I had been looking forward to seeing Centurion for quite some time now. The poster (featured after the jump), which isgritty, full of classical bloody vengeance and has a great tage line, was enough for me to determine what kind of film I was going to be watching. Once I saw the trailer I knew this was going to be a must see film for this summer, and sure enough I got exactly what I asked wanted; An interesting Roman tale full of suspense, bloody kills, and excellent cinematography.
The film stars Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, JJ Feild, Dave Legeno and Olga Kurylenko as Etain the tracker. It was directed and written by Neil Marshall, the same guy who brought us Doomsday and The Descent. While I haven’t seen either of The Descents, I can say that he gets much grittier in this film then he does with Doomsday, probably due to the era in which the film takes place even though both films are savage in nature.
Centurion takes place in Britain in A.D. 117 during the time in which the Romans had stretched its Empire to the UK but had come to a halt when it reached Northern England. The stand still had come as a result of guerilla tactics used by the elusive and savage Picts.
The story follows Centurion Quintus Dias (Michael Fassbender) as he escapes from a Pict raid on a Roman fort. Once he is escapes the clutches of the brutal warriors he is then reunited with Roman forces from the Ninth Legion lead by General Virilus (Dominic West) where Dias he decides to join the legion in order to take revenge for his fallen comrades.
At that point, another surprise attack occurs killing most of the Legion and leads to the capture of General Virilus. A few of the solider, including Quintus, survive and go on a mission to save the general. After invading the Picts camp things go awry and the films turns from that of a rescue mission to that of a survival by any means film, as the Picts hunt down the remaining Roman soldiers. This chase movie is based on the true story of the disappearance of the Roman Ninth Legion.
Centurion has a genuine nomadic feel to it that many modern empire age films don’t seem to nail down. It is the first movie based on the Roman era that I have liked in a long time and manages to keep my attention the entire time. I found the acting to be very good, although a bit flawed at times-I’m talking about you Olga, and you didn’t even speak in the film. For not knowing 99% of the cast, they did a very good job and Marshall’s use of many unknowns elevated my enjoyment of the film a bit.
The real success of this movie comes from the superb cinematography and the ability to accurately capture the appearance of Northern England during the Roman era. When the battle sequences occurred all I could do was smile at how how wonderful the blood spattered from the bodies and how the color resonated with the rest of scenery (that sounds a bit sick, I know).
For the most part, this was an entertaining movie that’s worth watching if you are tired of all the modern day crap we see in the cinemas. While the pace may slow down a bit too much at times, it definitely picks up significantly in the latter half of the second act and the entire third act.
What I am really curious to find out is if Marshall plans on writing/directing a sequel to this because of the way the film opens and ends. It definitely doesn’t need one but for some reason I seem to be in the mood for seconds.
Overall, Centurion has its minor flaws but for the most part it is a gritty little historic action film that will definitely hold your attention and give you your fill of ancient wartime blood baths. With an interesting storyline, a solid cast, and terrific film making, Centurion is bound to keep warrior buffs entertained and maybe even give you a short history lesson of the Roman Empire.
Rating: A historic and gritty survival film that is sure to fulfill your ancient battle needs
Trailer
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