This was a very good movie. It is not for everyone, one has to read the English subtitles and it is very bloody and violent. But the violence is necessary time, place,and plot wise.
* The story involves a Mayan raid to obtain slaves for human sacrifice. The first third of the film portrayed the violence, pain and suffering inherent in a slave trade. As one of European descent I sat there wondering How can these Mayans be so barbaric and cruel to each other. Then I remembered that Europeans were just as cruel during the African slave trade, the conquest of the Americas, Nazi Germany, and many other times.
I enjoyed the middle third, in the Mayan city. I am a big fan of the crowds, costumes, hair do's, dances and other pageantry.
**** I felt that the ending was a cop out. Having the European ships show up and overawe the hero's final two pursuers. I suppose there was a time crunch - our hero's having to kill three pursuers in time to rescue his wife and son from drowning in a well like pit during a rain storm. Reducing the pursuers to two or one and having the hero defeat them would have been much more satisfying than the ending used.
This movie showed both the dark side and the light side of Mayan civilization - great cruelty but also great humanity and courage.
* The story involves a Mayan raid to obtain slaves for human sacrifice. The first third of the film portrayed the violence, pain and suffering inherent in a slave trade. As one of European descent I sat there wondering How can these Mayans be so barbaric and cruel to each other. Then I remembered that Europeans were just as cruel during the African slave trade, the conquest of the Americas, Nazi Germany, and many other times.
I enjoyed the middle third, in the Mayan city. I am a big fan of the crowds, costumes, hair do's, dances and other pageantry.
**** I felt that the ending was a cop out. Having the European ships show up and overawe the hero's final two pursuers. I suppose there was a time crunch - our hero's having to kill three pursuers in time to rescue his wife and son from drowning in a well like pit during a rain storm. Reducing the pursuers to two or one and having the hero defeat them would have been much more satisfying than the ending used.
This movie showed both the dark side and the light side of Mayan civilization - great cruelty but also great humanity and courage.