@cheshirehat93]

Far away across the field the tolling of the iron bell calls the faithful to their knees to hear the softly spoken magic spells.

[@josepetersen7112]

Depends; when a doctor cuts an unborn child apart it’s just as brutal, just not so many people see it.

[@thatroonstboi6231]

abortion and youth in asia?

[@jaken792]

Love the take on sacrifices as a way to turn the blame away from the haves to the have nots. Makes so much sense.

[@robertrobert7924]

This is the basis for most religions to this day. If you are not a successful warrior, but desire power over others you become a priest or a shaman. Then you hire warriors to enforce your will upon others and extract tribute.

[@pauljoseph3081]

This masterpiece kept me on the edge of my seat. I totally placed myself in the protagonist's shoes, trying to escape

[@SabotAndHeat75]

Picked this up a pirated copy while in Iraq during the Surge. We sat down as a platoon and watched it. It was the topic of discussion for a few days in the platoon. Picked it up as soon as I got home. Awesome period piece movie.

[@stab74]

I too have picked up several bootleg movies and shows from the Haji shops at FOB Warhorse and Camp Victory. 😂

[@pinchebruha405]

What did you guys talk about, what hit you the most, did it make you guys pick a side of so which and why!

[@Katya_Lastochka]

Then went to kill some natives for oil. Good times.

[@Choppytehbear1337]

It's not a period piece. It's extremely historically inaccurate.

[@SNIperofDARKness02]

@@Choppytehbear1337 booohoo

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

In my mind Apocalypto cemented Mel Gibson as one of the great directors. Braveheart , The Passion , Hacksaw Ridge . . . just great, great films. Apocalypto was an amazing recreation of this era of history. I actually lost myself in this film. A beautiful work if art

[@MrB00mbang]

Hacksaw is good, but it’s not nearly on the level of his first three films.

[@Nepthu]

I concur. The older I get, the more I appreciate Gibson as a master storyteller. Most contemporary films are flimsy and one dimensional. Gibson knows how to keep you on the edge of your seat and hit you with timeless themes such as love and conviction (Braveheart), faith (The Passion, Hacksaw Ridge), and family (Apocalypto).

[@mavis3916]

Greatest directors? 🙄😆😆😆😆😆

[@brucekendall9873]

Yeah idk about that but he's alright lol.

[@canofsouls282]

This movie was extremely inaccurate, I recommend watching history buffs video on this film.

[@robwalsh9843]

My favorite scene is the look between the Mayan king and the high priest during the eclipse. Both are in power, weighing the scales. Makes you realize the Mayans and similar cultures weren't that different from other civilizations at the time when it comes to who holds ultimate societal power.

[@yourfanfictionhd]

I love this movie. A masterpiece, sentimental, deep, visually striking and meaningful. Everything that the modernity is not offering.

[@zemlidrakona2915]

This movie is a 10. Great acting, great story, great action and great ending.

[@dynamitebsb4520]

Great ending? The evil people already reached

[@vinylrichiejr.2416]

And great make-up/ costumes

[@subsamadhi]

Uh no to all of that

[@zemlidrakona2915]

@@subsamadhi Each to his own. It's in my top 10 all time movies.

[@subsamadhi]

@@zemlidrakona2915 the story is wildly innaccurate and insulting to natives. Watch more movies

[@Jumpoable]

One of the most visually stunning films our time. Mel Gibson is a true artist.

[@johndaugherty4127]

I was shocked at how good this movie is. Mel knows how to make them. You are an astute young man.

[@omahundroreelrepairandrest7079]

Excellent analysis. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@demonmonsterdave]

If you compare everything to not getting your heart ripped out, you will accept any kind of abuse.

[@leeannasloan2292]

Or learn perspective.

[@skh770]

That is a good point. Acceptance of bad situations, people, and treatment because a person has known worse (generally for a while). Because everything is compared to that utter psychological beat down.

[@PolishBehemoth]

Wow. This comment needs more likes. And i screenshotted it. Pure knowledge.

[@blah8934]

And from there slippery slope

[@miriamweller812]

It's why I always hated when people come up with, that others got it worse and you should be thankful for that (while by the way when it comes to gigantic wealth, it will be done the other way: that those are not THAT rich and you have to give them even more). With that argument you can just randomly break people's legs and arms, hey, at least I didn't feed you to animals, right?

[@alanfontaine586]

Heads are not being chopped off in the town square but ,human sacrifice is happening in other ways

[@brad506th]

Yet...

[@misspiggy9647]

"For the greater good"....

[@WestOfEarth]

Exactly! How many people do we in the US 'sacrifice' every year due to greedy insurance companies and pharma? Just one example, of course.

[@strugglingengineer1465]

And how many will soon be sacrificed for a supposed 'climate doom' in order to 'save the planet' ? to me that's the real imagery of the movie.

[@matthewmilam6578]

How many abortions every year?

[@tygorton]

Masterpiece film, thanks for your insights. You did miss perhaps the most important component: The Mayan leaders use their secret knowledge of the eclipse to TRICK their people into believing their gods have been appeased. The leaders know the eclipse is a repeating phenomenon and also know exactly when it is going to happen (in other words, the leaders knew full well that the sacrifices were never going to solve anything). All of this is given away by the expressions and subtle interactions of the leaders carrying out the sacrifice spectacle. The masses have always been controlled in this way, with sleight-of-hand illusion. The packaging and presentation changes, but the methods never do. This is another thing Gibson was putting on display.

[@xxviixxvii5585]

"Life of Greece" is a fantastic book written by W. Durant. The guy who was quoted at the beginning of the film.

[@derbdep]

One point: Jaguar Paw's tribe were Mayan too. The Maya are a group of people divided into different tribes and dialectical groups. Only SOME of those Mayan tribes urbanized and 'civilized', while others chose to continue to live in village settlements. In reality, neither group of people would have been ignorant of each other, as they were part of a larger symbiiotic society and worldview.

[@TheBelrick]

Remember when Columbus day gets hate. When Spanish conquistadors get hate. When European colonizers get hate. Just remember with pride that those ancestors ended some of the most evil regimes in human history if not the most evil.

[@thomascovenant7331]

@@TheBelrick A pity they didn't care to correct their own evil regimes huh?

[@eric2500]

@@TheBelrick Every Empire earns hate. Deserves it, too.

[@damien1781]

@@TheBelrick lol lmao lmao 😂

[@panicenvy]

This is true because the Maya are not extinct. I am Maya. My people were of a rural tribe. To this day my people still live along the rivers in the jungle of Belize where I was born. Still wash clothes once a week in the river.

[@Thukad]

Reminds me of a great quote from Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath “And the great owners, who must lose their land in an upheaval, the great owners with access to history, with eyes to read history and to know the great fact: when property accumulates in too few hands it is taken away. And that companion fact: when a majority of the people are hungry and cold they will take by force what they need. And the little screaming fact that sounds through all history: repression works only to strengthen and knit the repressed. The great owners ignored the three cries of history. The land fell into fewer hands, the number of the dispossessed increased, and every effort of the great owners was directed at repression. The money was spent for arms, for gas to protect the great holdings, and spies were sent to catch the murmuring of revolt so that it might be stamped out. The changing economy was ignored, plans for the change ignored; and only means to destroy revolt were considered, while the causes of revolt went on.”

[@saralotti7174]

Don’t forget the huge influx of labor willing to work for a nickel a basket instead of a dime -and the devaluation of labor gains continue and the cost of everything rises unabated

[@jacobijacobi1467]

Greetings from Poland.Thank you for yours work.I found this Channel recently.Please continue.

[@matork1]

Just discovered your channel, excellent content. And the lack of ads during your videos is admirable. 🤘

[@TheGrenadier97]

By placing the focus on the natives, the movie also depicts the fact that violence and conquest are common themes in all and every human society since men learned to walk forward. The bloody clash between tribes and more importantly, the appearance and final preponderance of the hispaniard was merely a repetition of that historical reality (instead of what the modern bias of "good vs bad" tries to depict).

[@hasturthekinginyellow5003]

Did you know that we know of a serial killer from before we became humans? The oldest ever recorded serial killer *AND* cannibal was a member of the Australopithecus seiba, he killed and eat 13-15 of his own, we know this because we found were he hide his victims who all shared a devastating injury to the head (most probably made with a rock) and the same teeth marks alongside all their skeletons, teeth marks that corresponded to a member of the same species but who's remains weren't with the others

[@wangusbeef86]

Lot's of people these days like to think that the west was the only source evil in human history, as if slavery and genocide was solely an invention of the Europeans lol.

