The Eagle (2011)

The journey of a Roman warrior and his slave to find the lost Eagle of the Roman army, and restore his family's honour.

Set during Roman-occupation of Britain, The Eagle follows the efforts of a young Roman soldier called Marcus Aquila (Channing Tatum) to recover the golden emblem of the lost 9th Roman Legion. Marcus' father led the infamous 9th Legion into the Northern territories of Britain, where the lands are a barbaric mix of brutal landscapes and unforgiving tribes. When the 9th Legion failed to return home safely, the name of Aquila was tarnished with dishonour. Having rose through the ranks of the Roman army, Marcus sought to regain his family's honour by being a great military leader, which he was, until during his first battle he is severely wounded. Given an honourable discharge, Marcus is left with unfulfilled desires, until he learns that the golden eagle of his father's legion has been seen in the north. He quickly heads to border between Roman Britain and the unconquered north with his slave Esca (Jamie Bell). Esca is a Britain who was captured during one of Rome's battles with the natives, his family was slain by the soldiers, and he remains a bitter individual. His loyalty to Marcus only exists due to a chance encounter whereby the Roman soldier stopped the slave from being brutally murdered.

As the duo head north in search of the emblem, the balance of power shifts between them. Marcus is now the unfamiliar enemy, while Esca is the native-speaking guide. Their uneasy co-existence is the most compelling aspect of the film, one that draws the viewer in. Jamie Bell is brilliant as Esca, his reputation grows stronger from each film. Tatum, initially, is hard to care about. Only in the second half does his appeal grow.

The battle scenes of the film are often labored and stagnant. They try to draw inspiration from films such as Troy and 300 but it is not in the same league. A more interesting film would have focused more on the relationship of the two main characters, and avoided cinematic devices like heads being chopped off and blood spurting everywhere.

Viewers may find it difficult to become attached to the characters, as the quest is an outdated search for honour and pride, one that modern audiences may not relate to. However, if you enjoyed the likes of Kingdom of Heaven and Centurion, this is probably a film for you. The romantic slant on Roman occupation is heavily felt, especially in the first half of the film. It is a pretty movie though, with great landscapes and interesting tribal characters. The dialogue is not too cringe worthy, and the story is entertaining, if not old fashioned. Of the current films out at cinemas is lacks the appeal that bigger and better films have (such as Battle: Los Angeles or Unknown).