21 Jun Lost Treasures of the Maya (2018)

Indiana, No Jones

There are a lot of ways to make a documentary, but it seems there are two familiar models. The one I want is about the subject: I want to know about these people, and their ways through what we see of their cities. My guess is that there are dozens of interesting and useful insights both about the people and how we know or deduce these insights.

That latter point works. How we discover who we are is just as fascinating, and probably essential.

Or, you could make a movie about some guys tramping around the jungle, re-enacting their ’discoveries’. In the worst of these cases, there is nothing much to see other than pretend astonishment at their discovery. The focus won’t be on the actual Mayans, nor even the heavy science that we know is there. It is instead the intrusion of reality TV on the documentary form. This appeared just after Disney bought the production house that has the National Geographic brand. I cannot say whether this travesty is because of that, or the form was developed to make the channel attractive to the Disney content programmers.

Not only are the production values poor, and the scientists unbelievable (as scientists), but prepare to see the same footage many times.

There’s no treasure here.

Posted in 2024

Ted’s Evaluation — 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

IMDB