Movie Review: The Eagle

The Eagle 

Starring: Channing Tatum, Jamie Bell, Donald Sutherland, Mark Strong 

Director: Kevin Macdonald 

Focus Features, Film4, Duncan Kenworthy, UK, USA, Hungary, 2011.  

The movie is based on novel by Rosemary Sutcliff "The Eagle of the Ninth".

In the year AD 140 Marcus Flavius Aquila (Channing Tatum) is assigned to commander of Roman garrison in Britain. Twenty years before the 9th Legion was destroyed by attack of Northern tribes. Marcus' father served as commander of that legion and losing the eagle standard that symbolized Rome was shameful for the family. Marcus notices the slackness in the garrison and orders fortification.

Marcus Aquila arriving to his new post

Fun

At night Marcus hears some noise and alerts the soldiers. Celtic warriors try a surprise attack but thanks to Marcus the Romans successfully push back the attackers. In the morning the Celts gather in front of the garrison and start executing captured Romans. Marcus and his legion tries to free the prisoners successfully but Marcus is injured in the battle. Marcus is retired from the army due his injuries and sent to his uncle (Donald Sutherland) to heal.

Celtic warriors with captured Roman soldiers

Somebody's going to get hurt

Uncle Aquila

Marcus saves the live of a slave named Esca (Jamie Bell). Esca hates Romans but promises to serve Marcus because he saved his life. Marcus decides to clear the family name by getting the eagle standard back. Together with Esca he goes north of the Hadrian's wall. Marcus believes in the honour of military code. However Esca tells him about the crimes that the Roman soldiers do when raping women and stealing other people's land. The search takes them to the land of the Seal people.

Esca in the rain

Seal people warriors

Esca fighting Celts

Movie is an exciting Rome themed adventure with beautiful sceneries. This movie has a bit more realistic touch than usual Rome themed adventure films. Marcus and Esca are both men of honour, even if fulfilling their duty requires losing their lives. The battles are quite small scale skirmishes with some realistic Roman infantry tactics. The music is Celtic style folk music spiced with orchestral themes. At some point I began to think the movie as a spiritual sequel to Centurion.

Beautiful Scottish sceneries

Seal people using eagle in a ritual

Rating:Good