Set after the loss of the Ninth Legion to the barbarians of northern England, * (See Centurion) we are introduced to a young man, Marcus Aquila, who wants to clear his shamed family name-his father was the general leading the Ninth. While I know that things were often kept to the ruling noble families, I disliked that we are supposed to believe that this "kid" knows things and is more wary than the veterans-yeah right-does anyone really buy that?The Eagle is based on a book I have not read. And we all know the book is almost always better.
And I hate Channing Tatum.
BUT...
This wasn't too bad. The action is reasonably good, I enjoyed the first battle even if it never gets quite that good again. Marcus gets hurt in battle and is discharged, he gets depressed, but upon hearing rumors that the lost standard of the Ninth, a golden Eagle *(see ROME episode1 why don'tcha?) he decides to embark on the adventure, incredible as it may be, to go behind Hadrians wall and retrieve the Eagle.
He couldn't do it alone and he takes the slave Esca with him. Esca is a native and speaks the various languages of the heather. Esca who despises Rome and all it stands for. But they become fast friends and Marcus learns friends don't keep slaves.
There were some twists and turns but nothing too unexpected or shocking. I like Mark Strong as a survivor of the Ninth's demise who went native.
Overall while this movie wasn't too bad it wasn't too great either.
Overall while this movie wasn't too bad it wasn't too great either.
Of course I wanted to see it - anything with swords & barbarians & romans - but its no Gladiator.
16 comments:
I felt about the same. Didn't think it was a waste of time but I wasn't overly impressed. I wondered how he survived that first battle. How he could have been rescued seeing as how he was completely overrun and had gone out to rescue others. Oh well, gotta go with it, I guess.
Pretty much Charles. It was one of those movies I had low expectations of but still wanted to see. Turned out a shade better than I was expecting.
just another adventure...we all love an adventure right?
Pretty much Mikeyboy-though you know where I'll be this friday.
I preferred it over Centurion. That's about all I can say...
Really Bruce? All right, we'll agree to disagree.
My problem with Centurion was that is was so predictable. I watched it with a friend at my place and managed to foretell who would die and in what order, based on that particular character's dialogue choices (like one person wanting to see their family again - a dead giveaway - no pun intended). It was rather scary. Buddy was pissed. :)
I can see that Bruce, and while I wouldn't say it was a great film I found it more enjoyable than the Eagle because I felt that way about the Eagle-I anticipated almost everything, of course nothing was so predictable as watching Transformners 3 with my kids-that was torturous.
I finally saw CENTURIAN last night..great film...intense and brutal world it was back then.
I am going to watch the LAST LEGION tonight and sometime over the weekend I will watch EAGLE.
I also saw BLACK DEATH...good story...great acting by BEAN. But I feel it lacked that EPIC quality I was looking for. BUT on a good note...It reminded me a lot of the old HAMMER films. That's a great compliment. Have you checked out "ARN" yet? Great film a bout one of the TEMPLARS
Thats how I felt about Black Death too Mikey-it did remind me of the Hammer films. I'll have to go find ARN
Well...I watched the EAGLE and I thought it was a very good film. Marcus was as deft and cunning as he was and more aware because he was a soldier who put in his time and worked his way uop through the ranks despite his fouled legacy. ( We know his Dad went down swinging for everyone who has seen CENTURIAN...the dude who played the traitor in 300 was his pops.)
The soldiers he was sent to command had grown complacent and ambivelent and were not really ready to face an invading horde of Celtic rogue's. Just by his FRESH perspective the men inside were saved. ( For the most part.)One thing he should not have done was to send out that scouting patrol. the rest of the film was very good...the quest for the Eagle..Esca playing along in order to survive. The fight in the cave the last battle...Marcus final barb at the spoiled rich kid who just did not learn from their first encounter that he should keep his yap shut. This guy is a BADASS and he has to make comments still. Flog that little bastard.
Good movie...Now it's on to 13 Assasins...your suggested viewing is awesome...thank you. I especially liked how the films tied together but were not really sequels. "The LAST LEGION was crap..a kiddie movie...hated it. Don't like Colin Firth at all. It was an Adventure film that lacked Adventure. Predictable all the way through. I'd rather watch KING ARTHUR...that was more my speed." I now own..IRONCLAD , Black Death and the Eagle. I will more than likely buy 13 Assasins.
I love Samurai and Ninja films. The HUNTED with Christopher Lambert was awesome...check that one out Dave.
The Baby Cart Assasin films are awesome too. ( You probably know about those. ) Well..see ya at the movies..lol
Very cool Mikey-If you love Samurai movies I have no doubt you'll love 13 Assassins.
I still haven't seen The Last Legion-I may not bother now.
I'll have to look for The Hunted and the Baby Cart Assassins (I hadn't even heard of those)
it's "Lone Wolf and cub" there was an entire series. Extremely well made.
Ok, I am somewhat familiar with Lone Wolf and Cub. I read a little bit of the graphic novels but that was a long, long, long time ago.
If you contact my friend from long island comics he has all the original uncut Lone Wolf and cub films on 1 dvd collection for I believe 30 dollars... His phone number is 631-321-4822 he does phone orders as well as runs a cool website and had a lot of comics and material on ebay. That is..If you're interested.
thanks Mikey, the move is making life a little chaotic right now, but maybe later, I appreciate it.
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