Centurion

(source)

Some were expecting more from Neil Marshall, given his early work; others think it is just another chase movie. Eager for any decent swords-and-sandals movie, I found the movie satisfying for the most part, but the final showdown was a disappointment. (Not enough survivors for a better action sequence.) Spoiler alert! The ending is somewhat similiar to that of Marhsall's last movie, Doomsday. I'd have to say that the movie fizzled towards the end.



I have to ask whether the casting for the movie deliberately served PC considerations or if it is historically accurate. The Roman Empire was a "multicultural empire" in a sense, in so far as its territory encompassed many peoples and cultures. How many non-Latin people moved into the heart of the empire? How many non-Romans (especially blacks and Semites*) were serving in the Roman Army at the beginning of the second century A.D.? Why would they willingly put their lives on their line to save a Roman general? (Especially when one of them states and shows later that he thinks he can survive on his own?)

I would like to have seen more about Roman culture. There is mention of duty and honor and keeping one's promises (when the leader is experiencing some self-doubt). What they are fighting for is never explicitly stated -- do we need another monologue about how the Romans sought to bring civilization and Roman rule to the barbarians? The costumes look authentic, but shouldn't we be more demanding about the depiction of the Romans? Do the actors play believable Romans? Or are they just moderns playing dress-up? In Gladiator, the setting reinforces the personae of the characters, whether it be Rome or the countryside villa. But there are also the small rituals, like the prayers of Maximus. Centurion has to make do with much less, since it is set in unconquered Great Britain, and so we have to be convinced that these are Romans. For some the costumes will be adequate. But I wanted more.

The movie portrays the Picts as reacting to harsh Roman rule and imperial ambition. Given their motivation, it may be difficult for a modern audience to be sympathetic to the Romans. Quintus Dias (played by Michael Fassbender), who leads the band of survivors, seems to show good leadership in the pursuit of his task and duty. If only his small band were a bit larger. He knows the Picts and their language, but is determined to further Rome's goal.

The fighting between the Pict woman (played by Olga Kurylenko) and Roman soldiers was not absorbing. Olga Kurylenko is not credible as someone wielding a spear because she is so skinny. Lucy Lawless in her Xena days would have been a better choice. Showing Celtic women warriors has happened before--there was the Clive Owen King Arthur movie and Alex Kingston's Warrior Queen, which was about Boudicca. How many Celt women were really warriors, what weapons did they use, and how effective were they? How dependable and accurate is the historical record? Some have attempted to play this aspect of Celtic society up in order to depict it as being egalitarian, but this strikes one as being more propaganda than history. How tall were the Celts, in comparison with the Romans?

We are accustomed to peace; my first thought watching scenes of brutality and savagery during war may was to consider whether the violence of pre-Christian times was worse than it is now. Were the ancients less "ethical" when waging war against each other?

*In this movie, a Syrian.

Exclusive: Centurion Director Neil Marshall
Dark Horizons interview
CHUD
Stills: Hollywood.com, All Movie Photo, IGN
Character posters - JoBlo, GTBP, Movie Mikes



I found this title in the History Book Club: Roman Army, edited by Chris McNab. I have the book by Adrian Goldsworthy.

Celts and Celtic Women:
Women of the Celts in Myth, Legend and Story
The Lives of Ancient Celtic Women
Celtic Women: Myth and Symbol
The Ancient Celts
The Ancient Celts
Boudicca's War