Review of Centurion (2010) by Kevin L — 10 Feb 2011

"Centurion" is a film about the legendary Ninth Legion of the Roman army and is set during their long, violent war with the Pict tribesmen in the Scottish Highlands. Michael Fassbender plays Quintus Dias who joins up with a general and his legion who have been dispatched to help end the Pict threat. After a bloody ambush, the general is captured and Dias leads a handful of surviving soldiers on a mission to save him. As tides turn, they become the hunted and must make their way out of the hostile territories.

"Centurion" is a gritty and violent action-packed thrill ride. Director Neil Marshall doesn't let up on the bloodshed or brutality. It works in conveying the gruesome nature of that period's combat but in some scenes it's ridiculously over-the-top. Fassbender and Dominic West, who worked together in "300", once again give tough, gritty performances. I was also impressed with the detailed costume design, expansive countryside camera shots, and the furious but steady pace of the film.

"Centurion" only has a couple of negatives, the excessive blood and a few pointless and out of place expletives. Other than that the film looks and feels great. It becomes a frantic tale of survival and the movie does a great job of keeping the viewer interested and invested.