James Horner

Scholars railed against director Mel Gibson for making a film that wasn't an accurate historical and cultural representation of the Mayan civilization. The same can be said of James Horner's score. The composer employs instruments and musicians unrelated to Mayan culture, including Qawwali vocalist Rahat Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, who was born in Pakistan. As a chunk of world music, however, Apocalypto makes for an impressive listen. It's a grand global fusion bursting with drama and exotic flavor.