Monday, November 2, 2020

By the Gods!

Kit Harington in POMPEII (2014) 

Does anyone like this movie? Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson, it's not that different than one of those low budgeted movies made by Asylum. Almost everything about it comes across as fake or forced. It's only 97 minutes long and the destruction scene at the end take a third of that runtime (over 30 minutes...). I'm not a fan of it. It's like a parody of PEPLUM movies. Harrignton is mainly known for being in GAMES OF THRONE TV series and this was the first movie project he decided to make. Big mistake. The movie didn't last long at movie theatres.

The special effects are, for the most part, quite obvious. When there's a scene with special effects the scene usually lasts longer than a couple of seconds, which is what this movie is edited like throughout: a non-stop barrage of quick edits. 

8 comments:

orsh549 said...

I thought this movie really STUNK. I couldn't even get 1/2 way through it. In my opinion the backers of this movie must of been from Asylum.

Scott Ochiltree said...


I fully agree that this film was a major disappointment.

Anonymous said...

The dark costume reminds me of medieval Europe like Game Of Thrones than Ancient Greco/Roman. Is that more realistic? Idk but I prefer the colourful (sexy) costumes in the 60s Peplum films ofcourse :)

Anonymous said...

Graham Sumner wrote.

This film seems to be a classic example of some people who really care about their job trying to do something exceptional, educational and entertaining to appeal to an audience versus others who want to rehash every cliche and stereotype because they wrongly believe that is what the audience expect and which will therefore make the most money. Unfortunately with Roman period set movies it is usually the latter who get their way and this is also sadly coupled with lazy research and writing.

In the beginning of this film we get a great overview of Roman London where someone in the effects department obviously went to a great deal of effort to make it as accurate as possible, however we then immediately see gladiators fighting in a bear pit. What happened to London's own amphitheatre?

Later we get street scenes in Pompeii which are spine tingling in their accuracy immediately followed by the awful costumes worn throughout by all the leading actors, in particular Sutherland and Harrington.

Roman costume was actually quite conservative at this period and no Senator would wear armour practically at all times. However like many other aspects the production team borrowed that idea from 'Gladiator' rather than actual Roman sources.

PEPLUM TV said...

Graham, thanks for your input. It's funny but while watching the movie and examining the costumes and gear (since there's nothing much else to do...), I was wondering what Graham would think about it all. Thanks for not disappointing me.

Orsh, great minds think alike.

Anonymous said...

I am with you Graham Sumner. I even spotted a bust of Hadrian!

Anonymous said...

Graham Sumner wrote:

Well spotted.

That happens quite a lot. I think busts of Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius appear in the 1953 version of 'Julius Caesar'.

Evidence of time travel in ancient Rome.

Anonymous said...

It takes a lot for me to dislike a peplum (even modern ones). And I did dislike this one. It's lazy and uninteresting.