[@hasturthekinginyellow5003]

@@wangusbeef86 to be fair, the Europeans were the creators of the Judeo-Christian religion and the dogma of *"WE BETTER THAN THEM"* and the whole "OUR RELIGION IS *THE* REAL RELIGION, ANYONE WHO IS NOT WITH US IS AGAINST US" Because let us remember that basically every other religion accepted the possibility of other religions and what that meant (multiple good afterlifes, multiple bad ones, etc)

[@wangusbeef86]

@@hasturthekinginyellow5003 Uh huh, and the totally cool and tolerant mayan religion wasn't as bad in sacrificing thousands because they accepted the possibility of other religions. With enough mental gymnastics, any ideology can be twisted to justify all sorts of nastiness. Your argument is flawed sir, it's not religion that causes people to be bad, It's just stupidity or selfishness, or both.

[@hasturthekinginyellow5003]

@@wangusbeef86 oh no, you are misunderstanding me, Aztecs (not Mayans) were completely tolerant with other cultures and only asked tribute (y'know: food, women, *HUMAN SACRIFICES* ) from those that they conquered, they never attack their neighbors because said neighbors didn't share their religion , though they did attacked their neighbors to get those sweet, sweet, sweet prisoners of war to use them as *HUMAN SACRIFICES* for their Gods, most probably their God of War a.k.a. Huitzilopochtli a.k.a. Left Handed Hummingbird (for the whole *still beating human heart* ) or Xipe Totec a.k.a. Our Holy Lord the Flayed a.k.a. their God of Agriculture (because of the Tzompantli a.k.a. *WALL/TOWER OF SKULLS/HEADS* )

[@Restitutor_Orbis_214]

The road from a dozen eggs costing six dollars to something much worse than getting one's heart ripped out on an alter is far shorter than we like to admit.

[@j.w.matney8390]

Bill Gates and his cronies will be more than happy to accelerate the process.

[@krumbleme2]

The jab

[@cbird4922]

@@j.w.matney8390 Bill Gates might be responsible for some of inflation, but he didn’t cause the bird flu. Stop looking for globalist boogie men, and start looking at the capitalists that are destroying our planet for money. Gates is spending his fortune trying to eradicate disease. There are far more dangerous men pouring money into making *MORE* money at the expense of our planet/environment. These are people that do not believe in an afterlife. They want it all. And they want it now, regardless of the price future generations will pay.

[@lowrider81hd]

Ouch. So very true.

[@zhitchcresttail3387]

@@j.w.matney8390 bill gates sucks but he's not some nefarious comic book villain trying to rule the world with microchips, why do you need some conspiracy theory to admit he's a bad dude?

[@almondkissed3794]

Man I’ve watched this movie a million times over the years !! You don’t need to know what they’re saying to get sucked in and feel the intensity!! I understood completely what was going on and feels like it’s my first time every time I watch it lol

[@Jfreek5050]

If you think about it, Mayans and Aztecs were basically the OG doomsday cultists. They perceived an easily identifiable issue, scarcity, and decided the best solution to solve it while keeping their destructive agricultural practices was to "sacrifice people" or in other words, eliminate the competition. After all, if you kill everyone around you, you gain the monopoly of basically all game, land, and your society keeps power because theres literally nobody else that can take it even if its crumbling around you.

[@yellowgreengo6764]

umm sounds a lot like the global warming aka global climate change cult of today

[@Jfreek5050]

@@yellowgreengo6764 Yep

[@franknb7827]

Geography and circumstance. But I think a lot of people tend to overlook their religious beliefs. They believed destruction wrought creation. That the world they knew had been through many cycles and that the gods gave their blood, so in return they payed it back. Meso-american history fascinates me bc at the same time other civilizations were domesticating livestock, building cathedrals and sailing vast oceans, the Aztec, Mayans and Inca were still figuring out a permanent source of food. Many scholars actually believe cannibalism was their man source of sustenance.

[@guyincognito394]

Aztec religion is sad. Their creation myth is that the gods fought and the drops of blood formed into humans. They viewed themselves as thieves stealing the very life blood from the gods. One of the main reasons for all the human sacrifice and self-blood letting rituals. Plus fertility rites, and all the usual reasons sacrifices were made.

