Centurion

Thriller

Hopscotch Entertainment

R4 DVD

It is AD 117 and the Romans control much of the known world. In northern Britain they have been stopped by the brutal local tribes called the Picts, who have just attacked and destroyed one of the Roman outpost forts. The only survivor is Quintus Dias who is ordered back to the main Roman camp at York to tell them what happened. The Ninth Legion marches north under General Virilus. Quintus goes with them with a Pict defector girl warrior, Etain, as scout.

The story here closely parallels the events in the Germania forest when an inept Roman leader, Varus, led two legions into an ambush. Varus also was led by a German he regarded as Romanised and therefore trustworthy. He was wrong.

The Ninth Legion is led by Etain straight into a Pict ambush. Few soldiers escape. General Virilus is captured. When Quintus leads an abortive rescue attempt the Chief’s son is killed and the Picts chase the survivors intent on revenge. Etain is among them.

Quintus’ little group is picked off one by one, and the survivors will face treachery from their own people if they can make it back to their lines.

Centurion is a great story, well presented and well acted. It is one of the new crop of Eurofilms that uses the skills, scenery and production crews of a number of countries to achieve a great result. There are good actors and crew behind this film. It was directed by Neil Marshall, whose Dog Soldiers is, I think, the best werewolf film ever made. Relative newcomer actor Michael Fassbender (impressive in Inglourious Basterds) is a very promising actor and we will see a lot more of him. Perhaps the star billing should go to Olga Kurylenko as Etain. Kurylenko is a Ukrainian model-turned-actress now working from France, so hopefully we will much more of her too. Her wild and surly good looks added more to the picture than the compulsory female interest usually does, and she makes the most of her major part of a strong warrior woman.

All in all Centurion is a very satisfying film with good action and good acting, set in beautiful scenery. What more could you want?

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