I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

The movie is surprisingly subdued in its pacing, its characterizations, and its go-for-broke sensibilities.

This film is based on a mystery that has long intrigued historians: the uncertain fate of the Ninth Hispanic Legion (Legio IX Hispana). Founded in the Republican period, it participated in military actions such as the Gallic Wars (under Julius Caesar), the Battle of Pharsalus (where Caesar crushed the troops of his rival, Pompey) and the Battle of Camulodunum, where the British tribes, led by famous Queen Boudica, resisted the attempt of conquest by the Romans. It appears that this legion, which for a long time integrated the Roman garrison in the British Isles, was transferred in uncertain date to Nimegue (Noviomagus Batavorum), where it was suppressed. However, the doubts persist, and it is upon them that the film works, proposing the idea that the legion was crushed in a disastrous battle against the barbarians. An idea that existed in the historical community but is now considered improbable. Its likely that the film was also inspired by a totally different event, which was the disastrous Battle of the Forest of Teutoberg, where the German tribes crushed two Roman legions.The script is pretty good but it lacks logic when we look at what the Roman mentality was like at this time. There is clearly a current approach behind how actors behave, especially the protagonist, but I am able to excuse this. The best advantage of the script is its ability to tell the two perspectives of the story (the conquerors and the conquered). About the historical veracity of the script, I confess, I have some doubts. It seems to me that the Roman military uniforms used here are closer to the Republican period than to an average imperial period. I found the British tribal costumes interesting. Channing Tatum was competent and satisfied us as the protagonist, even though he did not shine. Donald Sutherland also remains in this middle line, without shine or disappoint. Jamie Bell is, perhaps, the most prominent actor here, in that he has played the most difficult and psychological character of the film in a moral, psychological and relational way.In short, it's a movie that delivers on what it promises and it has high-quality notes, without ever becoming grand or memorable. Above all, it entertains quite well and gives us an appealing story, good action and fighting scenes that do not let us sleep in front of the screen.

against its subject, it is only a contemporary story.the honor, the discover of the other, the force of friendship, the link between enemies in special context, the frontier of the empire and the legacy of father, the adventures and the self discover, constellation of values and examples of determination in difficult situations. result - a pretty story who, scene by scene, becomes more far by the presumed historical context. the gift - to discover a different Channing Tatum. making a great job, he gives to his Marcus interesting traits who are good points for the portrait of the son looking save the honor of his father,becoming witness of a world out of knowledge, conquering a better perception about himself. all as reflection of contemporary America in the mirror of mythical past.

This was pretty good, a swords & sandals epic which is slightly different than others I've seen, using the story of the famed lost ninth legion and showing a piece of Scottish History I'd never even contemplated in that the early (early) Highlanders are portrayed as living like indigenous north American tribes. Not sure if this is accurate but the "Seal people" wear cool blue makeup (early Braveheart?) and are fierce fighters. Anyways.Channing Tatum is decent enough as Roman centurion Marcus -I've definitely seen him do worse in a couple romances and he's involved in some good battle scenes early on. I liked the story arc with British slave 'Esca'(Jamie Bell) and how the slave becomes the master as they forge over Hadrian's Wall on their mission to find "The Eagle" which went missing 20 years earlier. Donald Sutherlands whimsical character seemed out of place, more like he was just portraying who he felt like, without direction, and while as a whole I did enjoy this, the final scene, in the last 30 seconds of the movie was just terrible, as Marcus and Esca suddenly get all buddy-buddy comedic, it felt tagged on and ridiculous. 8/9/14

The Eagle (2011) offers an interesting presentation of an historical action movie. It will probably appeal to history buffs, especially those interested in movies with a strong emphasis upon Pictish/Celtic or ancient Roman themes.Although certainly too violent for children to watch, this film offers adult audiences almost non-stop action strongly rooted in powerful characterizations. Set during the period of the Roman occupation of the British Isles, it also provides beautifully photographed re-creations of Roman and Pitctish/Celtic culture during the ancient period.The story follows the career in Gaul of a brave young Roman officer whose father perished several years earlier during the massacre of a Roman Legion in Scotland. The well written script offers audiences an opportunity to develop empathy with both the occupying Romans, and the indigenous population. Just as the central characters grow and evolve over the course of the film, as a friendship develops between the Roman, Marcus Aquila and a British servant, in symbolic terms the movie could depict the amalgamation of Roman and Celtic values which contributed to the development of the British Isles.The impressive acting, directing and photography contribute to the overall entertaining quality of this movie. The film offers many beautiful natural outdoor settings as well, without losing any of the qualities of tension viewers appreciate in action films. Although The Eagle does contain many horribly violent scenes, these incidents stem directly from the plot.