[@Appalachianasshole41]

@@franknb7827 well the world has been through many cycles mankind included so they weren't entirely wrong.

[@La-familia-de-Fazio]

The scene that cut me to the bone was the natives inability to see the environmental catastrophe being sewn into the land by their mass sacrifices!!! The human waste was literally poisoning the ground making the land and water putrid!!!

[@nunyabiznes33]

True. I read one of the ways the Mayas dealt with the droughts was toss sacrifices into their cenotes - poisoning their own water supply.

[@runswithraptors]

@@nunyabiznes33 similar to how we use carcinogenic gmo crops to feed our population in times of drought?

[@nunyabiznes33]

@@runswithraptors maybe

[@jamescook7297]

@@runswithraptors lol not even close, reach harder

[@scottwells5057]

@@runswithraptors let me guess you also don’t believe in vaccinations??

[@josephcooper8885]

After watching this vid I have to apologize for writing an essay-length rebuttal to your Falling Down vid. I'm subscribing. Apocalypto is such an underappreciated film and the moment when Jaguar Paw survives the waterfall jump and verbalizes his convictions is cinematic gold.

[@joshuapatrick682]

I really liked the film but it had a lot of detractors in its day. Glad to see people coming around. Also, it's clear the priests were aware of the eclipse if not exactly when it would occur probably within a matter of hours.

[@garrettchristensen8074]

"barbarism is the natural state of mankind. Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance, and it is barbarism that will always ultimately triumph." - Robert E.Howard ( from Beyond the Black River) a Conan tale.

[@lukeyznaga7627]

wow, depressing. I reject this. Proof: many successful civilizations of the past BUT THEY ALL EMBRACED some sort of spirituality or religion, despite what Atheists preach. Egypt, Greece, Sumeria, Minoans, Rome. yes, I know some of those places fell...BUT THEY LASTED LONGER THAN WE HAVE...so far.

[@garrettchristensen8074]

@@lukeyznaga7627 Yep. There much more resilient then modern humans. We are 100% dependent on oil production & it's increasing supply. I'm now convinced after years of researching on my own that we are at the point of a finite energy supply smashing into the infinite economic growth paradigm that we all live under. Hope I'm wrong.

[@adamgorelick3714]

Can we keep vending machines? They're the only thing I'd miss.

[@jerobyarts5654]

It's amazing that we lived that life for overr 200000 years and civilization has only existed for the past 10000 years

[@jerobyarts5654]

@Joske Vermeulen Nope , and we don't have any archeological evidence supporting that.

[@jlovebirch]

The Mayan leaders' refusal to accept blame reminds me of today's clueless denials ("the economy is strong as hell") by our current president.

[@gundammakerworldbreaker6133]

You.. know the thing!!!!

[@thomascovenant7331]

Huh? Of course 45 doesn't make clueless denials or consider himself omniscient does he?

[@JimPowellS]

7:20 "Gratitude and humility leads to health and stability, greed and arrogance leads to decay and chaos" Great quote

[@mirrorblue100]

Its a very under-appreciated film - I believe - as others have commented - that "Apocalypto" has unfortunately somehow been smeared because Gibson directed it. We like to laud free-thinkers in America - right up to the point where we disagree with them - then they become monsters. Great analysis - thanks.

[@supernatural5354]

This film is also 20 years old, that's why people don't talk about it much...

[@exudeku]

This movie absolutely traumatized me as a kid especially the chasing scene with the waterfalls, that cemented my fear of heights

[@brandonleroux6059]

What do you mean as a kid, that movie came out like yesterday. Wait, how old am I now again...

[@AnatolieLupacescu]

you're weak kid, you won't survive the winter

[@sooz5703]

You watched Apocalypto as a kid?? wow. Not surprising you were traumatised.

[@jayman8974]

Do not be afraid

[@windowbreezes]

I watch Apocalypto every now and then just because its such a great film that pulls you into the Mayan World.

[@GT-jp4bo]

I actually know Rudy and but I haven’t seen him much lately but I’m still friends with his mom

[@desssval]

Great analysis. Thanks

[@GeorgeDonnelly]

I love this analysis, thank you.

[@ivanvelazquez1783]

I like this breakdown of the movie. Most I see are usually how the movie isn’t no where near historical accuracy. But I like to remember it’s mainly about the story the history was kind of a third party thought for Mel. But the story and action was great.

