POMPEII
UK, 2014, 106 minutes, Colour.
Kit Harrington, Carrie- Anne Moss, Emily Browning, Kiefer Sutherland, Jared Harris, Jessica Lucas.
Directed by Paul W. S. Anderson.
Most audiences know that the city of Pompeii was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D.
Which probably means that audiences who go to see Pompeii will want to see the eruption and its consequences. They will not be disappointed because the special effects are quite special, and the sequence goes on for over 30 minutes. During the film, there are several overhead shots of what is brewing in the volcano, followed by various tremors, then the molten fire and lava are thrown into the air and then come down the mountainside – while there is quite an amount of ash, the main special effects are many, many fireballs which rain down on the city, on the people, on the harbour, on ships with people trying to escape the disaster not. As disaster movies go, this part of the film is quite effective.
But there is a whole story prior to the eruption. Audiences who have seen Spartacus as well as Gladiator will recognise a great number of similarities in Pompeii. Actually, it opens in northern Brittania with a Celtic people, experts in horsemanship, brutally conquered by the Romans under the leadership of the later Senator Corvus, played with laid-on arrogance and venom by Kiefer Sutherland. A young boy survives the massacre of the whole privilege and of his parents, only to be captured and taken to Londinium (explained as the capital of Brittania) where he trained as a gladiator, impressing a local authority (who looks a little like Frank Thring and gives a Thringinsh performance) who takes him to Italy, and to Pompeii.
The gladiator, Milo, is played by Kit Harrington, not well-known on the big screen, but with a huge reputation as one of the key stars of television’s Game of Thrones. Pompeii may not be the answer to his big-screen ambitions, but will get him noticed, although he has to play a rather humourless role, bent on revenge, skilled at fighting as a gladiator, but a bit solid and stolid nonetheless. On his way to Pompeii, he has the opportunity to stand out, when Cassia (Emily Browning) is travelling in the carriage back from Rome and her horse stumbles and he is able to put it out of its misery. She is fascinated and attracted, though the soldiers in charge of gladiators are certainly not.
Cassia’s parents, played by Carrie Anne Moss and Jared Harris, are interested in development of the city of Pompeii and are relying on the intervention of the now Senator Corvus, who has set his lascivious eye on Cassia. The ground is set for confrontations, gladiatorial fights, brutal treatment by the Senator. In the cells under the arena, Milo encounters and African champion gladiator (Adewale Akinnuoye Agbaje) who is about to get his freedom after his last fight. Milo warns him that this will not be the case and in the arena, when all the gladiators have to fight Roman soldiers, they see that this is the truth. Milo and Atticus defeat all the soldiers and are appreciated by the sadistic crowd. Cassia gives a thumbs up and is able to save their lives.
While the film does get complicated, the complications are different because of the eruption and the wilful and brutal behaviour of the Senator. And we’re back at the eruption and, as many have pointed out, an ending which owes great deal to the end of Titanic!
This is a kind of film that it is easy to turn up one’s nose at. its director is best known for making the Resident Evil series which is a recommendation only for horror fantasy fans. But, despite all this, this reviewer rather enjoyed Pompeii.
1. The destruction of Pompeii as a familiar story? The eruption, Vesuvius? The results? The images of the ashen bodies in the street? The destruction of the city? The historical background? Audience interest in seeing the destruction of Pompeii? The special effects?
2. A gladiator story, the cells, practice and bouts, forced marches, the treatment by the soldiers, the plans for fights, practices? Gladiators expecting to die, the salute from those about to die? Friends and enemies amongst the gladiators? The gladiators available for the women to choose them for the night?
3. Production values, northern Brittania, forests, the city of Londinium, the Roman roads, Pompeii the city, the overviews of the city and Vesuvius? The streets, homes, the arena, the harbour? The quality of the production? The musical score?
4. Dialogue, serviceable for this kind of film? The performances – all very serious, even stolid? This kind of film in the sword and sandal tradition, the 21st century?
5. The introduction in Brittania, war, the Romans, the conquest, the Celtic tribe and horsemanship? The lining up of the victims, their being slain? The role of Corvus and Proculus? Milo to be dead of in the corpses, emerging? Wandering the forest, his being captured?
6. 17 years later, Milo fighting as a gladiator, the entrepreneur and his assistant, the idea of taking him to Rome, trip to Italy, the road to Pompeii, the cells, the gladiators, the practice, prospects?
7. Cassia the carriage, the horse falling, Milo offering to help, putting the horse out of its misery?
8. Cassia, her dislike of Rome, the revelation later on the behaviour of Corvus? Her parents, her maid, the attraction to Milo?
9. Senator Corvus and his business interests, his relationship with the Emperor, plans for the development of the city, Cassia’s parents and their investment? The banquet, the Senator and his eyes on Cassia, his bargaining with the parents?
10. Milo and Atticus, together in the cell, initial enemies, admiration at practice, each commenting on the other’s technique, bond? In the market for the women?
11. The rumbles quakes, the aerial shots of Vesuvius and the lava?
12. The Senator, organising the gladiators to fight the soldiers, the gladiators winning? The response of the public? His concern about public opinion? Sitting Cassia with him, her giving the thumbs up and the crowd following?
13. The entrepreneur of the gladiators, his being aware of what was happening, going to the harbour, getting the boats, bribing the captain, the fireball destroying the boat?
14. Vesuvius, the people fleeing, the eruption, love, clash, fireballs, hitting the buildings, people, the harbour, the ships?
15. The Senator and his escape, taking Milo, taking Cassia, tied to the chariot? The final confrontation? His death?
16. Atticus, helping the mother and child, his kindness the ship, telling Milo and Cassia to go on, confronting Proculus, the build-up to duel between them,
taking off the armour, the broken sword, Proculus dead? Atticus killed by the eruption?
17. Milo and Cassia escaping, the smoke, their embracing and kissing? Overwhelmed in their death?
18. The opening with the bodies, the ending, the bodies of Milo and Cassia?
