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March 5, 2014

POMPEII

(2014) 105 Minutes, Rated PG-13

A.C.’s ReviewThe disaster genre is one of my favorite categories of movies and I was greatly anticipating the release of POMPEII recounting the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius that towered over the city of Pompeii on the shores of the Bay of Naples.



No disaster movie would be complete without a group of characters to care about when in the face of danger as well as some we hate and hope they get their just desserts when the inevitable occurs.



The protagonists of the film are the slave Milo (Kit Harrington) and Cassia (Emily Browning) a wealthy merchants daughter who falls in love in the days leading up to the devastating eruption. Complicating matters besides the class difference is Roman Senator Corvus played by (which was a complete surprise to me not knowing he was in the movie) Keifer Sutherland. It was strange to see him playing a devious villain after years of good guy Jack Bauer on TV’s 24. Still he seemed to relish in the role being bad to the bone trying to force Cassia as his own, even as Pompeii crumples around them all.



Even the supporting players such as other gladiators and hand maidens and Cassie’s parents as well as the Senator’s henchman are all interesting characters and fun to watch. In fact the story and relationships were so good it could have just been a movie about them without the Volcano.



With that said when Vesuvius does blow the effects are amazing and the carnage is brought to life in all its glory. The effects are so well done its easy to forget you are watching effects. It all looks so real.



This was an excellent movie and so called professional film critics are a pack of lemmings. The director Paul W.S. Anderson has done some movies that these critics look down on so naturally they want to disparage this new film because it is the “hip” and trendy thing to do. Ignore them all. This film is a don’t miss if you like action, thrills and a good story all rolled into one.



My one caveat is that despite being harder to find go to the 2D showings. The 3D is not necessary and is just a cash grab.
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Best Scene: Actually the ending as our heroes meet their fate as opposed to the usual Hollywood copout feel good endings when there shouldn’t be.


A.C.’s Rating:  Full Price!.
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