Centurion

I agree with the above review - this really is very good! Is has has everything you would want from an action film, plenty of battles, one on one combat,chases,tension and not to mention the beautiful Olga kurylenko(and let me tell you she really is impressive in her action scenes,apparently she did all her own stunts). Fassbender too is an impressive talent and carries the film really well as well as the other cast members who do an equally fine job.
There is some amazing cinematography too which shows in detail the vast and rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands,to me this was as much a part of the quality of the film as the characters were.
The only downside to the film is the script which was a bit clunky and could have done with a rework. All in all this is a chase movie that delivers really gritty watchable action scenes!
I will be buying this dvd as soon as it comes out!

The only thing I cannot understand about this film is why on earth it didn't get better publicity, marketing and a broader showing at Cinema's! I had to grub around on the internet to find somewhere, where it was showing and had to drive over twenty miles to get there, when there is a perfectly good multi-screen Odeon in the local town. Like Moon another British film, Cinema's let us down on the distribution.

The film starts with a man running/falling over a snowy mountain, hand's tied clearly trying to escape from someone who is pursuing him. It then goes to a scene of relaxing Roman soldiers drinking and fighting with each other, before, the next day, they are sent North to sort out the rebelious barbarians.

It turns out that the running man is the survivor of an attack by the Picts (Scots locals) of a remote Roman Fort which is overan and destroyed and the Centurion captured.

The 9th Legion (the drinkers and fighters) are despatched into the snowy North determined to bring the locals to heel but their plans lay in ruins when the Picts ambush their column and all but kill every soldier except for a few survivors.

What follows is a race back to the border and to safety for the Romans and a chase by the Picts who are determined to kill each and every Roman after their tribal Chief's son was killed by the invaders.

All in all this is a very underated, under sold, very well made, well acted, directed and produced film which provides one possible answer as to the fate of the 9th Legion. Where as Gladiator had all the Hollywood fluff and effects, Centurion has the down to earth grit and reality of how it would have been and is more realistic.

If you are interested in this period of time, Romans, Roman Britain, you will undoubtably enjoy this film and add it to your collection. There is lots of sword play and head lopping and a great deal of barbarity! Smashing! There maybe some continuity errors such as armour 'segmented' v 'chainmail' for the period but it's a film not a documentary!

Centurion is like Gladiator: bloody violence, stunning visuals and oustanding pefomances from a great cast. Instead of Russell Crowe in the lead, we have Britain's upcoming excellent talent Michael Fassbender leading a group of Roman men to saftey from the threatening Pic army that is led by Olga Kurylenko. I must admit that I was a little surprised of how this film got away with a 15 as the gory battle scenes are very brutal and some parts are not for the faint hearted. It does have some jaw-dropping scenery that makes you feel like you are right in the film. Good pefomances from Fassbender who is without doubt have a leading man staus, Kurylenko as the mute warrior and Dominic West as the kidnapped Legion man. The only problem about Centurion is that it felt rushed, especially the final battle scene which seemed a little too easy. The ending is just left to either your imangintion or could be a lack of budget issues. Though it's directed by the guy who bought us Dog Soliders and The Descent, he's done a okay job but for his next project perhaps make the charaters come to live and don't force the film to end. Recommened if you loved Gladiator and HBO TV series Rome.