UKReb
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 2,436
Viewed this "Roman epic" at a press screening Wednesday evening based on the mythical story of the lost 9th Roman Legion. It will no doubt find an appreciative audience amongst the forum's Roman figure collectors as it has some pretty impressive uniforms and equipment on view but don't hold me to the accuracy of the kit as I wouldn't have a clue.
As a movie it's quite enjoyable with an abundance of blood being splattered around as limbs and heads go flying across the screen especially during the massacre of the 9th Legion by the Picts early on in the film which is very impressive. But this is no Gladiator or Braveheart as the story devolves from 3000 odd Romans swiftly reduced to 7 and those 7 on the run to save their lives-that's about the total content of the story which on reflection is very similar to the directors earlier Dog Soldiers in fact I believe there are a couple of the same actors in this new outing. And I do so hate those helicopter shots flying over the dead and pursued in the movies-simply because you know it's a helicopter-it does deliver some picturesque views of Scotland though.
The script is peppered with an abundance of foul language which after awhile tends to grate on the ears, no doubt copying the HBO series of Rome but the press handouts stated this is correct based on Latin quotes carved into the stone of Hadrian's Wall. Well, call me old fashioned, but I still prefer my cinematic Romans speaking impeccable English such as Olivier's "Crassus"; Stephen Boyd's "Messala" and even old "Maximus" himself.
Well worth a look but for me more a Saturday night with the boys as a Netflix or DVD with a large pizza and a few bottles of Bud.
Reb
As a movie it's quite enjoyable with an abundance of blood being splattered around as limbs and heads go flying across the screen especially during the massacre of the 9th Legion by the Picts early on in the film which is very impressive. But this is no Gladiator or Braveheart as the story devolves from 3000 odd Romans swiftly reduced to 7 and those 7 on the run to save their lives-that's about the total content of the story which on reflection is very similar to the directors earlier Dog Soldiers in fact I believe there are a couple of the same actors in this new outing. And I do so hate those helicopter shots flying over the dead and pursued in the movies-simply because you know it's a helicopter-it does deliver some picturesque views of Scotland though.
The script is peppered with an abundance of foul language which after awhile tends to grate on the ears, no doubt copying the HBO series of Rome but the press handouts stated this is correct based on Latin quotes carved into the stone of Hadrian's Wall. Well, call me old fashioned, but I still prefer my cinematic Romans speaking impeccable English such as Olivier's "Crassus"; Stephen Boyd's "Messala" and even old "Maximus" himself.
Well worth a look but for me more a Saturday night with the boys as a Netflix or DVD with a large pizza and a few bottles of Bud.
Reb