[@notforsale5967]

Like many movies they got the family was wrong, the concept of family was absent in Pre Columbian America. Father, mother wife were norms Eurasian cultures. Free copulation occured, children born, and raised by women of the tribe.

[@spinlok3943]

@@notforsale5967 Yeah true getting a modern audience to sympathize with a family without those understandable traits.

[@minutemansam1214]

@@notforsale5967 The concept of the family was not absent in pre-Columbian America. Different tribes and cultures had their own customs, and yes, had concepts for marriage and even divorce. The Haudenosaunee even had the concept of adopting prisoners of war into their family to replace lost sons and daughters in war, to the point of the prisoners having their names change and even taking the same place in the social order. Quit placing all indigenous Americans under one umbrella. They were just as diverse in culture and language as any other part of the world.

[@fnorgen]

@@notforsale5967 Was it absent though? The Americas is an awfully huge place with enormous cultural variety. I figure if you look hard enough you can find evidence of just about any strange societal structure in some area at some point.

[@AnimaVox_]

I think people who moan and groan about how ahistorical films like these may be are missing the point. This type of storytelling isn't meant to be historically accurate, and to my knowledge, the movie didn't advertise itself as such. It's meant to be _archetypal._ It's like how some people complain about how princess movies are "unrealistic" because the princess and prince fall in love after knowing each other for 5 minutes, but totally forget that these stories are derived from _fairy-tales,_ which are narratively fashioned in very archetypal ways. It's not meant to be realistic, so much as it's meant to be metaphorical.

[@organicketchup5171]

This movie is pretty perfect. I used to go into a bottle shop after work most nights, for a beer to take home. I became friendly with the cashier and we’d talk briefly about whatever late movie he would be watching on the TV, mounted on the wall. There was some great stuff on most nights, but ‘Apocalypto’ was the one I hung around to keep watching.

[@bmo5082]

That’s a deep movie to be playing at a bar haha.

[@User37717]

Very cool

[@FUBARGunpla]

this comment just gave my mayan ass a fuckin aneurysm.

[@CountryWolf_TX]

Fantastic breakdown of truth! Bravo sir bravo!

[@williamkuhns2387]

There of course was a combination of events over time that led to the collapse of the classic Maya. The primary theory was that the Maya cut down most of the trees literally as far as the eye could see. The reason was that they needed charcoal to fire the kilns to make slaked lime plaster stucco to beautify their temples and ceremonial stone structures. It is believed that at the end neighboring cities miles away could be seen from the tops of temples (no trees). The kings and princes were in competition with eachother for the most elaborate temple structures and their egos caused them (unknowingly) to destroy their environment. Cutting down most of the trees caused the rain to stop ( man made drought).The Yucatan Peninsula was not a true rainforest and rainwater soaked down into underground reservoirs to be used for the dry season. Without water no crops(corn) no crops no food to feed thousands of people. War breaks out to fight for dwindling resources famine/disease started then the common people rose up and revolted against the royalty class. A house of cards started to fall like dominoes.

[@ConsiderTheCrows]

So their big nation state ended but they became many independent smaller city states and kingdoms in greener northern areas. Then Spain arrived in the 1500s. Gradually colonizing the region over the next 200 years.

[@cavok84]

Apocalypto is one of if not my favorite films. It's absolutely perfect.

[@notallthatbad]

Great commentary. I'd also say the shot near the end of the movie of the cross on the boat as it came ashore was deliberate. I don't remember the details but I believe it was a testament to Gibson's faith and what he wanted the movie to lead to.

[@killerclown-df9lz]

Amazing analysis! Very likes

[@OutsidewithTom]

I'm a big fan of the movie. This analysis was excellent, makes me want to go watch the movie again for the 100th time. Thanks.

[@snigie1]

Doesn't it just

[@canofsouls282]

Its a extremely inaccurate movie, that portrays the mayans wrongfully, I recommend “history buffs apactolypto”

[@madero-jb5ri]

@@canofsouls282 I liked the movie as well, but it is fictional.

[@luumasaan5782]

@@canofsouls282 Nobody cares, because its a movie meant to entertain you. Nobody tuned in for a documentary, we just wanna see how the main characters story will unfold. Its like watching anime and being mad that its inaccurate to whatever its about, like dawg its a drawing.

