I give this movie five stars although I did not like some details – but finally I simply did not have the heart to take one star for them. I liked this movie very much and many scenes are simply unforgettable.

The action is set in year 117 AD, in the country which today is called Scotland but which Romans named Caledonia. This harsh and inhospitable land was inhabited by tribes which Romans called first Caledonians and later Picts. Caledonia was the only part of main British island which was not controlled by Roman Empire and Caledonians/Picts resisted fiercely all attempts of conquest – and in fact, in Ist and IInd centuries, frequently attacked Roman part of the island. The movie describes an episode of those Pictish wars, although because of lack of precise sources, it is not exactly based on real events and the names of the main leaders (Roman general Virilus and Pictish king Gorlacon) are fictive.

To avoid spoilers I will not say much more about the plot – but please be aware that this is a very brutal and bloody movie, full of scenes of realistically described scenes of close quarters combat, but also of torture and murder. I believe this realism is ultimately an asset, but many people (and I think most women) will certainly find “Centurion” too shocking to watch. Under not circumstances children or younger teenagers should be allowed to see this movie – and I would in fact deeply recommend to restrict it only to those who are aged 18 years or more.

“Centurion” shows a great deal of incredibly beautiful images of nature in northern part of Scotland (especially Cairngorms mountains and Badenoch district), attempting to show how did it look in times when its population was still scarce and nature mostly remained wild and untouched, with wolves and deers more easily met than humans. The forest scenes were filmed in natural parks in England. Those settings alone are a good reason to see “Centurion” as they are simply impossible to describe – you simply must see them! For that reason also I would really recommend to watch it on the biggest possible screen.

Actors play well and the characters are interesting and well thought. Michael Fassbinder plays the main hero, centurion Quintus Dias, and his performance is very honest. However, two other actors steal the show from him: Dominic West and especially Olga Kurylenko.

Dominic West already showed how versatile actor he was playing the ambiguous character of detective McNulty in “The Wire” but also the abject Spartan politician Theron in “300″. Here he portrays the Roman general Virilus in another excellent performance. It was a pleasure to watch him.

But the REAL performance is that of Olga Kurylenko, who plays Etain, a silent, never smiling Briton tracker/scout who is working for Romans. Etain can not speak (when she was a child her tongue was cut off) but still, her character dominates the whole movie – and it is not only because of the great beauty of Ms Kurylenko, as she is mostly wrapped in furs and her face is partly hidden by blue war paintings. Really, I found this character fascinating and totally unforgettable and I am certain she will mark you too!

And finally a special mention for Imogen Poots, a very cute and absolutely lovely British actress who plays Pictish sorceress, Arian, and the gorgeous Belgian actress Axelle Carolyn (who is also the wife of the director of the movie, Neil Marshal), who plays Pictish female warrior, Aeron. This importance accorded to women is another point in favor of this movie. In Pictish society women were mostly equals of men and most of them were also warriors, to the point that some fought in battles carrying babies attached on their backs!

Now, the one thing I did not totally like in this movie is the flawed representation of the way in which roman legions marched, camped and especially fought. When watching “Centurion” you must inevitably ask the question “But how come those guys could conquer so many countries and build a three continent empire?” The answer is, those guys did not – but the real legions did, because they made war totally differently than pictured in this film. And this is a pity, because there clearly was an effort to stick to historical reality – like for example the fact that in this movie Roman soliders wear “lorica segmentata” armour, which in those times just replaced the previously used “lorica hamata” (chain mail). But the effort was not made when the tactics are described.

I will just focus on the biggest issue – fighting tactics. Roman regular infantry was so dangerous because it used a mixture of missile and close combat weapons. The enemy was first engaged with highly specialized heavy javelins, the “pilum”, of which every infantryman carried two: one lighter and one heavier. The lighter javelin was thrown first (because it had a longer range), then the heavier and then only the legion would close the ranks in a shield wall and engage the enemy with short but quite heavy Roman swords “gladius”. The important thing is that Roman swords were perfectly adapted for stabbing (with an upward thrust) but rather poorly suited for slashing. Or in “Centurion” NOT EVEN ONE “pilum” is thrown and in fact Roman soldiers do not even carry them. Instead all of them have classical long spears – which in reality would be used only by a small minority of eldest soldiers (whose arms were not so strong and their eyes not so good anymore) for protection against a possible cavalry charge. Also Roman soldiers slash wildly at their enemies with their short swords, without even trying to use them efficiently…

There is also the little point of a general who walks through hostile wild country without any flank guard, even if he has some nimble footed auxiliary light infantry suited for this task (one of the heroes, Leonidas, is after all a lightly equipped Greek slinger). And of course any such expedition should relay for all reconnaissance only on one indigenous tracker and two Roman cavalrymen, giving a total of three (yes, three!) horse riding scouts for the security of a whole army (the Ninth Legion and all its “auxillia”).

