Centurion

Review: written Nov 2010

Bloody but worthwhile

Fight or Die, says the front cover slogan. And that is pretty much what you'll see for the duration of the movie. However, it's pretty effective, the visceral and overly bloody hand to hand combat linked together with a genuine narrative that hangs together well, despite a few minor logic flaws along the way.

Michael Fassbender is convincing in the leading role, as the Centurion who becomes attached to the 9th Legion. The 9th are led by the fearless General played by Dominic West. However, the legion is attacked by the Picts as they march into Northern Scotland, and the General captured. Only 6 men led by the Centurion survive, and they decide they must first attempt a rescue of the General before they return home... however they are being hunted down by a Pict tracker with uncanny abilities (Olga Kurylenko). Kurylenko is interesting in the role... Even covered up in bulky skins, face painted over and wearing an almost permanent snarl on her face, she still looks a little too gorgeous for the role. However, her physicality won me over, as she almost convinces that a young woman could go mano a mano (so to speak) with highly trained veteran legionaries.

One thing the movie really has going for it is the look. Period movies can so often show the shortcomings of a limited budget - but here the production values are excellent. We believe we are looking at the 9th, and the Roman armour and trappings look the biz. The scenery is sumptuous. After all, this is Scotland - albeit some of the bleaker parts, with either snow or drizzle in many scenes.. not necessarily the tourist board approved stuff.

So it's no masterpiece, but fairly and squarely tackles Hollywood at its own game, and comes away without egg on its face. The more you think about it, the more questions you might have, and if you're a historian - well, this is as close to the reality of what happened to the 9th as Gladiator was to how Emperor Commodus died. But having said that - it's good fun, it didn't flag, held my interest, and felt like it had its own voice.