Pompeii

I find it interesting when a story is told, about an actual historical event. We know the ending of the story, we just have to sit through a cheesy half assed love story to get to the bit we all came to see, or at least most of us… the history bit. Whether it be the sinking of a ship, the fall of a city, or the devastating volcano, there is one story that must be partially told in front of all these events… the tragic love story that can't and won't see the light of day pass the event in question.


Milo a young Celtic boy is awoke by a sound, the slaughter of his entire family and tribe, by Senator Corvus and his Roman troops, but he survives the massacre. Taken by slavers Milo is sold to the Gladiators. On his way to Pompeii he helps a woman, Cassia, with her wounded horse, by snapping it's neck with his bare hands… his bare hands.

In Pompeii Cassias father is preparing a ceremony for a delegate of the new Emperor, to try to procure funds to rebuild and renew the city. That night the Volcano starts to become active. To Cassias surprise Senator Corvus is the delegate sent by the Emperor, because it was unwanted attention from him that made her come home when she did.

The gladiators prepare for the games, but the night before they happen, a handful of gladiators are chosen to be taken to the manor of the cities patron, to be pleasure slaves for the evening. During the party a series of earthquakes happen causing the animals to be roused. Cassia sees Milo and requests his help to calm the horses. After he calms the horses Milo and Cassia ride out of the manor forcefully and are chased by guards. When caught Milo is punished, before his whipping Milo sees Corvus and gets in a rage remembering what he did to his family. During the whipping senator Corvus says to the gamesman that he wants him to be killed first in the games.

During the games the next day Milo is set in a recreation to the massacre of his people, driven by rage Milo and the gladiators overcome and defeat the romans… and then the eruptions begin.



Watching this movie was like watching Gladiator, Troy, 300, Dantes Peak, and Titanic all at the same time, darting your head around at the screens seeing different bits of each. I'm not saying it’s a bad movie just that it isn't an original story, the only thing that is different about it is that the story of Pompeii and Vesuvius hasn’t been overdone yet. I understand that making it an action love story is the best way to get a larger audience, but it’s a predictable story done hundreds of times, it’s a bad story to be put on a movie with this type of ending. It shouldn’t be boy meets girl, falls in love, tragedy, then death, they should try a story about 2 married people that fall into this shit, not new love, it’s a tired story.

That being said, no you don’t have to go see this in theaters, wait for dvd or netflix, or even better, watch Gladiator and after the reenactment put in Troy and jump to the Trojan horse scene then before Orlando shoots Brad put in Dante's Peak and watch the volcano blow and just stop the movie right there. It’s the same experience.


I give it a 2 out of 5

Written by Jeff Potts