Review of Pompeii (2014) by Thomas W — 03 Jun 2014

Once again we get the tired and worn-out "romance on the eve of epic tragedy" storyline we have seen before with Titanic, Pearl Harbor etc. The storyline is put to use again in Pompeii, a new film by Paul W.

S. Anderson (Resident Evil), that is set in 79 A.D. in the thriving Italian city of Pompeii situated on the base of Mt. Vesuvius. Pompeii centers on a slave gladiator named Milo (Kit Harrington - 'Game of Thrones") who falls in love with the beautiful Cassia (Emily Browning - Sleeping Beauty), who happens to belong to the wealthy gentry of Pompeii but who has also caught the (unfortunately) roaming eye of a Roman Senator named Corvus (Keifer Sutherland - Melancholia).

The insufferable Corvus demands Cassia's hand in marriage ... and Milo and her disappointed parents (Jared Harris [Sherlock Holmes 2] / Carrie-Anne Moss [The Matrix]) can do little but fret because the volcano is set to explode! Yep .

.. there were few life worries before this day! The story here is as generic as they get and Anderson is pretty certain the only thing that really matters is that Vesuvius erupts. While many liberties were taken with what actually happened (not to mention Pompeii was NOT a coastal city!), movie-watchers do get a disaster! Some of the spectacle is nicely done and fun to watch (it goes well with popcorn) but nothing is spectacular.

I was hoping that there would be something here that I could guiltily enjoy (as I have always had a fascination with the city and tragedy); but alas ... there is nothing here I'd readily re-visit.

Sigh.