Action fans and history buffs may find common ground with "The Other Conquest," a historical drama filled with the same kind of up-close misery that seems to attract Mel Gibson.

"The Other Conquest" doesn't have the same racing pulse as "Apocalypto," but viewers will no doubt see similarities in style. "The Other Conquest" deals with the Spanish and their conquering of the Aztecs with the arrival of Hernando Cortes in 1519. The son of the emperor Montezuma must wage a campaign against the Spanish, relying on wits, secrets and mysticism as much as brute strength and weaponry, where the Aztecs are limited.

The story is told through the eyes of a Spanish priest who becomes a firsthand witness to the brutality, and increasingly dismayed at the manner in which the takeover is accomplished.

"The Other Conquest" is heavy in blood and misery, but also respectful of Aztec traditions and dignity, and the showcasing of those elements becomes a highlight, even if storytelling is slight and the drama is sometimes played a little too large.

B-

"The Other Conquest"

Starring: Damian Delgado, Elpidia Carillo, Jose Carlos Rodriguez

Director: Salvador Carrasco

Studio: United Station Media

Rated: R (for strong violence)

RT: 105 minutes