[@goukeban6197]

@@canofsouls282 Amadeus is also incredibly inaccurate in how it depicts Salieri, but nobody gives a shit cuz the movie succeeds at being a fantastuc character study.

[@bristolfashion4421]

Came across it by accident... really enjoyed it. Great drama, great costume & art design... Great *everything* really Well Done Mel and everybody else involved. Gripping !!

[@coopaloopmex]

"...Pestilence and Famine. But War is the horseman they will be unable to look past" Great line!

[@Emma12zxcvbnm]

Thank you for the elaboration..

[@dunichtich100]

The modern representation of the Mayans in this movie is the WEF. "Things aren't particularly going well, but we aren't responsible at all" or as Klaus Schwab would say: "Eat ze bugs, own nothing and be happy."

[@saralotti7174]

If all are made serfs then all are equal right? Except for the feudal Lords. They are always above -while the rest of us remain below.

[@Tarik360]

The gripe I remember most people had was the ending due to the fact that those were the Mayans and not the Aztecs, since it was the Aztecs that had an empire in Central America in the 1500's. The Mayans were more prominent during the bronze age but were a client of the Aztecs when the Spanish came. I don't know I could be mixing things up here.

[@hdattila]

The Mayans didn't seem like a dominant culture in the movie, more like a once-great power. There were undisturbed tribes living within walking distance of their capital, likely offshoots of the Mayans themselves. (There is a lot of research now that shows that a lot of small tribes are descendants of people who left "civilization.") I can easily see the Mayans portrayed here as a vassal state of the Aztecs. My main gripe used to be that the Mayans didn't usually sacrifice people on this scale, that was an Aztec thing, but upon rewatching the movie, the event is portrayed as a new thing, driven by desperation, not business-as-usual.

[@Tarik360]

@@hdattila that makes more sense since I recall Mayans not exactly just "disappearing" after the bronze age and being around all this time.

[@Kosovar_Chicken]

No, the Maya were not a Bronze Age civilization. There height was from 200-900 AD

[@Tarik360]

@@Kosovar_Chicken thank you for correcting!

[@fmac6441]

@@Kosovar_Chicken but it does not depend on the definition? Of course, there was a bronze age in the Mediterranean region between 5 and 3 thousand years ago, but initially the term referred to the technological level, notably in metallurgy, and it doesn't seem to me that they had iron(at least on a large scale)

[@justice5897]

Very phenomenal work I thank you for your in depth analysis and for me personally I see this currently with definable features in America.

[@kirkmarrie8060]

Simply, . . . OUTSTANDING!!!

[@sabrosenig]

"We made some mistakes and we're trying to make good on them." But that's what our leaders say, isn't it? Only they mean "We're making you pay for it."

[@strugglingengineer1465]

that's the new sacrifice. to 'save the planet' from supposed 'doom'... the same old methods, different false gods and religions.

[@lpk6372]

No they say trans people are the problem or they point to amnesty seekers. Scapegoats are the first thing that gets pointed to. What else would fix the issues a society has but for it's people to come to together and fix it? Like your train of thought makes no sense... Do you say this when natural disasters happen... You tell those other states oh well I ain't helping?

[@thomascovenant7331]

@@strugglingengineer1465 Of course you mean the great gods capitalism and consumerism.

[@gelmibson883]

What a great movie! Never thought much of pride when watching this, more of Decadence.....

[@ryushogun9890]

The plot aged well. Some people don't like this movie because of historical incoherences and because they see Gibson as a arrogant person. But it's a pretty nice movie, If only people saw the good stuff there is in it we could have more movies inspired and yes maybe they would be more historically correct.

[@sterlingsimmons2212]

Yeah, the cities were more splendid than this film depicts. Also, the Spanish brought the diseases to the Myans and they knew it. They fought the Spanish and were almost wiped out from disease and warfare. Liked the film but it is very inaccurate historically.

[@ryushogun9890]

@@sterlingsimmons2212 I'd love to see it. I actually wanted to study the language with someone.

[@awaitingthetrumpetcall4529]

I enjoy your ability to see the analogy within the story.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

Truly a masterpiece of cinema. Gibson always makes something unique.

[@badfoody]

Aztecs hardly exist anymore, but the Natives still survived. Apocalypto was such a great movie

[@windwarattack2300]

Yeah...their called Mexicans

[@ade910]

@@windwarattack2300 Mexicans are hispanic. They descend from Spaniards as much, if not more, than from the different indigenous groups which existed in Mesoamerica prior to the conquest. And the basis of their culture is Spanish.

