It is a little known fact that before the Spaniard Hernando/Fernando Cortés started his successful colonization/slaughter of Mexico in 1521, he led another (apparently undocumented) expedition to Latin America. Captain Cortes, with an army of 6 men, arrives in a village of Aztecs and helps them defeat a thunder lizard (aka a Tyrannosaurus Rex).
There is even time for a little romance between one of Cortes’ troops (Rios) and the chieftain’s daughter.
The film is so historically inaccurate, I wondered if Mel Gibson had made it. But it has a sense of humour and treated Aztec culture with a little respect, so I knew he hadn’t. Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills 90210) is Cortes and he slips in and out of a Spanish accent while disrespecting the locals. The acting in general is fairly woeful, with apologies to Marco Sanchez as Rios who was quite good. Incidentally, Hawaii does not pass for Mexico, but probably made for a pleasant holiday.
I like that the movie portrays the Catholics in a less than positive light, as an impartial review of the church’s history would support. And I like the movie’s cheapness. I have seen a lot of cheap movies but Aztec Rex beats almost all of them. I did learn some important details of Aztec culture...
Aztecs discovered concrete and used it for stairs on their sacrificial altars.
Aztec Chieftains liked to decorate themselves in the colours of the German flag.
It’s mad and bad. Filming ideas this ludicrous should be encouraged.
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