The Eagle
This is the film version of Rosemary Sutcliff's
book The Eagle Of The Ninth which is what the
film should have been called, but apparently
American movie goers are so thick that they
would have thought it was either a golf movie or
the ninth movie in the Eagle series so they
shortened the title!!
Well unlike several of the reviews I've read for
this film I actually really enjoyed it! The
story is set in Britain in the second century
while the country has been occupied by the
Romans.
Like any population under occupation not
everyone likes the occupiers such as Marcus
Aquila who is played by Channing "The Hunk"
Tatum who is put incharge of a Roman garrison in
the North of England which he then defends
agianst attack and gets injured in the process,
on being given a medal and a honourable
discharge he first wakes up at his uncles villa,
who is played by Donaled Sutherland nicely he
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comes across as just the right side of creepy,
he obtains a loyal slave in the form of Esca
played by Jamie "Billy Elliot" Bell by saving
him from death in the gladiatorial arena.
He then set out for the northlands beyond
Hadrians wall in search of the Eagle of the
Ninth which is the standard for his fathers old
regiment that he led with 5000 men who never
returned.
So plenty of scots sterotypes of being a bit mad
and drunk abound as they seek out the eagle and
then go all apocalyptica trying to get home
again with it.
A good romp probably about as truthful as any
other film about the roman empire can be this
far from events. a good fun romp that easily
passed nearly two hours without there being any
love interest whatsoever!
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