Apocalypto

Mel Gibson's well-publicized personal woes are bound to cause some audiences to not accept his latest directorial achievement under any circumstances. On top of that, it's extreme and unrelenting violence will turn off even more viewers—some of the scenes are so intense you may have to be tied to your seat to sit through them. But for those looking for a kick-ass action flick like no other, this is the one. A fierce and visceral stunner, Apocalypto offers non-stop excitement—and we mean non-stop. It's an electrifying epic in every sense of the word. With this story of the virtual implosion of the ancient Mayan "civilization," Gibson once again proves why he is one of the best filmmakers around, showing he's a fearless director who knows how to grab an audience and not let go for even a minute. Like his monster hit, The Passion of the Christ, this film is spoken totally in foreign tongue (Yucatec). But the subtitles really don't matter, as it's basically a two-hour chase movie broken up by an absolutely riveting and bloody celebration at the opulent Mayan temples where the term "heads are gonna roll" is given new meaning. Centering around the quest of young Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) who must outrun and outsmart his detractors in order to save his family, the film gathers some emotional connection with his dogged determination to simply survive. With hearts being yanked from his best friends bodies, spears being thrown, traps being set and vicious animals being unleashed around him, this obstacle course is one that few movie characters have ever had to run. Forget the Oscar; give this guy an Olympic gold medal. And just like its central star, Gibson's powerful movie will leave you breathless by the time the end credits roll.