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Amazon.co.uk Review
Epic filmmaking has fallen out of favour, but The Eagle fights hard to bring it back. Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) chose to lead a Roman garrison in occupied Britain because that's where his father lost a military standard--a metal eagle, representing the glory of imperial Rome--on an expedition into the northern wilds. To reclaim his family honor, Aquila sets off into native territory to recover the eagle, with only a slave named Esca (Jamie Bell) to help him--but the more Aquila learns about Esca's history, the more he has reason to doubt his slave's loyalty. The Eagle starts with engaging momentum; this is a work of fiction, but there's an impressive commitment to the details of life, evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of a raw and brutal time. (Director Kevin Macdonald began as a documentarian, which no doubt contributes to his appreciation for grit and sweat.) Tatum is not the most versatile actor but he has enough solid charisma to anchor the movie; Bell's fluid emotional presence keeps their relationship dynamic. The movie loses steam in the last third, as the outcome is never really in doubt and the plot mechanics start to feel a bit rote. But for anyone with an interest in the era, or who simply enjoys a taste of blood and thunder, The Eagle has pleasures aplenty. --Bret Fetzer
DVD Description
A Roman epic adventure, based on the classic novel of the same name, set in the dangerous world of second-century Britain. In 140 AD, twenty years after the unexplained disappearance of the entire Ninth Legion in the mountains of Scotland, young centurion Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) arrives from Rome to solve the mystery and restore the reputation of his father, the commander of the Ninth. Accompanied only by his British slave Esca (Jamie Bell), Marcus sets out across Hadrian's Wall into the uncharted highlands of Caledonia - to confront its savage tribes, make peace with his father's memory, and retrieve the lost legion's golden emblem, the Eagle of the Ninth.
Special Features:
Special Features:
- Feature Commentary with Director Kevin Macdonald
- Alternate Ending
- Deleted Scenes
- The Eagle: The Making Of A Roman Epic
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
101 of 114 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I thoroughly enjoyed Rosemary Sutcliff's adventure novel and I felt this movie was true to the book, with a few changes that actually made the story better.
First off, Sutcliff wrote a book for teen readers and the movie was done in such a way that I felt comfortable bringing my teenage son to see it. There was violence, owing to the times, but not graphic like most movies these days. In fact, people were killed or executed with most of the gory parts off screen or to the side so you didn't see the actual act. There was no sex or nudity, which for me is a nice change when I want to see a feature film for the story and not have these scenes thrown in for that type of audience.
The story is an intelligent historical adventure bringing the viewer into an unknown world in Northern Scotland. It depicts accurately the relation between the conquering Romans and their subjugated Brittons and Celts. We see Roman period soldiers accurately represented and native Picts as they may have been (without many historical records to verify their way of life).
The movie is also about a friendship that builds between two men from opposite sides of the conflict and the bonds that build despite their differences in culture. There are lots of battles, beautiful scenery, and excitement.
The movie follows Sutcliff's hunt for the 9th Legion Eagle, lost beyond Hadrian's Wall in the the mysterious land of the Picts, ruthless tribes of barbarians in present day Scotland. Despite some recent evidence that the 9th Legion was never destroyed in Scotland, the story is captivating and despite being fiction has a real authentic feel.
First off, Sutcliff wrote a book for teen readers and the movie was done in such a way that I felt comfortable bringing my teenage son to see it. There was violence, owing to the times, but not graphic like most movies these days. In fact, people were killed or executed with most of the gory parts off screen or to the side so you didn't see the actual act. There was no sex or nudity, which for me is a nice change when I want to see a feature film for the story and not have these scenes thrown in for that type of audience.
The story is an intelligent historical adventure bringing the viewer into an unknown world in Northern Scotland. It depicts accurately the relation between the conquering Romans and their subjugated Brittons and Celts. We see Roman period soldiers accurately represented and native Picts as they may have been (without many historical records to verify their way of life).
The movie is also about a friendship that builds between two men from opposite sides of the conflict and the bonds that build despite their differences in culture. There are lots of battles, beautiful scenery, and excitement.
The movie follows Sutcliff's hunt for the 9th Legion Eagle, lost beyond Hadrian's Wall in the the mysterious land of the Picts, ruthless tribes of barbarians in present day Scotland. Despite some recent evidence that the 9th Legion was never destroyed in Scotland, the story is captivating and despite being fiction has a real authentic feel.
