I’m a huge sucker for action, adventure films with a bit of comedy thrown in, some whit and a decent selection of cast members. When I heard that Hercules was coming to cinemas staring Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson I wasn’t too sure I’d even get a couple of these points from this film. In fact, I wasn’t expecting anything big to come from this movie, apart from Johnson’s ever growing muscles of course, and from the advertisements I gathered this film would be cliché and unoriginal. Let this be a lesson to everyone, especially myself, not to ever judge a book by its cover, or in this case a film by its poster.
Hercules is a film that questions who the legend actually is which includes his band of heroes that follows and fights with him. Most tales about this demi-god is usually about the son of Zeus fighting mythical creatures with his great strength. This film is more about Hercules inspiring and leading great wars against fearless armies. His crew is made up of various fighters, an archer, a wild mute beast like brawler, a prophet gifted with seeing the future and even Hercules’ nephew who isn’t much of a fighter but tells the stories of his uncle’s mythologies.
Haunted by nightmare of his family’s death Hercules becomes the fearless hero that strives to do what’s right so that the innocent wouldn’t be hurt no more. But when he and his team are offered a chance to working for a bigger bounty than normal the blurred lines between working as mercenaries and keeping a good morality gets them into trouble. The film is built up of epic scaled battles that doesn’t skimp on the over the top action that is pretty blood thirsty. I’ve been let down in the past with similar films of such genre with the directors not thinking it’s necessary to show the details of war from start to finish. It’s great to see in Hercules the anticipation before war leading to the initiation, then the waves of combat right before the victory.
I was impressed to see a few British actors in the film including Ian McShane who provided most of the whit and several hilarious moments as well as John Hurt playing a Lord which he did a fantastic job with. Dwayne Johnson has always continued to impress me with his on screen persona. He knows what works to be a believable actor and playing the mighty Hercules fits better than any glove. Director Brett Ratner, known for X-Men: The Last Stand and the Rush Hour films did an incredible job with this film especially as the story is a different approach to the legend.
I’d be recommending this film as I feel that the trailer and adverts doesn’t do the film any justice. Seeing a story about a legend through the eyes of a different director, taking a different approach to the mythology and tying it together in a brutal bow made from swords, arrows and the beheaded heads of mythical creatures, Hercules is one to watch. If you’re a fan of Dwayne Johnson, Greek mythology, Hercules or even just fancy a tongue in cheek film with a bit of brutality here and there then this is a film for you.
UPDATE: Hercules is now available on both DVD and Blu-ray.
Here is the trailer:
