Review of Hercules (2014) by Couchlicker — 28 Jul 2014

This movie is filled with moments where you think "I have seen this done better in ____.".

The sword and sandal movies have started to rebirth after the popularity of shows like "Spartacus" and "Game of Thrones" and it's no surprise that screenwriters are turning to easy topics to turn into quick profit. Sadly "Hercules" falls into that category.

By no means is this movie BAD but it isn't an excuse to call it Good simply because it could be worse. I am completely on board with the whole realistic take on Hercules and having his deeds be what becomes the spoken legend of the man, but the movie have trouble deciding if Hercules is actually a demi-god or simply a really tough man.

We see him get hit by arrows, cut, stabbed, thrown, beaten, yet in the final confrontation, he has little to no signs of any physical pain. He hits his enemies over 20ft OFF their own horse and can kick a large wooden object a few yards at a high enough velocity to knock someone out.

This movie would've been amazing if they focused on his Trials and kept the realistic (non demi-god) aspect to it rather than a Braveheart meet Spartacus ripoff with a (predictable) twist of them turning against him.

I feel like they had an AMAZING cast choice with Dwayne Johnson, but if they would've stuck to a concept, and provided more of a story than Hercules overcoming a random army that he in turn trained, it could've been a memorable movie.