Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 7/10
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Reece Ritchie, Joseph Fiennes, Tobias Santelmann, Peter Mullan, Rebecca Ferguson, Issac Andrews, Joe Anderson, Stephen Peacocke, Nicholas Moss.
Where does the hero end and the legend, the myth start? Every hero after all needs a writer in which to make them seem invincible, powerful, noteworthy and compassionate to his enemies. In the modern era, every hero has his moment of downfall, his time in which he must wander into the desert of obscurity and take stock of his actions before coming back stronger than ever. In times of Greek and Roman legend, of the classical age, the Gods ruled all and a Demi-God had no such qualms about living up to anything but his name. Such is tale of Hercules and his 12 labours.
With a new age comes a new way of looking at the past and despite any trepidation any scholar of the classics may have of the treatment of the son of Zeus, especially with the casting of one of the great entertainers of the W.W.F (as was), Dwayne Johnson, in the lead role, fears are soon abated as what the cinema goer has laid out before him is a half decent modern take. The so called P.R. machine is in operation spreading fantastical tales of his life, his claim of parentage and the labours in which he is charged with completing.
When Hercules is sought out by the daughter of Lord Cotys, an enticing Rebecca Ferguson continuing the great work she laid out in the television adaptation of The White Queen, and a beguiling John Hurt who, if possible, should now considered to be acting royalty, the legends that have been weaved by Hercules’ young cousin bring trouble to his camp and to his friends lives.
As with all good action/adventure films, sides are not always what they seem but the dramatic fight scenes that were shot for the film, the superb cast, including the aforementioned John Hurt, the compelling Rufus Sewell as Autolycus, Peter Mullan as Sitacles, Ian McShane and Joseph Fiennes and the way in which the film actually makes the legends stand up to scrutiny. Whilst it is still hard to look upon Dwayne Johnson as a serious actor, there is no doubting that he fits the bill perfectly as the hero for this particular cinematic offering. It is a difficult thing to know for sure that the man whose character was named The Rock for many years is quite honestly the only person who could capture both the physique and standing of the man.
John Hurt though is the real draw to this film, his portrayal of the ruthless Lord Cotys, aided by the sincerity in acting honesty of Peter Mullan, is one in which to savour, to let years of acting talent hone in on a man who plays a part that you really want to see crushed under the weight of Atlas’ Earth, savaged by a Minotaur or crumpled under the heel of Achilles is enough to make you watch the film. It is a daring move but it works fully.
Legends are made to be told, retold and spoken of with great pride and whispered tones and in Hercules, that legend just got that little bit brighter. A hero without the guff, the ceremony but with great vision in what makes a story sell.
Ian D. Hall