78 of 89 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As a film fan and an amateur student of ancient history, I was quite prepared for this movie to be irritatingly facile and bear no relation to actual events.
But this is a quality film - historically on the money (with one or two very small exceptions), decent screenplay, good lead performances (especially Jamie Bell), fantastic photography, and very effective celtic mood music.
I was even moved to tears here and there. If you liked Apocalypto, Valhalla Rising and Gladiator, you will like this. There are plenty of action sequences but without gratuitous gore but it also has the emotional tug that films for grown-ups should have.
A Roman bromance with echoes of The Defiant Ones - definitely worth an airing.
But this is a quality film - historically on the money (with one or two very small exceptions), decent screenplay, good lead performances (especially Jamie Bell), fantastic photography, and very effective celtic mood music.
I was even moved to tears here and there. If you liked Apocalypto, Valhalla Rising and Gladiator, you will like this. There are plenty of action sequences but without gratuitous gore but it also has the emotional tug that films for grown-ups should have.
A Roman bromance with echoes of The Defiant Ones - definitely worth an airing.
56 of 64 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Have been an avid reader of Rosemary Sutcliff for many a year, so was interested in how the film would convey the broad themes. It starts off well, but then starts to lose momentum, mainly because the lead character appears to be an action man type and not much else. Jamie Bell as Esca is better at conveying a personality. The American accents are not too much of an irritant (one character even uses the word "Autumn"!) and at least we were spared words like awesome. There are some significant divergences from the book, for example I don't recall RS bringing in a Custer-style last stand from the survivors of the 9th, and the female role of Cotta is not brought in at all. The film's been called a bromance and I can see why, as there are no female roles of any note whatsoever. The battle/conflict scenes are shot in a blurred motion way that emphasises the chaos but loses the clarity and I don't understand how they get away with it in the last fight, as the opposing numbers seem too great; I can only assume that the death of the leader is the cause for the others to leg it, but it's not made clear at all.
In summary, not bad at all, but it didn't quite light my fire, whereas the book still does, even after all these years. The scenery however is magnificent and some of the music is very good as well. Worth buying when it's in the car-boot sale/Tesco sale price bracket, but read the book anyway - it's a cracking tale.
In summary, not bad at all, but it didn't quite light my fire, whereas the book still does, even after all these years. The scenery however is magnificent and some of the music is very good as well. Worth buying when it's in the car-boot sale/Tesco sale price bracket, but read the book anyway - it's a cracking tale.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
sad botch of a lovely book
I read The Eagle of the Ninth the first time at the age of 9, and I was most disappointed by this film. Read more
Published 17 days ago by E. J. Wheeler
One of the best films I have ever seen
I enjoyed this film a great about and have watching it several times, good strong story that has all twists and turns, and a realistic country side for the film amazing battle... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Zipswitch
superb
This is a very well made and well acted picture. The lead actors have clearly committed to the role entirely and play their parts with passion. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. A. Moulds
If I'm wrong then I shall die: And that's how it should be.
The Eagle is directed by Kevin Macdonald and adapted to screenplay by Jeremy Brock from the book The Eagle of the Ninth written by Rosemary Sutcliff. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Spike Owen
Distinctly average, probably better if you haven't read the book
Manages to lose the characterisation of the book, especially the relationship between Marcus and Esca, and everyone in the film is fairly one-dimensional. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Rogerzilla
Almost but not quite
This could have been great. Rosemary Sutcliffe's Eagle of the Ninth was one of my favourist books growing up, and the film plot sticks fairly close to the book plot (bar one awful... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Neil Black
History quality
I bought this film with my fingers crossed that it wouldn't be anything like 'Gladiator' or 'Troy' as I found they were a little unfocused on the story. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mrs. Vicki Gosling
The Ninth Legion needs a good map
What's with it with the Ninth Legion? It keeps disappearing into the wilds of what now is Scotland. Once is bad enough (Centurion, which was bad enough), but twice? Read more
Published 2 months ago by C. O. DeRiemer
The Eagle
I enjoyed it very much. It was true to history as it could get. It has been a great mystery for centuries, as to what had
happened to the "NINTH".
happened to the "NINTH".
Published 2 months ago by pigley
Not worth re-watching
I think you'd have to be pretty dam blind not to see this is no 5 star or 4 star film. I mean seriously now... Its watchable at best. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Gawain
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