Movie Review - Pompeii

Paul W.S Anderson isn't the sort of director you would have expected to be helming a disaster movie, but then again, Pompeii isn't your typical disaster movie. It's not an epic tearjerker like Pearl Harbor or Armageddon, nor is it a special effect laden epic like The Day After Tomorrow. There is romance, and specials effects, but Pompeii actually works best as an action movie. Not a great one mind you, but decent enough.

Everyone's favourite new heartthrob, Kit Harrington a.k.a John Snow from Game of Thrones, is a child when the Romans, led by Keifer Sutherland,  slaughter his entire people during a Celt uprising. Years later, he becomes a gladiator slugging it out in the squalor or Londinium's arenas, before being noticed for his devastating skills and transferred to the coliseum of Pompeii. On his journey to Pompeii, he has a brush with the daughter of Pompeii's ruler, Cassia, setting the scene for a burgeoning romance. Keifer Sutherland also returns to Pompeii, now as a Senator, looking to invest money in Pompeii, but more interested in Cassia.

All of these events of course lead up to the fateful night when the mountain of Vesuvius would erupt and destroy everything before it's path. The problem is that all of this is rather cliche, predictable, and presented in an entirely unremarkable fashion. The romance is rather rushed and seems a little forced, the scenes of Roman life are rather amateur and the destruction that takes place at the end is also a little disappointing considering the level of special effects we have come to expect from movies like this. 

This movie really would have worked much better without the requirement for having Pompeii as the backdrop. As a B grade Roman set action movie, this is actually alright, and certainly Pompeii's best asset. The story of the Roman's slaughtering the Celt tribe, the child survivor growing up and becoming a gladiator and seeking revenge on the Romans is definitely cliche, but works well enough. And Paul W.S Anderson definitely seems to show his best work during the gladiatorial scenes. The battle re-enacting the defeat of the Celts is suitably impressive and leaves you wanting more. Still, some of the acting, dialogue and general lack of care for any sort of authenticity or depth of characters leaves a lot to be desired. 

If you're a fan of disaster flicks, you'll probably want to give this one a miss. There's just not enough disaster there and the lead up will struggle to keep your attention. If you're a fan of ancient Rome, you'll probably want to avoid this as well. You'll be disappointed by the lack of interesting characterisation, depiction of Roman life and general level of authenticity. Everything here you will have seen done better elsewhere. If you're a Paul W.S Anderson fan, or an action movie fan, you might want to see this. There's just enough violence, battles, and cheesy dialogue to keep you going. Probably not what the makers of Pompeii were going for, but at least it is slightly redeeming.

6.5/10