However, although I certainly did not like that part of the movie, all the rest was so good and made on me such a strong impression, that I simply couldn’t take one star off the rating. I loved this movie in cinema and I will certainly buy the DVD!

I got the chance to see this at a pre-release advance showing. I understand that the film was re-edited several times as the audience reaction from the advance showings were poor. I therefore can’t be sure that I have seen the final version that will make it to the Blu Ray/DVD release.

The film has an interesting premiss but somehow it doesn’t gel and does not live up to expectations I had. I’ve enjoyed Michael Fassbender in Band of Brothers and Inglorious Basterds and of course McNulty is a god. However, the script and screenplay massively lets these fine actors down.

I sincerely hope that one hackneyed scene with a carved pony is cut from the final version – it does nothing to enchance the story and is pointlessly sentimental.

I suspect that people will be drawn to this film because of the lead actors. Its a shame it doesn’t deliver what it promises at the start.

The only thing I cannot understand about this film is why on earth it didn’t get better publicity, marketing and a broader showing at Cinema’s! I had to grub around on the internet to find somewhere, where it was showing and had to drive over twenty miles to get there, when there is a perfectly good multi-screen Odeon in the local town. Like Moon another British film, Cinema’s let us down on the distribution.

The film starts with a man running/falling over a snowy mountain, hand’s tied clearly trying to escape from someone who is pursuing him. It then goes to a scene of relaxing Roman soldiers drinking and fighting with each other, before, the next day, they are sent North to sort out the rebelious barbarians.

It turns out that the running man is the survivor of an attack by the Picts (Scots locals) of a remote Roman Fort which is overan and destroyed and the Centurion captured.

The 9th Legion (the drinkers and fighters) are despatched into the snowy North determined to bring the locals to heel but their plans lay in ruins when the Picts ambush their column and all but kill every soldier except for a few survivors.

What follows is a race back to the border and to safety for the Romans and a chase by the Picts who are determined to kill each and every Roman after their tribal Chief’s son was killed by the invaders.

All in all this is a very underated, under sold, very well made, well acted, directed and produced film which provides one possible answer as to the fate of the 9th Legion. Where as Gladiator had all the Hollywood fluff and effects, Centurion has the down to earth grit and reality of how it would have been and is more realistic.

If you are interested in this period of time, Romans, Roman Britain, you will undoubtably enjoy this film and add it to your collection. There is lots of sword play and head lopping and a great deal of barbarity! Smashing!

I agree with the above review – this really is very good! Is has has everything you would want from an action film, plenty of battles, one on one combat,chases,tension and not to mention the beautiful Olga kurylenko(and let me tell you she really is impressive in her action scenes,apparently she did all her own stunts). Fassbender too is an impressive talent and carries the film really well as well as the other cast members who do an equally fine job.
There is some amazing cinematography too which shows in detail the vast and rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands,to me this was as much a part of the quality of the film as the characters were.
The only downside to the film is the script which was a bit clunky and could have done with a rework. All in all this is a chase movie that delivers really gritty watchable action scenes!
I will be buying this dvd as soon as it comes out!

This is one of those rare under the radar films that is just stunning! Good plot, excellent action, and stunning acting and performances! Just an absolutely must see, great film!!!

Why this wasn’t given more promotion/cinema time I will never know! But maybe it is all the more special for that?

I loved this film. Saw it twice during the one week run it had at my local Odeon. Appears to have been a flop, despite mainly positive reviews. I can only put this down to an almost non existent marketing campaign. I didn’t see one poster or one trailer for this without having to search specifically for it. By the time I had recommended it to friends who were then up for seeing it, it had stopped playing. Shame, as it is certainly worth seeing. Think ‘The Warriors’ but with Romans. You can see a very big ‘Warriors’ influence from the plot down to at least half the characters. I mean this in a positive way as The Warriors is a favourite of mine and Centurion compares very well. Great cast, David Morrissey is perhaps a little under used. Fassbender is particularly good. My favourite Neil Marshall film so far by a mile. Even if the DVD ends up being barebones, I will definetly be purchasing it.