Centurion

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Centurion is a great film, and I suspect it's going to be totally underrated by the cinema-going public. I saw it at my local Odeon last night, the only cinema in town showing it, and I strongly suspect it won't be on next week. This is an example of a really good British film from a director with a strong pedigree not getting the kind of publicity and public interest that is frequently given to the most heinous rubbish that Hollywood can produce. Granted, many people don't share my director-centric view of forthcoming features; I'm prepared to risk getting my fingers burned occasionally in avidly chasing any films made by a select bunch of my favourite directors, but my approach is usually rewarded with excellence, like Centurion. In structure it is a very simple story, beautifully shot and honestly told. The bloody battles are very realistic - you get a good feel for what it might actually have been like to fight hand-to-hand in ancient times, frantic and deadly. The characters are simply drawn, and develop through their actions rather than words (quite literally in the case of Olga Kurylenko's "Etain"). There is good and bad on both sides of the conflict, which is true to every war in human history. Ultimately, it offers a quite believable scenario to explain the mysterious historical disappearance of the 9th Legion in Hibernia.

I never thought about it before, and actually this movie helped me to understand something. When you go to see a movie you want to have some satisfaction, and mostly you get it when you sympathize with the hero, you get emotionally involved in their problems and you worry about them. Here, you have two sides and I personally can not empathize with any of them. The Picts, while they have a right to protect their land and families, are shown in quite cruel way and Olga Kirylenko's character is far from being attractive. On the other side the Centurion and his soldiers are nothing but invaders killing and enslaving the locals just for the sake of glory of the Roman Empire. All in all, it's fair for them to be killed by the people they are oppressing and I can't really worry about the Centurion trying to survive because I feel more like he deserves to die for what he's done. If you are a professional soldier and came to a foreign land to ravage it... well, you get what you get. This movie looks like a historical documentary, which shows you some facts and reasons/motives of both sides to do what they do or have to. It's done fairly well, but for me it defeats the main purpose of movie - it's not entertaining. There is no point of attraction in it, there is no one to feel for, and I expect quite the opposite when I'm paying for the ticket.

source: Centurion

Probably a "better" movie than Doomsday, though not as fun, and certainly nowhere near the high quality of The Descent, which may probably be the only masterpiece Neil Marshall's got. All the same, it's some bloody good action for the most part, and Olga Kurylenko by proxy of a character literally tongue-less doesn't have the kind of poor acting she had in Quantum of Solace. Also, Michael Fassbender is always made of win. As is lots of gore and violence, sans the CG blood. All this said - after seeing Marshall direct the episode of Game of Thrones in season 2, where the battle happens at the Lannister castle... I forgive this film some of its problems as it served as a 'trial' run for Marshall's best direction yet. If nothing else, Centurion is an interesting film to see the seeds of what would come in mastering that kind of wild, heart-felt and action-packed style of direction.

but not real predictable. one of film who reminds clichés and fight scenes, and brutal confrontations , a necessary love story and a good cast. all in the sauce of the dark atmosphere, with heroism as spice and few scenes of involuntary humor. bitter, great and ordinary. inspired by the Roman history of Britain, it is out to be more than an action movie in which cruelty could save appearances. or one of films who you see only for the actors because the story is far by elementary expectations. sure, the good points are not missing. but the director seems be adapted to a clear recipes who impose clear rules and ignore any flavor of imagination. Romans on dangerous territory, clash with Barbarians and the same manner to present America using the references to the ancient Rome.

... In fact a lethal overdose of blood. How could I not love this movie? Gladiator was one of my all-time favourites, I love Braveheart, and Apocalypto IS still my favourite, so how can I not love this one? Shallow is the magic word. This movie tries to live off its shock value. The gore is presented with gay abandon almost as if it were the main focus point of the film. And maybe it is, I don't know, didn't care to finish it. The frustrating thing is the setting has great potential. Romans are fighting some rebellious tribes in the far north of Britain. You gotta love rebels. Except this movie shows things from the Romans' perspective, which is a let-down, but the deal-breaking flaw is that flying body parts rule the screen, except the heart is missing.

2/10 The technique is good and the actors not too bad. The music is tolerable. But the story is once again the most stupid is without any logic. Another film of s**t. Certainly it seems almost impossible to rent / buy a movie with a good script today. It seems that those who write for the movies are delayed. Or that they are children of 8 years. The film "Centurion" has no meaning. Imagine eight well-trained Roman soldiers fleeing on foot in front of 10 barbarians on horseback. It makes no sense. Or the Romans are cowards. In addition there is another Top-Model supposed to be as powerful as a man. It's so ridiculous. This film reminds me of a director / producer who wants to f**k the supermodel and get it done one movie.

Legions, walking in the woods like primary school scouts, fighting using barbarian tactics more than barbarians, female warriors that are facing legions easily in tactical combat and close combat and women kicking ace of 100 pounds bigger men like in Jacky Chan movie ... all this stuff are decreasing the value of this movie. The other thing that might irritate you are special effects: ridiculous blood splashes in the battles like in some Tarantino movie. However, I found this movie still fun. Camera, costumes and acting are superb. The rhythm of the film is good so the director has overcome the problem of having a dry historical theme movie. What I also liked about the movie is that it shows historical balance as it was: Rome is not the light as in Gladiator but the brutal power that faces another brutal power. However, what this movie mainly keeps away from splendid flicks with of the same topic is lack of secondary plot as in Gladiator for example.