Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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52 of 56 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"Watch closely... This is how history is made!", 24 Jul 2007
I caught up with the first series of "Rome" via DVD, enjoyed it and impatiently awaited the next chapter. Thankfully, its second outing did not disappoint! In fact, I found this series much more satisfying that its predecessor. The acting is once again first rate, as are the sets, costumes and the writing. And whilst Rome most definitely has its share of horrific moments (a man getting his tongue bitten out being just one), there is always great humour to bring light to the darkness.
The only thing this series suffers from is almost too much action. Originally the show was meant to run for multiple seasons, but a dwindling budget put paid to that and thus years' worth of stories had to be squeezed into just 10 episodes. As a result, the programme moves at breakneck speed, often spanning years per episode; skip just one installment and you could be left very confused indeed. The love affair between Mark Antony and Cleopatra for example, would have benefited from a lot more screentime than the handful of episodes that were devoted to it.
The beginning of the season also suffers a mild post-Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) hangover in parts. He was the man (it seems strange to label Caesar a 'character') who so much of the action revolved last series and so the show feels a little fragmented this time around. In his place, the programme-makers have divided our attention, focusing on the power struggle between Mark Antony (a show-stealing James Purefoy) and Octavian Caesar (first played by Max Pirkis and later Simon Woods). Unlike last series' tussle between Caesar and Pompey, where I believe the audience was naturally bound to take the former's side, the battle between Antony and Octavian is not so clear cut. We are both repelled by each of them and their actions but can also feel pity for them, at different points. For the record, I was always in Antony's camp but that might have something to do with Purefoy's charismatic performance.
I feel like I have written an essay instead of a review, my apologies! And I haven't even mentioned Pullo (Ray Stevenson) or Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), Rome's pleb princes. They're both back too and as fantastically portrayed as ever. My advice is to do yourself a favour and buy these DVDs. TV this compelling is hard to find.
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28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
what have the romans ever done for us? well..., 30 Jun 2007
i have only seen a few episodes from the new series, and by god they haven't lost direction! far from it, the new series has taken a much moodier turn, with a turn around for many of the characters, pullo and vorenus in particular swapping roles to some degree, with the latter becoming more violent and unpredictable as he comes to terms with his new career in "politics". with the of caesar, a power vacuum is left in his wake, resulting in the growing collapse of his household, promising some uncomfortable rivalries between antony, octavian and the senators. with many of the original cast returning, along with new situations and conflicts, this season promises to deliver, perhaps even more so than the original, if only because of the uncertain period of history in which the action transpires.
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31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If ever there was a follow up that topped the original- this is it., 4 Oct 2007
As the title says and more. The second season is simply superb. Yes, it's graphic and there's a lot of swearing, but if you like reading about ancient history, you will find that although the Romans were creators of the advanced sewer systems and masters of running water systems, for example, they were also crude, extremely violent and often lacking in basic morals.
As in the first series, the actors do an excellent job of bringing Rome to life. Polly Walker as Atia is particualarly brilliant as is James Puefoy as Mark Anthoney. The costumes asnd set designs are a visual delight.
You will also appreciate the fantastic packaging in a wonderfully illustrated box set with some worth watching extras, such as the story of Anthoney and Cleopatra.
Yes, this is shocking but it does make you realise that the Roman way of life is not something to aspire to and makes the antics of Big Brother contestents look relatively tame.
Simply wonderful- I have nothing bad to say about this series at all. Well worth buying as you will want to watch it more then once. It is just a shame that HBO and the BBC have no intentions to make another series.
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