The Last Legion on HBO in April

[august]

Anyone see this, in the week it lasted at the theatres? It was an old-fashioned, old school sword-n-sandals B-movie, the type that would have starred Tyrone Power in the 50's or Steven Boyd in the 60's. Apparently it was based on a novel, and it is one of many modern novels and films to make the connection between Roman Britain and King Arthur.

Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones) played the stalwart Roman hero with Ben Kingsley as (sort of) Merlin, Rome's Kevin McKidd as a Goth (the ancient kind) The Mummy's John Hannah and DS9's Alexander Siddig as nobles, and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai as an Eastern warrior-babe.

The idea is pretty decent - the last emperor of Rome, a boy named Romulus Augustus, is spirited away from the sack of the city to end up in Britain, where there may be one last legion loyal to Rome. It's all due to a prophesy relating to the sword of Julius Caesar...and one guess what that sword becomes. Assorted Goths and Saxons (Or Celts?) get in the way.

I saw part of it on HBO last week, and it's rerunning:

Thur. Dec. 17 8:45 AM
Thur. Dec. 17 5:30 PM
Tue. Dec. 29 12:30 PM

Doug Lefler directed this in his big-screen feature-directing debut. He had previously directed a direct-to-dvd sequel to Dragonheart, the tv movie Hercules and the Circle of Fire, and a number of TV episodes including JAG,
Babylon 5, and the very first episodes of both Hercules and Xena. The connection was that he has long been Sam Raimi's second-unit director, on Spider-Man, A Simple Plan and Army of Darkness. He got his start as a storyboard artist on the original Transformers and G.I. Joe, and various other animated projects.

[RobRoy]

I've seen it. It was an interesting take on the mythos. I think I wrote a review for it somewhere.

[EDSEL_PK]

Colin Firth (Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones) played the stalwart Roman hero with Ben Kingsley as (sort of) Merlin, Rome's Kevin McKidd as a Goth (the ancient kind) The Mummy's John Hannah and DS9's Alexander Siddig as nobles, and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai as an Eastern warrior-babe.

If for no other reason, tune in to check out the stellar cast.

[Zagor]

I saw it in the cinema. Fairly entertaining though it was annoying the way the camera cut away anytime anything violent happened. Decent but instantly forgettable.

[august]

It's on again - Thur. Apr. 1 @ 5:00 PM
Sat. Apr. 10 @ 6:15 AM

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by Zagor

I saw it in the cinema. Fairly entertaining though it was annoying the way the camera cut away anytime anything violent happened. Decent but instantly forgettable.

Yes, this sums it up pretty well. I actually only remember Colin Firth out of everything else.

[august]

It's all over HBO this month:

Sat. 4/10 @ 6:15 AM
Fr. 4/16 @ 3:30 PM
Wed. 4/21 @ 4:15 PM
Mon. 4/26 @ 9:45 AM
Th. 4/29 @ 2:30 PM

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by august

It's all over HBO this month:

Sat. 4/10 @ 6:15 AM
Fr. 4/16 @ 3:30 PM
Wed. 4/21 @ 4:15 PM
Mon. 4/26 @ 9:45 AM
Th. 4/29 @ 2:30 PM

Wow, did someone give up the rights, or negotiate some deal?

[august]

Possibly, but everything that airs once then goes into rotation, and often something will be gone for a year, then turn up in odd times (like the family-friendly times above.)