Apocalypto

Saw "Apocalypto" shortly after returning from Mexico. Contrary to what many critics are saying (some no doubt looking to find fault with whatever Gibson does after his DWI arrest and subsequent anti-semitic tirade), the film is not any bloodier than Braveheart or The Passion. Yes, there are a couple of moments when you wonder, "Mel, did you really have to go that far?" But there is nothing on the level of intensity and brutality of the scourging scene in The Passion. To dwell just on the violence is to ignore an excellent film. You hopefully will find a film that, amidst the brutality, offers some food for thought about the clash of civilizations and what causes the rise and fall of them.

Because Gibson is Catholic (albeit not in union with Rome) and because of the power and beauty of The Passion, many Catholic viewers are analyzing the film (or overanalyzing) for Catholic messages. A good discussion is going on at the Open Book blog (but beware that some major plot points are revealed in the comments), but we'd like to have our own discussion here. Did you find this movie carrying any Catholic messages or was it just an interesting chase story?

I would particularly like to talk about the final scene and if you found it anti-Catholic, pro-Catholic or neutral, but I'll wait to see if the discussion gets rolling so as to not give anything away right now.