Centurion

Rating: ***/*****, or 7/10

Enjoyable high adrenaline action film set in Roman times. In the Second Century A.D., a Roman legion sets out on a mission in the unconquered north of Britain but walks into an ambush and gets viciously decimated, after which a ragtag group of survivors of various ranks and ethnic backgrounds led by Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender, just before his definite breakthrough roles in X-Men: First Class and Shame the year after) must run for their lives behind enemy lines to get back to Hadrian's Wall and safety. Unfortunately for them, they're hunted by an elite team of killer Picts led by the mute but scary assassin Etain (Olga Kurylenko). Will any of them make it out alive? And if they do, could they ever go back to the life of Roman soldiery? Neil Marshall (The Descent, Doomsday) does his thing as an accomplished action director and doesn't bother making anything even resembling a Roman epic, but delivers a simple chase flick set in ancient times instead. What the film lacks in its straightforward story it makes up for decently in action and suspense. Ironically enough, the following year The Eagle was released (very similar plot wise but more serious in tone), which in terms of story was almost a direct sequel, though that particular production had no ties to Centurion.

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Olga Kurylenko, Dominic West

Directed by Neil Marshall

UK: Celador Films, 2010

This awesome animated poster was also attached to the film, setting the tone of the movie more effectively than the regular theatrical poster bothered to do:

Caligula

Rating: ***/*****, or 6/10

One of the most bizarre entries in the recorded history of cinema, this kinky movie is clearly a product of the seventies with its 'laissez-faire' attitude towards movie contents. The story behind this production is at least as intriguing and sleazy as the final product itself. A grandiose mixture of historical epicness and pornography, this movie went through many tumultuous phases, both during and particularly after production. At its core it tells the story of Caligula (Malcolm McDowell), a young man who rose to be Emperor of ancient Rome at the death of his vile old uncle Tiberius (Peter O'Toole surrounded by naked people), but ruled for only four years because of his disgusting appetites. The movie shows, among other things, Caligula hosting several orgies, engaging in incest with his sister Drusilla (Teresa Ann Savoy) and having hundreds of people viciously executed for next to no reason. McDowell does an excellent job of portraying the spoiled but traumatized young emperor, but he's outstaged at every turn by the abundance of explicit sex scenes, including fellatio, cunnilingus, lesbian sex, group sex, people urinating on each other, attempted intercourse with fish and various other animals, naked mutants and about everything else the Penthouse producers could think of: it'll come as no surprise original screen writer Gore Vidal had his name removed from the credits when he noticed what had been done to his serious screen play. From a camp perspective, this is actually all rather fun, but if you're looking for historical accuracy, or subtlety, you'll find little here. The movie is still banned in several countries, while there has been almost a dozen cuts in circulation over the years, and none of the make for a really good film, but all of them are fascinating to behold nonetheless.

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O'Toole

Directed by Tinto Brass, Bob Guccione

Italy/USA: Penthouse Film International, 1979

Ben-Hur

Rating: ****/*****, or 8/10

One of the greatest Hollywood epics of all time, the first film ever to win the record amount of 11 Academy Awards, most of them well deserved. Charlton Heston stars as the Jewish nobleman Juda Ben-Hur, who finds out his once close friendship with the young Roman aristocrat Messala (Stephen Boyd) has succumbed to his strict duties as a Roman officer. This new distrust between them soon turns to hatred when, after an accident that leaves the new Roman governor of Judea wounded, Messala condemns Juda to the galleys as a slave and sends his family to the dungeons. However, Juda survives his ordeal, fueled by his hate, and in a grandiose naval battle between the Roman fleet and pirates, rescues the life of Roman Consul Arrius (Jack Hawkins), after which he is redeemed by the Emperor, adopted by Arrius and embarks on a star career as a charioteer before returning to Judea to seek vengeance on Messala in the sands of the most famous chariot race in film history. However, winning the race and fatally crippling his adversary in the process does not return his family or his happiness, things only Christ can give him on the Cross. For the majority of modern day viewers, the overt Christian overtones in the final third of the movie – the film is subtitled 'a Tale of the Christ after all – are hard to bear in their cheesiness, but this movie remains a solid undying classic in every other respect (with extra credit going to the great CinemaScope cinematography, the wonderful, catchy music and the excellent production design): the fabulous naval battle and the highly exciting chariot race remain unsurpassed.

Starring: Charlton Heston, Stephen Boyd, Jack Hawkins

Directed by William Wyler

USA: MGM, 1959

Agora

Rating ****/*****, or 8/10

Amenábar's call to religious tolerance tells the dramatic story of 4^th century scientist and philosopher Hypatia (Rachel Weisz in one of her best roles), an intelligent woman who taught at the famous Great Library of Alexandria. In a city were religious turmoil took ever more dangerous turns for non-Christians, she sought to scientifically unravel the mysteries of the solar system, leading to her untimely violent death at the hands of fundamentalist Christians who considered her a blaspheming witch. 

 

 

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Max Minghella, Oscar Isaac

Directed by Alejandro Amenábar

Spain: Mod Producciones, 2009