Centurion‘s cast has much to boast.  Michael Fassbender plays the lead, a Roman soldierr named Quintus Dias.  As a soldier of Rome, he’s attempting to conquer the lands to the north of the empire (in what is now Scotland) from a feral and brutal people called Picts, when his battalion is destroyed.  He escapes and is rescued by another group of Romans, led by General Titus Flavius Virilus (Dominic West), who is leading his own campaign against the savages. They are led by mute Pict who has supernatural tracking skills, played by Olga Kurylenko. Flavius’s 3,000 men are all but killed, and eight of them, including Quintus are left hundreds of miles behind enemy line and spent the rest of the film trying to return home safely.

Marshall spends no time at all getting to the much buzzed about gore. Any sort of medieval, brutal violence you can think of, Marshall found a way to fit it in. In fact, there is so much focus on getting to the blood, that when the film should have been focusing on developing his characters, he was figuring out how to get the biggest splatter pattern. Which is certainly a shame when you have someone as talented as Fassbender leading your cast.

It’s not all bad though. There are some fairly well choreographed fight scenes that keep the tension at an enjoyable level. Kurylenko, who was as entertaining as a wet blanket in Quantum of Solace, found her niche as a well talented actress, as long as she doesn’t speak. I found myself concerned about at least three of the final eight Romans, and they turned out to be the central in the plot, which was satisfying as the film winds down to a satisfying end, even if it is only on a superficial macho level.

Marshall couldn’t help but get political in a war film, even if it does take place in 117AD. Marshall warns, as if he is the only one who gets it, that invading a smaller local population could potentionally be dangerous, as the offense may not be prepared for new conditions, and new enemies. Yes, this part is boring, and it makes me wish he spent the thought he put into that message (and the violence), into making Centurion a bit better, a bit closer to the quality of The Descent. But he didn’t. So we’re left with this finished product that is just okay, when it could have been better. Sandal and sword fans will enjoy more than the rest of us.

2.5 out of 4 stars

The movie begins right where Casino Royale left off.  Bond is still terribly wounded after the betrayal of his Vesper, and despite a promise to M (Judi Dench, who is near perfect as always), can’t help but make everything intensely personal.  He’s paired up with Ukrainian cry-baby Camille (a lame Olga Kurylenko, who should stick with movies like Max Payne which suit her talents better) who has little, to no character development, or real reason to be in the film.  The two are completely on their own against a huge, international conglomerate posing as an environmentally concerned NGO that the superpowers of the world are helpless against, mostly because of their ignorance.  Revealing any more to the plot would require spoilers.

It seems that since Forster has spent most his time working on tender, character-based pieces, he went balls out, throwing in as many explosions, fight scenes, and rooftop jumps as he could, to compensate for his lack of experience in the genre.  It’s entertaining to watch and will get your attention, but seems a little too familiar, as this Bond has taken pretty much all his cues from the Bourne series.  This is true, even though the same three guys: Neal Purvis, Robert Wade, and Paul Haggis co-wrote the script to both Quantum and Royale (a script which shares nothing except a title in common with Ian Fleming’s short story).  Lowbrow characterizations replaced the intriguing character developments that Royale provided.  And call me prideful, but the ignorant American government official is not a character I’m entertained by, or interested in  watching (Ridley Scott wore me out with Body of Lies).  Every time Vesper’s named is mentioned, I found myself longing for Bond’s last adventure, where I actually cared about the characters.  On the other hand, Daniel Craig once again excels as the ripped, emotionally deep, bad ass guy we met last time.  I think the Broccoli family could have done no better choosing a Bond to reinvigorate the series.  I’d follow Craig to the ends of the earth.  All complaints aside, Quantum of Solace is a thrilling ride that won’t leave you unsatisfied on the action end.  And who could really expect a better Bond movie than Royale?

2.5 out of 4 stars

Rottentomatoes: 67% – Cream of the Crop: 35%

Max Payne is a hard ass detective, hardened by the murder of his perfect wife, and beautiful new born baby. That’s really all the background we’re given, two lines of dialogue. So don’t expect to really care what happens to this guy. Payne spends his days clerking on cold case files at his precinct, but spends his night as a vigilante dressed in black. Finding the seediest members of society to ask them questions, to track down the killer that murdered his family. It’s then that he comes in contact with a Russian junkie, Natasha (played by Olga Kurylenko, the bond girl in the upcoming Quantum of Solace). We’re also introduced to her crazy sister Mona (Mila Kunis, with one of the worst Russian accents since Sean Connery in The Hunt for Red October). Natasha ends up getting herself murdered after she stoles Payne’s wallet, and then Payne and Mona join forces to track down the person they think killed both their family members. Oh, and there’s some sort of drug out there that is left over from a military experiment that makes people super strong, aggressive, and evil. Original, eh?

The film was shot very stylistically, with a washed out grey pallet most of the time. Think Sin City, or 300 but not as well done. Neither Wahlberg, nor Kunis is believable in their parts, as everything they seem to do is humorous. This film is directed by John Moore. The script from first time writer Beau Thorne is laughable as well. There’s serious logistical issues (I know this is based on a video game, but Max gets shot from close range with a shot gun, and he just walks it off…). Mostly, I just wanted this movie to be over about 20 minutes in. This might be worse than Hitman. Who would have thought that Tomb Raider would be one of the better video game adaptations?

0.5 out of 4 stars

Rottentomatoes.com: 18% - Cream of the Crop: 5%