Don't watch Apocalypto if you want to find out about the Mayan civilisation or its end

10.45.51am GMT Mon 8th Jan 2007

Mayan Calendar

I went to see Apocalypto last night with my friend Caroline, I have to say I was very disappointed. I had been led to believe it was about the Mayan civilisation and also some kind of speculative reason as to why it ended. It was actually a chase movie - a good chase movie but not what I thought I was going to see.

I appreciate that not much is know about the Mayan civilisation so was prepared to give quite a bit of latitude on interpretation, lets face it Mel Gibson embellished a lot in the Passion of Christ. Sadly he didn't really try, there were a few bits which most experts agree would have happened - the capture of rural Mayans, sacrifices and the suchlike and some which I suspect live only in Gibson's head.

In 2000 I spent quite a bit of time visiting Mayan (and Aztec) ruins across Central America so was really keen to see this film but feel very let down.