Pompeii(3D) English Hollywood film Movie review, Johnson Thomas, Rating: * *

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Pompeii (English/3D) Rating: *  *  Paul W Anderson’s corny 3D adventure set against the volcanic destruction of the Roman city in 79AD does not have the were-withal to strike it rich

English Film Review

Johnson Thomas

All FX no soul!

Film: Pompeii (3D)

Cast: Kit Harington, Carrie-Ann Moss, Mila Jovovich, Emily Browning, Adewale akinnouye-Agbaje, Jessica Louis, Jared Harris, Kiefer Sutherland, Paz Vega

Director: Paul W. S. Anderson

Rating: *  *

Paul W.S Anderson directs this period disaster movie documenting a romance amidst the destruction of the Roman city of Pompeii during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Of course it allows scenes of great destruction with people running for their lives and losing loved ones. Anderson focuses on a contrived romance as the centre-piece for this disaster flick. The $100 million budget allows for rivers of lava destroying everything in it’s wake. It’s a hell of a lot of Kitsch on dubious overload.

Roman Polanski, the one originally slated to adapt Robert harris’ novel take on the ancient natural disaster which took place in 79 AD. When Mount Vesuvius violently erupted and decimated Pompeii along with most of it’s 15,000 inhabitabts. Anderson’s take (scripted by Michael Robert Johnson, Janet Scott Batchler and Lee Batchler) is hopelessly generic and offers very little creative juice, borrowing liberally from other Roman exercises like Gladiator and Spartacus.

A young Celtic boy witnesses the savage slaughter of his parents at the hands of  the ruthless Corvus(Kiefer Sutherland) and his top soldier Proculus(Sasha Roiz). It’s shown as a flashback and soon we see the adult  Milo(Kit Harrington) .a strapping gladiator popularly known as ‘The Celt’ being shipped off to Southern city of Pompeii to serve as entertainment for the Plebians. Enroute, he wins the heart of Cassia(Emily Browning) daughter of Severus(Jared Harris) and Aurelia(Carrie-Ann Moss). Also arriving just in time for the fireworks is Corvus, now a senator for Emperor Titus. The scene is well set for the final unveiling of Vesuvius’ might.

Despite the FX heavy enterprise you never get affected or involved.   DP Glen MacPherson and VFX supervisor Dennis Barardi do a good job in their respective departments. The action is greatand the choreography appears deadly. The actors look resplendent in their costumes and the music makes the appropriate background sounds when required. Yet this film just doesn’t leave you in awe of what transpired!

Johnsont307@gmail.com