Centurion

Starring: Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, David Morrissey, Dave Legeno, Axelle Carolyn, JJ Feild
Directed by: Neil Marshall
Rating: R
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama
2010

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: Roman soldiers battle Britons in the far north, isolated from the rest of their troops and little hope for survival.

Review:

Tim: Centurion is one of those movies that is perhaps better than it should have been, but not all that good, either. The movie is interesting because we see Roman soldiers fighting enemies in the frontier, far away from the glory of Rome. It's an action war movie, but it's also a tale of survival. The film does enough to hold our interest, but it doesn't do enough to really make us care.

The single biggest thing this movie has going for it is Michael Fassbender. He was so good in the lead role. He gives a quiet yet strong performance, allowing the audience in to his character. I found him compelling and I rooted for him. He gives the best performance of the film and is the chief reason why I'd recommend watching this. Dominic West is fine, but he wasn't very strong. He does not have enough to do to really impact the film, but his presence doesn't hurt the movie, either. Olga Kurylenko is interesting because she gives a silent performance, but it's one that really impacts the film. She is a menacing, unforgettable force in the film and I really enjoyed her portrayal of a warrior who will go to any length to complete her mission. She was very good.

The film is surprisingly bloody and gory. It is certainly rated R for good reasons. While the movie doesn't dwell on any of the gore for long periods of time, it's still not uncommon to see heads cracked open, limbs severed, and all other manner of gruesome war injuries. I appreciate the film being realistic and not sugarcoating the horrors of war, but it oftentimes feels just a bit much.

The film is entertaining because we eventually have a small band of Roman soldiers fleeing from a ground of better equipped Briton warriors, determined to kill every last one of them. Those scenes are the best of the film- the Romans running for their lives, doing everything they can to survive. I really enjoyed those moments of the film. Unfortunately, the rest of the story is less effective. There are some pretty big plot holes throughout the script (for example, I liked the scenes at the witch's house, but some of the events there were pretty ridiculous). There's also a few twists at the end that I didn't fully grasp- I think certain things weren't explained as effectively as they could have been.

While Centurion might not be a very good movie, it's still a decent film and worth a view. Michael Fassbender gives a strong performance and there's enough action and adventure to keep the audience engaged. Ultimately though, the movie should have been better. Trust me, this is no Gladiator.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 6.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Gladiator, The Descent, Agora