Title: Centurion (15)
Year: 2010
Running Time: 93 minutes
Director: Neil Marshall
Cast: Michael Fassbender (Centurion Quintus Dias), Dominic West (General Titus Flavius Virilus), Olga Kurylenko (Etain)
Notes: Nominated for one award.
Rating: 9
Thoughts: A group of Roman soldiers must fight to survive behind enemy lines after their Legion is wiped out.
There is no mistaking this is a very violent film and you have to wonder what you need to do to get an 18 these days. But there is no joke laden hacking, instead this captures the raw brutality of the age.
It's a chase movie really as the Romans are pursued by a native band of warriors. It starts with the mass attack on the Legion which is very well done, with the sense of close-quarters post-ambush battle feeling very real.
Then the chase is interrupted by occasional fighting and inner conflict. It's all lit in a moody and almost miserably bleak way. Then the fights are fast and furious, dramatic changes of pace that really entertain.
Fassbender is assured and the supporting cast is strong.
The story plays out how you might expect, including an utterly obvious twist at the end, but it is all well done.
I did find the last main battle a bit daft at times as they all seemed to just accept death and fight with no real tactical nous, but that's one of the few real issues.
It's dark, moody, violent and generally entertaining.
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