Jenna Walter
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
Quiet Muffin
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
Sarita Rafferty
There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.
dsmith300
I could forgive the bad history for the sake of the excellent cast. However the constantly whining background music found me cringing after half an hour or so, and wishing the director had opted for background silence. Movie music is supposed to heighten the drama without becoming intrusive. In this case I'm afraid there was very limited correlation between action and the music, which became monotonous after a very short time. I was persuaded to watch the movie by a cast list I respected. Mainly I was hopeful the plot would enhance my understanding of one of my favorite historical periods, and I was looking for a different perspective to that offered by Shakespeare, GB Shaw, to some degree Robert Graves and even Mankiewicz in his movie Cleopatra. Historically there is very little correlation between what I understand to be the facts of this period of Roman history, and the fantasy portrayed in the movie. Given that discrepancy, I would only recommend this as a historical fantasy. If you can stand the music, you can perhaps accept it on those terms.
penarthkate
I missed the first bit and may watch the final instalment just for the masochistic amusement of seeing Roman history so utterly perverted. I am a Roman historian and have to say that anyone watching this will learn nothing of Roman history, culture, society or fashion if they wanted to. I thought the Peter O'Toole Augustus was rather awful but this is just s**t and it's perfectly clear that the producers didn't bother with historical advisers. I guess I'm pleased that some people watching this enjoyed it and it might spark their interest in learning something true about Rome, but the story's so good anyway that it didn't need someone making up history. Buena Vista presents this mini-series as the rise of Octavian / Augustus. Get them under the trades description act then...
harry3
This was a waste of time. It was not even accurate. Augustus never planned to stay in office he always planned to go back to private life and leave Rome a republic. The makers of this film should be driven out Hollywood. Augustus left Tiberius his personal estate not the empire. He never used the title Emperor. Why didn't the film makers make the film more accurate. When you watch Cleopatra with Elizabeth Taylor they followed History fairly well. These film makers should be taken out kicking and screaming place up against the wall and shot with paint balls. They are terrible film makers. They should of paid the studio not the studio pay them.
lolu93
After seeing the previews, I knew that this would be a keeper. Money well spent I say. The sets, the costumes, the fight scenes blew me away. The explosive cast offers a full spectrum, mixing into a joy to watch. After the first episode, I was hooked. In fact, by the first commercial I was hooked. Those who criticize it for its lack of historical accuracy are so far in scrutiny that they are unable to enjoy it for its entertainment value. The show happens to be very well made. The weakish ratings left me confused after watching Empire. This is not just another Gladiator. Its creativity in story shows the meaning of pioneer television. I commend the writers and producers for taking the creative freedom and inventing such interesting characters and plot twists. All in all, this is MUST SEE TV. Enjoy