[@soldierinsane2689]

@@ade910 Mexicans are Mexican, and Mexico is not the same place before colonization and after, neither is wholly true no matter who you ask

[@Projolo]

@@windwarattack2300 Mexicans descent from the other tribes that were subjugated by the Aztecs. The tribes that allied with Spain to eliminate the Aztecs.

[@luumasaan5782]

@@soldierinsane2689 That a rather confusing way to look at it given they call themselves "chicano's" which is a derivative of hispanic. Everyone born in mexico thats Mexican is a chicano/chicana and is hispanic, but not all Hispanics can be categorized like this given different the different locations hispanic people originate from.

[@riccarrasquilla379]

thanks for the video

[@Wolfen443]

I love it, so powerful telling a story for sure.

[@garzatatu6]

This is a great analysis of the movie. Shows how relevant it is today. Our leaders today do the same misdirected play act. Human sacrifice/ Right to choose, clear a forest to replace it with solar panels. Arrogance in the name of progress.

[@erwin643]

Oh, you mean like for instance this is how Germany went from "European Smart Grid" to digging for the crappiest lignite coal there is? Or how the Russians have fielded one of the dumbest militaries in civilizational history? Or how everyone seems happy to keep the war in Ukraine going, regardless if it starts WWIII? Or Climate change and resource depletion, for that matter?

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

While i agree with you to a certain point... i believe this will just atract a lot of vitriole

[@bkoehl9530]

Brought to you by faux and lover boy of the capitalist owning class. I wonder if there's ever been a film that hasn't whoosed past your forehead

[@curlyhairdudeify]

@@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120 Yeah, from the "Green Idiots" that get angry when you tell them how useless, and land destroying solar panels and wind turbines are.

[@lelagrangeeffectphysics4120]

@@curlyhairdudeify again the same land a normal solar "farm" (read scanvenger) occupies could be used for a nuclear plant and an small forest around it since eco dumbasses are too afraid to live near

[@HistoryTime]

The hunters of the forest are Mayans too.

[@secredeath]

Same people different tribes

[@canofsouls282]

Its a extremely inaccurate movie, that portrays the mayans wrongfully, I recommend “history buffs apactolypto”

[@FUBARGunpla]

or lenca.... .and literally any of the other fucking groups of us that existed and still do.....

[@swisspissman8455]

True, but almost everyone who was not in the capital hated the elite enough to side with the spanish.

[@HistoryTime]

@@canofsouls282 It's actually surprisingly accurate. I spoke to many Maya in the Yucatan who approved of the movie.

[@NudePostingConspiracyTheories]

Well thought out mate

[@Noobs4020]

Weirdly I was thinking about this film the other day and I thank you for inspiring me to watch it again :).

[@DarkNobleSon]

Frankly a very thoughtfully put together video essay. I am Hispanic first generation American and this resonated in me. New subscriber right here fo sho

[@Trancymind]

I once told my navajo friend that I needed the spaniards to pillage, conquer, rape and change the indigenous peoples culture and spread disease and wipeout huge percentages of indigenous people. Otherwise I wouldn't have been born. I am a mestizo by the way and a 1st generation american just like you.

[@ponderbot34]

(Mayans conquer the hunter gatherers...) *Spanish invade* "There's always a bigger fish"

[@soundsforhumans247]

excellent commentary and message

[@darioscomicschool1111]

Thank you!

[@jaydaytoday3548]

The Leader is one of the most intimating human antagonist ever.

[@aritubeoneone]

It is one of my favorite movies of all time. Thanks for this.

[@erroneous6947]

Think whatever you want about Mel Gibson this movie is underrated. Imo.

[@hedon5028]

One of my favorite movies of all time. I don't know if you're a fan of The Sopranos, it'll be nice to do few pieces on it.

[@docsays]

Great analysis, especially with our societal conditions

[@frap4506]

This movie was really popular back then. Also it low key traumatized me as a teen who have never seen so much raw violence in a film.

