Good educational movie, a little too bloody and gory for younger viewers. I personally loved it. It was very realistic and the language was a little bad too.
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Apocalypto
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Is it age appropriate?
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Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
The bloody end of a civilization. Not for kids.
Why We Rated This 
What to watch out for
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Violence:
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Sex:
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Language:
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Consumerism:
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Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
About Apocalypto
Parents need to know that this relentlessly brutal, subtitled action film isn't for kids. It features extreme and repetitive violence, including suggestions of rape (screaming women who are dragged off screen). But the greatest viciousness is directed against male bodies: Men are tortured, beaten, cut, kicked, thrown to the ground, speared, shot with arrows, beheaded, and cut open while they're still alive (their cut-out hearts appear in close-up). A man's throat is cut in front of his son, heads are set on sticks as totems, and a jaguar attacks a man and rips him to pieces on screen. A pregnant woman and her young child are left stranded in a dangerous situation, leading to some very tense moments; other children are left to fend for themselves when their parents are taken captive, and a young girl with smallpox (her face marked with open sores) is shown crying next to her mother's corpse. A man's alleged impotence is the source of some humor. One subtitled use of "f--k."
Read our full review by Cynthia Fuchs
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the role of violence in the movie. Is it appropriate for the story that's being told? Which parts, if any, are gratuitous? How accurate do you think it is? Director Mel Gibson has become known for making very violent movies -- why do you think a filmmaker might be drawn to that kind of material? How about the subtitles? Why do you think Gibson chose to film the movie in Yucatec? Families can also talk about the relationships between the different groups of Mayans in the movie. Why does one group think the other is suitable for labor and sacrifice? How does the film represent Mayan religious rituals? How does Jaguar Paw's devotion to his family make him a familiar and also mythic hero?
Our Members Say
See all 25 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
Educationally scary
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
wait
im 13 but how did it change to 17?????
- I rate this title on for age 11 and give it
great
im 13 and this helped me a lot on my Mayan project. 11-20 great movie enough blood dialouge and violence but it had me scared to go upstairs in fear that jaguar would kill me
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
good but gory
i like the movie but besides the gore it is a good movie i like how jaguar paw fights to rescue his family but the gore eww a guy gets impaled on the head by an arrow
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
Graphically Violent
I think this may be the most violent non-horror movie ever. My father-in-law got it for the older kids, who are 13, 12, and 10. He didn’t think it would be very bad. I was fairly disturbed by the idea of children watching it. Kids should definitely not watch this movie.
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
This is an okay movie
The violence could give little kids nightmares. It's not an extremely great movie, but still recommendable. Children under the age of 12 shouldn't watch it, as it has powerful, graphic images (not as much as The Passion of Christ). It does have some sexual references, so that's something that shouldn't be overlooked.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
This is... wow
No matter how you look at it, apocalypto is an extremly violent film. Most of it is completly unnecessary however, and it really spoiled what could have been an EXCELLENT movie. The plot is pretty basic, as is the acting, but some of the sets and extras really take your breath away. Now, i'm no expert on mayan history and culture, but i'm pretty sure that they didn't glorify horrific acts of violence as much as they do in Apocolypto. This is ABSOLUTELY NOT age-appropriate stuff. Adults only, or mature teens who can handle some of the really stomach churning scenes.
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
Not particularly family-friendly.
Don't get me wrong. This was an amazing movie, and I loved it a lot. However, it is not family material. There are sacrifices, beheadings, deaths galore. It is very violent, and I sometimes think it may not have been best for *me* to see it. There is some nudity, although it's mostly not in any sexual context. There are a number of not so subtle sex jokes. It is, however, a great movie.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Stunning!
I really liked this movie! It was very entertaining and had great imagery and also had it's humor. It isn't really recommended for kids. But I loved it. The only thing I didn't love was that I was left hanging about a few issues in the movie.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
I'm worried about Mel
I'm grateful that I saw this at home rather than on big screen. While I can admire the cinematography, the costumes, the use of native language, and even the thin plot line revolving around love of family, all that was overwhelmed by the gratuitous violence. There were elements of the story that were ludicrous - the pursuers left a killing arena armed only with a few weapons, but when chasing the captive through the rainforest they all had torches (and means to light them). The pursued man was badly wounded but didn't even slow down. And in the fast and furious pursuit through the immense forest, the pursuers knew exactly which way the prisoner ran. But overall it was the violence that left me cold, and made me feel that Mel Gibson's ultimate intent was to see how gruesome and gross he could be. It's unfortunate that he hasn't grasped the concept of suggestion - that it is possible to convey a point powerfully without making the viewer feel that he's stepped into a bloodbath.
- I rate this title off for age 2 and give it
UGH!!!!!!!
this film is so dirty and disgusting it doesnt deserve a rating. i couldnt even finish it. if anything common sense media was too lax on it i found it the most repulsive thing ive had to watch. waste of money.
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Realistic Historical Film
If you have a stomach for graphic violence lots of gore. Patience to read subtitles due to the film being spoken in their native tongue (very impressive) this is a film for you. This is not suitable for any child under the age of 15. The film is rich with culture, the cinematography is just perfect. I really felt that I was taken back to another place and time. Excellent film making.
- I rate this title iffy for age 17 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
it teaches.
who needs to sit and read a history book to see how the mayans lived, buy it and see history for yourself, its so good
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
ACTION PACKED !!!
the chase part is what u would enjoy the most especially when he finally decided to fight his captors. brutally violent but overall i think its a great movie, there's this desire to come back for his family so he better keep himself alive
- I rate this title on for age 17 and give it
Great movie, very violent but AWESOME
I was left with my jaw dropped, I loved the whole movie and was on the edge of my seat biting my nails. Yes it is violent, yes it is gory, no don't take the kids..but there is a love story and a will to live within the movie that captures the audience. Rudy Youngblood is an awesome artist and actor...thank you Mel Gibson!!
- I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it
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