Centurion (2010)

[randy_byers]

Watched this on Netflix streaming last night. holyoutlaw and I had talked about seeing it in the theater, but when push came to shove we went to something else instead, partly because the reviews weren't very good. It actually turns out to be a pretty good action film, although it does have some flaws.

It's the story of a small band of Roman legionaries who are stranded behind enemy lines in Caledonia (i.e., ancient Scotland) and pursued by an army of vengeful Picts. It's extremely violent, with lots of on-camera gore. It has a very nice look, which is reminiscent of the Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. In fact, I would have bet that it was filmed in New Zealand, but IMDb says those gorgeous mountains really are in Scotland. (Cairngorm Mountains? Now *that's* a name for mountains!) It was also somewhat reminiscent of the manly self-sacrifice story of 300, and I see that the lead, Michael Fassbender, was also in that one. Centurion is far less campy than 300.

It's not particularly realistic, although I did like how the Picts are depicted (ahahahahaha) with legitimate grievances against the empire even though the protagonists are Roman. The early parts felt like a movie about the US-NATO incursion into Afghanistan, but not much is done with the implied critique. There's a beautiful female Pictish warrior (played by a Russian model) who is pretty unbelievable, but still a cool character. A love interest comes out of nowhere near the end, and provides an unbelievable ending.

The main thing this movie offers is a taut, tense pace and a smart, compressed narrative that doesn't overstay its welcome at 97 minutes. It's a bit old-fashioned that way. It looks stylish and it treats its characters respectfully. When it isn't cutting their throats ...

Comments

[surliminal.livejournal.com]

Has Monsters got to US yet? Just saw it and will be interested to see what you think.

[dalmeny]

I hiked over the Cairngorms as part of a school trip when I was twelve. They really are pretty

The film sounds like something my mum and brother would like. Maybe I should get one of them the DVD.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I've seen at least one review of it, but I'm not sure if it has played in Seattle yet.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

My mother doesn't like film violence, but I bet my nephews would like this.

[mvt.livejournal.com]

still prefer fake war to real war. Even in the movies. I am old school and love the Devils Brigade.

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

I'm not familiar with that one.

[mvt.livejournal.com]

uring World War II a special fighting unit is formed combining a crack Canadian outfit and a conglomeration of US Army misfits bsed on a true story William Holden Cliff Robertson

[randy-byers.livejournal.com]

Sounds good. I recently read about an Errol Flynn movie made during WWII that's set in Canada. Directed by Raoul Walsh, but I can't remember the title. (Checks IMDb.) Ah yes, Northern Pursuit (1943): "A Canadian Mountie of German descent feigns disaffection with his homeland in hopes of infiltrating and thwarting a Nazi sabotage plot."