Pompeii

Pompeii

Rated PG-13 and Released in Grand Rapids 2/21/14

Reviewed 2/24/14 at Celebration North Theatre in Grand Rapids, MI

with Gary

2 out of 5 Js in QUIET Rating System

Pompeii is a historical catastrophe movie that reminds me of the storyline in Gladiator with Russell Crowe. Family gets killed, survivor is put into slavery, becomes the baddest gladiator there is, executes revenge on the powerful leader behind the evil, and finally...no happy ending. There...I saved you the trouble. This one just has a volcano in the mix and Gladiator is one fine movie with great acting. This was neither.

Milo (Kit Harington) is the Russell Crowe of Pompeii. The movie's setting is around 79 A.D. in the charming, fairly quiet city of Pompeii on Italy's coast. The governor of the city Severus (Jared Harris) and his wife Aurelia (Carrie-Ann Moss) have a beautiful daughter Cassia (Emily Browning), who is just returning from visiting Rome. Milo the gladiator is being transferred with other fighters to Pompeii to fight their way around the arena in the new surroundings. His shackled caravan encounters the demure Cassia traveling back as Milo helps with her horse alongside the road. A flitting connection passes between the two but Cassia shakes it off as she is overly anxious to get back home with her family.

Unbeknownst to Cassia's parents, she has fended off advances from the vile leader Senator Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland). She has put him out of her mind because she thought she would never see him again. Unlucky for her though, Corvus is paying visit to Pompeii under the premise of investing into rebuilding the city, but his real intentions are revealed rather quickly. Meanwhile, slave Milo and privileged Cassia exchange glances at every slight chance they get. I guess this is enough cause for everlasting love. Corvus is observing these little encounters and possessively he wants Cassia for himself.

Soon the big day for the gladiator fight has arrived and her parents sit with Corvus in the box overlooking the colosseum. Corvus doesn't want to take any chances, forcing a big set up in the arena to get rid of his rival the handsome Milo. All the while the real danger is the brewing and spattering volcano that is looming loose in the town for the escaping people. There is a lot to contend with - splitting lava bombs, surging water, earthquakes, and soldiers killing their way out of the chaos. Safe to say the volcano wins. Gary and I both thought it was not bad enough to be a walker-outer and just good enough to see some time. But definitely don't rush out now; save this one for home.

QUIET Rating system: 2 Js

Quality: J

Understood story:  JJj

Interest: JJ

Entertainment:  JJj

Time:  JJj