Last is Right!

Rating: 2/10 (22 March 2008)

When I heard about the newly released on DVD movie, "The Last Legion," a historical action drama with Colin Firth, Thomas Sangster, Aishwarya Rai, and Ben Kingsley, I just knew that it was going to be something that I would really love to see.
What I got was a hodge-podge of choppy clips that was more or less like re-enactors playing out a scene. From the very first "stunt" by Sangster's double, which was so obviously faked and not Sangster, to the more than apparent painting of the aqueducts and other scenes, it was a big disappointment.
Another problem with the film was timing. After watching and viewing it a couple of times, I turned on the Director's Comments on the DVD and found that they were working on a very tight budget, hot miserable weather and a lot of the cast was sick. I also learned that many of the grotesque scenes where the weapon connects with the body were cut in the American version.
I am a big fan of cutting extra violent scenes from the movie when the viewer can get the idea anyway; however, what I am not a big fan of is cutting the 1-or-2-second follow-thru shots that give closure to a scene. Example: When Mira goes down to the dock to acquire the boat they need for sailing to Capri. She reveals herself as a woman, visually seduces the boatman, and knocks him off the dock. There should have been a follow-up 1-2-second shot of the men again watching and their reaction to give the scene closure.
Another very confusing section of the story was why was Mira the aggressor in the "romance" with Aurelius? Why didn't he even seem interested? I learned from the Director's Comments that Aurelius was a widower. Nowhere in the entire movie was this clear, but if it had been, it would have cleared up their relationship. Although the story was primarily about Caesar, the boy, the clip illustrating the budding chemistry between Mira and Aurelius as they "practiced" fighting should have lasted longer than 60 seconds.
I was also extremely disappointed about the trip across Europe and the Alps toward Britannia. To the viewer, it looked like a hop-skip-and-a-jump, and needed a more powerful delivery of what they were enduring to reach the 9th Legion. Also, when Ben Kingsley fell to the ground to celebrate his homecoming to Britannia, why did the other characters just step over him and walk on? This was a scene that needed more time, plus a dingy probably should have been added to the dock, otherwise, how did they get to shore? Who and what was Vortgyn (Harry Van Gorkum) other than a tattoo artist with a bad attitude and facial problems? And I thought "Win one for the Gipper!" speeches were passé?
The almost final scene was also the final big disappointment. The death of the Goth who had killed Caesar's parents should have come more as a surprise, possibly with Aurelius falling to the ground and the kid piercing the bad guy after he falls. Aurelius' final shot should not have been him near dead and lying on the ground. If he was going to live, he should have been standing on his feet at the end and supported by his soon-to-be wife. The hero should always end standing!
There are just many different areas where I could point out where the viewer was left hanging, but it would take probably as long as the novel.
I understand if the director was suffering from budget problems and time restraints, however, I think that this picture which had great potential with such leading character actors could have been much better if it had been another hour. Why do something that will obviously not be remembered as very good if you can't do it right? The director and crew fell into another common error as many others do.It was apparent they were too close to their subject matter. The viewer doesn't know what is going on and their cutting confused the viewer on the complete story line which is completely unsatisfactory.
Have to give kudos to the performances of Colin Firth, Thomas Sangster, Aishwarya Rai, and Ben Kingsley and the other cast members. They did the best they could with the material they had, and the lack of foul language, sexual situations and blood squirting fifteen feet was a big plus for this movie.
One final line that will probably be remembered from this movie is after shortly destroying half of the Goth army single handedly, Aurelius tells Mira, "You are a fine warrior but careless!" You are not jealous are you, big guy?