Review of Centurion (2010) by Jonathan B — 08 Apr 2011

Viscerally violent, perhaps to an unnecessarily degree, Centurion tells the tale of the 'lost ' 9th legion, sent into the wilds of Scotland to whip the ass of the Picts. The campaign doesn't go well and the sorry handful of survivors seem to spend most of the film running across particularly bleak and miserable looking parts of the highlands.

This film doesn't have the scope or spectacle of Gladiator, it is a much smaller and more intense movie, being gritty and a bit rough around the edges. It is however an interesting and entertaining take on the more run-of-the-mill sand and sandals adventure, being more mud and marathon.

Michael Fassbender, David Morrissey and Liam Cunningham are a strong trio of lead actors and Neil Marshall directs with his usual frenetic energy but the script leaves a lot to be desired and there is hardly any attempt at character development.

This leaves the movie lacking a little in substance, feeling almost like some sort of unsophisticated roller coaster ride, making it difficult for the viewer to fully empathise with the desperate plight of the characters.

Probably not a movie that would stand repeated viewing, it does at least wear it's heart on it's sleeve. What you see is what you get. Ninety minutes of fast paced blood and guts action to entertain the lads.