Stars: 2 1/2
Movie: Pompeii
Release date: Feb. 21, 2014
Genre: Action/Adventure, Drama
Director: Paul W. S. Anderson
Writers: Janet Scott Batchler, Lee Batchler, and Michael Robert Johnson
Starring: Kit Harington, Carrie-anne Moss, Emily Browning, Jessica Lucas, Kiefer Sutherland, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Synopsis: The movie begins as a young celtic boy watches his family be murdered by the Romans.These killers then kidnap him and he is forced to be a slave and fight as a gladiator. The Romans travel to the city of Pompeii in Italy for the games and for Rome’s senator and Pompeii’s merchant to make a deal to expand and build a new arena.
While there, the slave/gladiator falls in love with the daughter of the merchant, but she is betrothed to the Roman senator. The gladiator relives his childhood days in the arena when the Romans reenact the fight and killing of his celtic tribe.
While these games are happening, Mount Vesuvius beings to erupt. As the volcano is erupting the slave turned gladiator tries to save the girl he fell in love with, while fighting the Roman senator.
Direction: Known for his other films Resident Evil, AVP: Alien vs. Predator, and The Three Musketeers, Paul W. S. Anderson does not let the audience down in terms of visual effects. The variety of angles through the movie provides a better understanding where the story is actually taking place, from the volcano to the harbor.
Anderson made the right choice by focusing on the main characters of the story during some really amazing fight scenes, but lacked on the volcano. The volcano did not finally erupt until almost an hour into the movie, and even then, it was somewhat of a disappointment. The best thing the director orchestrated were the battles of the gladiators.
Acting: The acting was mediocre at best. Kit Harington (Milo) reminds you of an Orlando Bloom, meaning that he does not show much emotion, but is nice to look at. Being the main character, one would think that he would portray strong emotions. Love, hurt, pain and excitement should have flowed from his character better than it did.
Emily Browning’s (Cassia) acting was not much better. The bravery of her true love fighting for her affection and rescuing her should invoke tears, smiles and despair. It was hard to tell which feeling she was trying to portray.
The best acting was done by Kiefer Sutherland (Corvus) who played his cynical part very well.
Writing: When it came to the storyline for the main character, Milo, the story of slave and gladiator was compelling. However, when it came to the love story, it lacked. It was like the Titanic, where the “poor” boy falls for the girl with money, meets Day After Tomorrow where the boy rescues his love in a natural tragedy.
The dialogue was full of painful puns and even in the end it felt like the writers ripped off AC/DC by having one of the characters say, “For those about to die, we salute you.” There were a few laughable moments in the movie, but very few.
Last remarks: The movie was great when it came to fighting. The visual effects were great, except for the volcano. When you think of an erupting volcano, you think lava, and it lacked it, A LOT! That was a big disappointment in my book.
The story line would have been better without the love interest, but it was ok. The opening night there were a total of eight people in the theatre, myself included, and I can understand why.
The movie was not a bad movie, but it also was not good. It was just blah.
The movie ends uneventfully with the two standing there, kissing, getting swallowed up by the volcanoes vomit.
