I watched Apocalypto yesterday and although I don’t like using the word epic (since it is overused by young people), that would be the word to describe the film. The make up, the sceneries and the actors looked amazing. Although academics and historians have blasted the movie for its inaccurate portrayals of Mayan Civilisation and other things such as historical dates, I have learned to watch movies (especially Hollywood films) as a fictional piece of art but I do understand that some people will believe in everything that they see. Nevertheless I absolutely enjoyed watching the film and in particular there was one scene that I really enjoyed, and would like to share.

I have sat and pondered over the meaning and message of this simple story. It’s a simple message, we are sad when we don’t have what we want. And when we get what we want, we want more. It’s true to the core. I remember as a kid, I had a video game console but with no games. The game I wanted more than anything else in this world was Street Fighter 2. But it was sold for a ridiculous price, since I was in PNG and these things are very rare and valuable. I told my parents and myself that I would only need to have one game and I would be content if I got Street Fighter 2. After gaining possession of the game, I remember soon after I got bored of the game and actually wanted more games even when I assured my parents and myself that I would only want one game! Almost 2 decades later, I find myself in the same situation where I have this superficial want. It’s ok to want more, but sometimes we need to distinguish between a want and a need.

The beauty of the story is that you can relate the story to many different scenarios. You can relate it to how we all keep taking from nature and this world; how we keep asking for more and are never content; and generally how we are just damn insatiable because we all have holes. I love the Buddhist philosophy; they believe that desire and ignorance lie at the root of suffering. We all need to develop that mentality; we need to know what we want, and want what we have.