[@alexanderm2220]

"We need to reduce the population" Sounds a bit like sacrifice to me

[@Smellycat1990]

Interesting take on this. I can't help but draw comparison to what's happening in my own country the UK (granted a 1st world country). A rising cost of living, front-line workers such nurses, paramedics and train staff striking due to real-term pay cuts and a drop in standard of living... but we're being told by politicians take better care of our finances whilst they dodge taxes and make business deals with their billionaire friends to the country's detriment.

[@unconsciouscreator3012]

If the Brits want a stronger pound they should do as always and get ready for war. Less mouths to feed, more resources. It's the only choice. Can you imagine sharing Britains wealth and resources equally with a country the size of India? Everyone would feel impoverished. The world is ran by bankers not politicians. Do the bankers good in the next war and you'll get table scraps for atleast the next generation or two. P.S. don't forget to share the scraps with the working class not directly paid by tax dollars. The not so front line workers like the people who keep you warm and fed. The little people.

[@teoleno4019]

UK is only wealthy because of it's long history of stealing from other cultures. If UK crumbles, it will only be just!

[@Smellycat1990]

​@@teoleno4019 Not really relevent to the comment I was making... I was saying the elite in our country are gas-lighting the working-class. What you're referring to happened centuries ago. Where should the cut off point be for holding a nation accountable for its past? - because lots of countries would fall in the same bracket of raping, pillaging and slavery if you go back far enough. Although, I agree our museums should give back the stuff our ancestors stole.

[@ziggy1xgaming]

Excellent analysis.

[@r.lamont8120]

Great review.

[@aristotlewasnotafanofplato3661]

Great video essay and analysis. Gibson's direction was top notch, as was the acting (in a non-modern language).

[@canofsouls282]

Its a extremely inaccurate movie, that portrays the mayans wrongfully, I recommend “history buffs apactolypto”

[@alejandromolinac]

Child….. movies are not documentaries….

[@mattoni553]

I only knew about Apocalypto from the channel HIstoryBuffs were the critique was a bit harsher. But your video brought up other aspects and finally convinced me watch the movie. I really enjoyed it dispite the historical inaccuracies the costumes and the set were great aswell as the story overall. Mel Gibson is quite good at bringing events, settings (from history...) to live and transform them into an epic story as well as too add his own message (Braveheart, The Patriot) which is more powerfull than just an historcall movie . Just thank you for this video and keep up the good content!

[@aidanwotherspoon905]

Been a long time since I’ve seen this movie, but even 18 year old me seeing it in theatres-having grown up in a place still marked to this day by colonial violence-instinctively knew there were liberties taken that made the wrong people comfortable enough to look down their noses at very real people based off of what is a work of fiction

[@matthewmcclure1364]

People in Guatemala love this film. I’ve never heard any criticisms about this film’s “historical accuracy“ that hold any water. The fact is we don’t know enough about the Mayans to make a “historically accurate“ film. Any Director who wants to make a visually impactful movie about these people during this time period is going to have to take creative liberty. Many of the artists behind the costume design and set design were indigenous central Americans, who used a composite of known imagery and styles of the various Mayan dynasties over time, and did their best to make a plausible representation of that world. The fact is, a novel or fictional film will always be able to get at “historical accuracy“ in ways that historians can’t. Much to the chagrin of academics. I lived in Guatemala for a couple years and wrote my senior thesis about Mesoamerican culture. I think this is a beautiful movie.

[@jordanf8797]

@@matthewmcclure1364 for some reason its always people getting offend for others. Thanks for posting!

[@mattoni553]

​@@matthewmcclure1364 This is so true the movie manages to generate historical interest for the period much better than a documentary ever could. And manages to tell a story with a message - a win-win situation

[@introsig7696]

@@matthewmcclure1364 I think most people critize the appearance of carabelas at the end, since Classic Maya ended way before the Spanish arrival. Personally, I have seen Guatemala "white" elites say that it represented accurately "the savagery of indigenous people" and how good it was "the catholic faith came to end its wicked ways". Probably was not the intention of Mel Gibson but he being a Christian fundamentalist you never know... On the other hand, I loved the cinematography and the effort to bring to life the Mayan world, specially I liked that was spoken in Yucatec Mayan and the effort reconstructing the hairdresses and corporal adornments. I hope there were more movies based on the Maya period. They are so fascinating. Just, I hope, they don´t use to justify genocide against the surviving Mayans.

[@MegaBladerunner007]

Great analysis on one of my favorite movies of all time.

[@tacitus7]

Brilliant analysis.