I was scrolling through the OnDemand menu when I came across this particular gem; it is an independent film but don't let that scare you- this is no art house flick. This is a full-scale assault on the action genre... For you history buffs, this picture is centered around the exploits of that phantom legion, Legio IX; this legion supposedly just disappeared from all traces of history with very little as to the reasoning why. This movie speculates as to that disappearance. The costumes, characters and sets make for a very believable Britain during the Dark Ages; for those of you who prize characterizations and plot over action, be prepared for disappointment- the dialog doesn't allow for much in the way of empathy, what there is of it, but it also doesn't get in the way of the action, which is a plus for someone like me. This is a bare-bones actioner; very little is done to flesh out the principle players, their whole reason for being in their current state is dealt with rather quickly in the beginning. None of these people are very sympathetic so you won't feel one way or another as the violence ensues, unless you feel obligated to pick a side. Even doing that may take some thought. Be that as it may, there's enough blood letting and sword swinging to satisfy most action junkies; this movie is bloody and gritty, you can almost feel the dirt under your nails along with the dried blood, drenched in sweat while running through endless snow and ice from your pursuers... I rated this movie as merely 'Good', as it could've been better, but it could've been far worse, too. This won't have the sheen or panache of Rome as in Gladiator; the locales are as bleak as the futures of the vanished legion; mostly snow-covered land and jutting rock...the people have the appropriate look of barely-denied hunger, eking out a desperate existence in the unforgiving landscape. I really liked this movie, I hope you do too.Read full review
Roman soldier (Michael Fassbender) leads a small band of troops on a mission to rescue a key Roman general after becoming trapped in the territory of their sworn enemies in this period action-adventure film from director Neil Marshall (THE DESCENT, DOOMSDAY). The year prevented Hadrian's armies from conquering northern Britain. The Picts offer a devastating display of their guerilla power when they raid a Roman frontier fort, and Quintus just barely manages to escape with his life. Thirsting for revenge, Quintus joins General Virilus' Ninth Legion as the squadron begins traveling north on a mission to find and kill Gorlacon, the leader of the Picts. That mission is complicated when the Ninth Legion is ambushed and General Virilus is captured, leaving his men stranded behind enemy lines. Now, as the Quintus and the surviving members of the Ninth Legion are hunted from the shadows, they prepare to make one last, desperate bid to save General Virilus and reach the Roman frontier before being captured or killed by the Picts.Read full review
Good story; definitely a must-see if you're into the late Roman period and.or Roman military occupation of Britain and attempts to conquer Pictland (later known as Scotland). I'm sure the battles were bloody and this movie also depicts the gore to an almost gratuitous level. I'm sure this movie inspired the making of "The Eagle", which also tells a similar tale about the disappearance of the ninth legion in Pictland. "Centurion" is the better story with a slightly better cast, although I'd have rate some of the battle scenes in "The Eagle" as equal or better than in "Centurion".
Fassbender is surprisingly fit, and convincingly fit, for a man of 43. He animate the character well. Other actors, less so. It is an "historic novel"; so facts, dates, etc. loosely accurate.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
A good to better movie, Fassbender made it with some help, certainly, from a better than average supporting cast. The Romans, they leave us so much material! As do the conquered, one imagines. Some thoughts & highlights of mutual regard: the attempted rescue was ill-advised in its failure, and the ultimate fate of the hunted was too foreshadowed. I did like the Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid leap from the cliff, then river ride downstream. As well, the 'blood work' was not up to 300's par, a touch too splashy and koolaidish. But all in all not one bit disappointed by the Finale!
Verified purchase: No
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