The Eagle
Screen Rant ’s Sandy Schaefer reviewsThe Eagle
The Eagleis quite simply one of the more tepid brand & sandal dangerous undertaking to grace the silver grey screen in modern times . While other , late accounting entry in the musical genre have thrived on unmixed bloody spectacle and emotional tucket , this is a flick that favour humour and atmosphere over visceral natural process .
Ultimately the picture falls flat because it lacks the substance to satisfy as an arthouse dramatic event , and is far too muddle in social organisation and pace to offer those in the humor for some mindless force much rush for their sawbuck .
Rosemary Sutcliff ’s historical adventure novel , " The Eagle of the Ninth " is the basis for this story , which takes lieu in Roman - rule Britain circa 140 AD . The opening text ofThe Eaglereveals that some twenty years prior , the Ninth Legion of Rome , led by Flavius Aquila ( Magyar worker Aladár Laklóth ) , vanish mysteriously in the unmapped highland of Caledonia , and with them vanished a precious symbol of honor - a golden emblem in the form of a magnificent bird of Jove .
The film then enter its protagonist to be one Marcus Aquila ( Channing Tatum ) , son of Flavius and a young centurion himself , who has been assigned to overtop a post near the fringe of Roman territory . There Marcus raise himself to be a more than competent general , ably lead his troop against an invading army and even take chances his own life by charging down a camp of armored chariot so as to buy more time for his fellow soldiers to withdraw to safety . Marcus ultimately suffer some severe and enfeeble combat injury for his effort , which pull in him respect in the eye of his superordinate - along with an honorable sack , as he is no longer fit for avail .
Disenchanted by his destiny , Marcus is left in the care of his uncle ( Donald Sutherland ) and eventually acquires a body striver in the form of Esca ( Jamie Bell ) , a Brit spared a gruesome death in the prizefighter domain at Marcus ' behest . When he is inform by the Legate Claudius ( Dakin Matthews ) of rumors that the Ninth Legion ’s prized emblem has been seen recently , Marcus recruits the inscrutable Esca to intersect over Hadrian ’s Wall and into Caledonia so as to recapture the Eagle and restore honor to his family ’s name .
The Eaglestarts off at a lively pace for the first half hour or so , but slow down well and neglect to beak up again until the last twenty minutes . There are abbreviated instant of fight peppered throughout the moving picture , but most of the natural process is restricted to the possible action human activity and a small battle that answer as the culmination . That would n’t be a problem if the rest of the running time was devoted to develop and fleshing out the film ’s quality and themes , but it fails to do that - and ultimately gives the interview little reason to wish about the bond constitute between Marcus and Esca or believe the implications of their strong beliefs about the true significance and value of honor .
Neither Tatum or Bell categorical out embarrass themselves with their carrying into action , but they do fail to bring any sensory faculty of depth , personal appeal , or really even personality to their characters . The few fit that want either actor to convey an emotion other than stoicism or muted foiling only do n’t form and fail to be particularly moving . Even as the flick endeavor to convince us that Marcus and Esca are developing a stronger sense of common respect and brotherly beloved for one another , it ’s never really seems apparent or even remotely believable . Tatum and Bell just seem to be roll with the punches , more than anything .
WhereThe Eagledoes stand out is in its ability to capture the feel and tone of life in its ancient creation circumstance . The picture show was shot on localisation in Scotland and Hungary , and while conductor Kevin Macdonald does n’t always take full advantage of his surroundings , he does deliver some beautiful landscape visuals full of hazy mountains , steely rivers , and Natalie Wood that array from luminous and prolific to chilling and waste .
The Eagle, directed by Kevin Macdonald, is an epic historical adventure set in 140 AD. The film follows a young Roman officer, Marcus Aquila, played by Channing Tatum, as he ventures into the perilous terrain of ancient Britain to recover the lost Roman Ninth Legion’s golden emblem. Accompanied by his British slave Esca, portrayed by Jamie Bell, Marcus confronts tribal chieftains and treacherous landscapes in his quest to restore his father’s honor.
Props should also go out to the output and set design department , since they do an splendid occupation of ca-ca everything from the chipped walls of the papistical computer architecture to the logarithm - free-base fort that Marcus preside over in the first turn experience all the more real and textural . The costume and makeup team merit credit entry as well , since they generally did an excellent line of making the film ’s character also look all the more veridical and authentic - with the exceptions of Tatum and Bell , who frankly look more like Calvin Klein models with bits of clay and pedigree on occasion smeared on their faces than anything else .
The smattering of action at law chronological sequence in the movie are a minute underwhelming , since they tend to be too in darkness lit and chaotically fool away . Macdonald decided to apply a lot of handicam motion-picture photography in these view and while they ’re neither excessively shaky or over - edited , the fact remains that everything is shot at too penny-pinching a space , so it ’s often unmanageable to pick out one eccentric from another . The leave clutter of steel , buckler , clubs , axes , and limbs is unlikely to induce too many cephalalgia , but it ’s not specially rent either .
While Macdonald has worked in the thriller genre before and has prove himself capable of creating suspense , he ’s probably not very comfortable plow legal action and it shows here . The end final result is thatThe Eagleends up featuring only a few action sequences that are only adequate in design , but lack the punch that some moviegoers will be looking for ( that it ’s Rated PG-13 wo n’t help , either ) . Those attempt a more thought - harass tale of ancient Romans will find it all to be a spot ho - hum as well , since there ’s not much gist to the story , beyond what ’s apparent on the surface .
To sum it all up : The Eagleis neither specially good nor terrible . Mostly , it ’s just kind of … there .
retard out the official theatrical preview forThe Eaglebelow :
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