Battle scenes are epic, fight scenes are ok, photography is outstanding and the actors do a decent job. The script is a rehash of past success and could have been interesting if it was completely different and unrelated. Too many deja vus.
I enjoyed the AC, it was close to 100F outside.
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"OP is a troll" - Flashlightboy, 12/18/20
Posts: 12304 | Location: BsAs, Argentina | Registered: February 14, 2003
"But, as luck would have it, he stood up. He caught that chunk of lead." Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock "If there's one thing this last week has taught me, it's better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun and not have it." Clarence Worley
I thought on the TV trailer it looked a lot like a cartoon, I guess the CGI. I just have a hard time with the CGI stuff, I’ve always thought it was lazy film making using that stuff.
Posts: 1863 | Location: Peachtree City, GA | Registered: January 22, 2008
First one was better, this one was OK, if (predictably) gory. Friend and I went this evening, and we sat behind a family group ranging from octagenarians to early elementary schoolers.... I'm not sure what they were thinking, bringing the kiddos.
Posts: 15233 | Location: North Carolina | Registered: October 15, 2007
In short, this is a movie that didn't need to be made. It wasn't horrible or, painful like the endless Fast N'Furious movies but, there's so much questionable content and direction that you just shake your head thinking this film was just a cash grab.
The first movie tapped into a number of historical figures and their positions within the Roman world but, ended up with a decent fictional story..this movie is complete fiction but uses historical figures. Definitely up'd the level of gore and graphic violence compared to the first film, didn't bother me terribly since Rome was a violent society in-general however does the graphic depiction add to the story or, just more FX-fest? The depiction of Geta & Caracalla was all off; Caracalla was a well known brute both physically and socially which helped contribute to the Crises of the Third Century because of their family disfunction. The one thing that galls me about a number of Roman empire story telling is there's always a storyline about a virulent undercurrent, wishing to restore the Republic...nope, wasn't happening, that line of thought wasn't even 'a thing'.
If you're really desperate to get some Roman/sword & sandal film watching in...watch both seasons of Rome. This one is impressive in scale and big shots but, you can hit mute and enjoy the picture. Did anybody get Gates of Heaven-vibes at the end when the legions meet outside the gates of Rome?
Posts: 15181 | Location: Wine Country | Registered: September 20, 2000
