2006 brought with it disaster in Iraq, and, of course, an exercise by Mel Gibson - megastar actor, director, native Australian and noted Roman Catholic.?Ǭ†Apparently?Ǭ†the best way to unwind after producing, writing and directing “Apocalypto,” a bloody two-hour-and-15-minute?Ǭ†Mayan epic, is to drink tequila, drive 90 mph on a two-lane road and tell a California?Ǭ†cop that the Jews are to blame for the wars of the world.?Ǭ†

Gibson’s?Ǭ†recipe for relaxation makes sense considering how much of a?Ǭ†male-fantasy movie “Apocalypto” turns out to be. “That was awesome … but I don’t think the Aztecs were really that crazy,” said some guy behind me in the theater as the credits rolled.?Ǭ†And that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s problem. The movie is as well made and compact as the finest set of luggage. It flies by. The variety of tattoos, haircuts and nose bones alone are worth the price of admission. But in essence it is beautifully shot, exciting, state-of-the-art pulp, with no real message or character development.?Ǭ†

It might have been better if it were based on a specific event, like Gibson?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s massively successful ?¢‚Ǩ?ìThe Passion of the Christ,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù the story of Jesus Christ?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s crucifixion. Instead, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìApocalypto,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù a Greek word for ?¢‚Ǩ?ìnew beginning,?¢‚Ǩ¬ù is the film version of “Pitfall,” the old Activision video game. Jaguar attacks, group waterfall jumps, beehive explosions, toad skin-poisoned blow darts, quicksand, vines lowering people into underground pits, monkey fights and effortless underwater childbirth come to mind.?Ǭ†The movie packs lots of powerful images, but I think Gibson lost his story somewhere in Mexico after drinking lots of tequila.