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Amazon.co.uk Review
The second and last of Anthony Mann's historical epics is a smart, handsome spectacle of the decadence, corruption, and intrigue that tore apart the greatest empire the world has seen. The sprawling story spreads itself thin over a number of characters and stories. At the centre are handsome but stiff Stephen Boyd as Livius, the loyal soldier and symbolic son of the ageing emperor Marcus Aurelius(Alec Guinness), and Christopher Plummer as Commodus, the corrupt heir to the throne. They are boyhood friends turned enemies when the latter accedes to the throne and sells out the values of his father for greed and hedonistic pleasures. The three-hour running time is filled out with the tales of Sophia Loren (as the beautiful Lucilla in love with Livius but coveted by greedy Commodus) and a gallery of heroes and villains that includes James Mason, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif, and Eric Porter. The film is highlighted with spectacular scenes--a grandiose funeral fit for an emperor, brutal battles in the provinces as the barbarians threaten the empire, and a climactic duel to decide the destiny of Rome--which Mann weaves into the shadowy intrigue of the halls of power. Like his previous epic El Cid, The Fall of the Roman Empire remains one of the best of the 1960s epics: well written (and historically accurate up to a point) with strong performances and a consistently elegant style, It lacks a central core and the magnetic hero of its superior predecessor. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) tackles the same story with an updated action-adventure slant. --Sean Axmaker
Amazon.co.uk Review
The second and last of Anthony Mann's historical epics is a smart, handsome spectacle of the decadence, corruption and intrigue that tore apart the Roman empire. The sprawling story spreads itself thin over a number of characters and stories. At the centre are handsome but stiff Stephen Boyd as Livius, the loyal soldier and symbolic son of the ageing emperor Marcus Aurelius (Alec Guinness), and Christopher Plummer as Commodus, the corrupt heir to the throne. They are boyhood friends turned enemies when the latter accedes to the throne and sells out the values of his father for greed and hedonistic pleasures. The three-hour running time is filled out with the tales of Sophia Loren (as the beautiful Lucilla in love with Livius but coveted by greedy Commodus) and a gallery of heroes and villains that includes James Mason, Mel Ferrer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif and Eric Porter. The film is highlighted with spectacular scenes--a grandiose funeral fit for an emperor, brutal battles in the provinces as the barbarians threaten the empire, and a climactic duel to decide the destiny of Rome--which Mann weaves into the shadowy intrigue of the halls of power. Like his previous epic El Cid, The Fall of the Roman Empire remains one of the best of the 1960s epics: well written with strong performances and a consistently elegant style, but lacking the central core and magnetic hero of its superior predecessor. Ridley Scott's Gladiator (2000) tackles almost the same story with a more crowd-pleasing action-adventure slant. --Sean Axmaker
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
[ASIN:B004OWWZ1C The Fall Of The Roman Empire [Blu-ray]]]
Buyers of this new long awaited UK release need to be aware that both the commentary from the US DVD and the Overture/Intermission are missing. Very strange as all the other extras are included. Still an essential purchase as it's great to have it in Hi-Def but certainly NOT the definitive version. The sound is great but the image varies and is a little soft at times.
Don't get rid of your standard DVD just yet.
Buyers of this new long awaited UK release need to be aware that both the commentary from the US DVD and the Overture/Intermission are missing. Very strange as all the other extras are included. Still an essential purchase as it's great to have it in Hi-Def but certainly NOT the definitive version. The sound is great but the image varies and is a little soft at times.
Don't get rid of your standard DVD just yet.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
Both the new FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE Blu-ray from Anchor Bay and the previous Koch version from Germany use the Weintraub/Miriam Collection restoration elements. The Koch Germany release is complete, while the new Anchor Bay drops the roadshow overture, intermission and exit music (as well as a commentary track in the special features). The mastering of the UK release (as with EL CID) is again warmer (richer reds); the Koch version gives the Roman cloaks an orange hue and the film a more golden aura (perhaps a minor question of accuracy). The missing portions on the UK version should disqualify it for purists, but this general-release cut is still a major improvement over the dvd version. Both are satisfying presentations with some compromises. The elements for FALL appear in better shape than those for EL CID, but still display softness in some scenes. Filtering has definitely been done to both blu-rays. The DTS-HD soundtracks on the Anchor Bay and Koch sound identical. FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE still deserves to be rediscovered in high-definition, inspite of marginal mastering flaws of less-than-stellar restorations; and the bigger the screen, the more pleasurable the experience.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a very disappointing release. The picture is much better than the DVD but the subtitles that existed there have NOT been ported across. It is hard to understand why and for the hearing impaired this release is useless. I found the voices not that well focussed and as a consequence it was hard work trying to follow the dialogue. Such a sloppy attitude to such an important matter is hard to understand in this day and age. The disc is also B locked if that matters. Stick to the 2 disc DVD set if you like subtitles. It has more than adequate picture and sound.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
great sets and cast, abysmally wooden melodrama
I am collecting the hollywood epics, which I so enjoyed as a boy when they came out. Sometimes they are wonderful surprises, with depth, intelligence, and subtlety that offer an... Read more
Published 1 month ago by rob crawford
A Great Roman Epic
It's very hard to believe that this classic flopped in the box office, because the acting performances are great and their are first class action sequences. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Mrs. Marilyn A. Rice
Almost Perfect, but Not Quite!!
This is a lovely release from Anchor Bay - the extras are particularly good, albeit in standard definition, and provide a good 2 1/2 hours of extremely interesting insights into... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Caramba!
"Roman Empire" Blu-Ray... incomplete?
I was astonished to see that the Blu-Ray edition of "Fall of the Roman Empire" lacks the Overture music. Read more
Published 9 months ago by ROC VILLAS VENTURA
There's no place like Rome
This is an interesting and infuriating film in almost equal measure. When measured against other contemporary examples of this genre - for example Spartacus [Blu-ray] - it is at... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Kenneth F. Mcara
Blu-Ray still imperfect, when will they get it right!!!
I bought the two Bronston titles and was very disappointed to find the Overture missing from FALL, and STILL no sign of the missing 35min, recovered by Miriam before the last major... Read more
Published 11 months ago by David Orme
We were right Livius. There is no limit with what can be done with a...
The Fall of the Roman Empire is directed by Anthony Mann and co-written by Ben Barzman, Basilio Franchina and Philip Yordan. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Spike Owen
A five star film on a two star blu-ray
I love this film. I hate the blu-ray presentation here. Too much DNR renders many of the characters as waxworks dummies, whereas some of the scenes appear less manipulated and give... Read more
Published 12 months ago by richard
Is this blu-ray region locked? YES!
Now that this is released I hope someone will post whether this and EL CID are region locked - please. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Philip R. Jaeger
What a joy to see on Blu Ray
Like other reviewers i have loved this movie and also have the Miriam DVD but decided to get the Blu-Ray -- so glad i did, pretty basic no extras but the clours and sound are... Read more
Published 17 months ago by H. Bruce
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