In my opinion all movies about the Roman Legion suffer from the same set of problems and this film is no exception.
Before I list those perceived problems let me say that I enjoyed this film. Fairly new(ish) story with good actors with big and bloody battle scenes.
You knew what was being promised going in...and it delivered on that promise.
Channing Tatum plays the main role of Marcus Aquila. Marcus is taking command of his first legion while trying to escape the shadow of his father. Not the good kind of shadow either. Marcus' father was leader of the famed 9th Legion that traveled into northern Britain and was lost along with their standard the "Eagle", symbol of Rome. The loss of both the legion and the Eagle caused emperor Hadrian to build a wall separating the wild northern region. Hadrian's wall officially marked the "end of the world" and no Roman dared venture north of the wall.
After being injured in defense of his garrison Marcus is given the honor of Rome...and a discharge from the Legion. While recovering from his injuries with his uncle (played by Donald Sutherland) he saves the life of slave Esca (Jamie Bell...my my Billie Elliott has grown up!). Esca is then bound by slavery, and honor, to Marcus.
When word comes that The Eagle has been spotted north of the wall Marcus and Esca head off to recover the symbol of Rome and Marcus' family name.
It's a story of friendship, honor and courage. Your typical Roman fare. Strangely there were no orgies! But, I digress....
Over all the acting and story are good. Channing Tatum is slowing becoming one of my favorite actors. Fighting, GI Joe a short turn in Public Enemies were all good...wasn't much of a fan of Step Up, but that's just me.
Now I said that the film falls into the trappings of other Roman Legion films. Mainly there are three issues that see to plague all movies about the Roman Legion...and Rome in general.
1) What accent is that? -- Usually you get a bunch of British and American actors and they just do their thing. That's fine. But, from time to time you get this strange quasi-accent. It's not British, it's not American, it's not Irish....it's just distracting. That seemed to be where Channing was going at the start, but it got straightened out early on!
2) The soft focus! -- Not sure why almost every director of a film on the Legion and or Rome seem to use the soft focus. It's like everyone needs to think that some of the scenes are a dream! It's not a dream, it's a movie, we are smarter than you think...take the Vaseline off the lens.
3) Fields of wheat. -- Since Gladiator it seems like there is always one shot of a Roman walking through or standing near a flowing field of wheat. Pretty sure there was only one shot...near a field in The Eagle. But, I'm pretty sure there was a shot.
None of these are deal breakers. Seriously, I just laughed for a second and moved on with the movie. But, it stuck in my head.
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