The Legend of Hercules Movie Blurb by Shale January 10, 2014 This was the first decent weather day in a week, so I did not do any research on this movie, just happy for the beautiful, warm, dry bike ride to the Cinema. I don't really check the reviews any more before seeing movies or I would have known that this movie was not screened in advance for critics - always a bad sign. Those that did see it at the aggregate reviews on Rottentomatoes gave this movie only 3% fresh. OUCH! Their collective opinion was: "Cheap-looking, poorly acted, and dull, The Legend of Hercules is neither fun enough to qualify as an action movie nor absorbing enough to work on a dramatic level." Audiences only gave it a 56% approval rating, which means this really must be a bad movie. So, drag out my old axiom; "I enjoy bad movies." Did anyone ask any 13-year-old boys what they thot of it? Or an old man who grew up on these epic movies where English was dubbed over the Italian. It is what it is. This movie shows the origin of Hercules, how King Amphitryon (Scott Adkins) is conquering other kingdoms to increase his power and his wife Queen Alcmeme (Roxanne McKee) is tired of it and prays to her god Hera for an end to the warfare. Zeus favors the beautiful queen and secretly hops into bed with her (sorry guys, this PG-13 movie only shows her getting off, no one else in the bed). The King sees this and suspects he's been cuckolded and never really accepts his son Alcides (who will become Hercules - Kellan Lutz). His firstborn son Iphicles (Liam Garrigan) is the prince destined to succeed him. In the meantime, Alcides and Princess Hebe of Crete become lovers and sneak off to cavort in the stream. Hercules & Princes Hebe This makes Iphicles jealous and with a few lies he is promised the hand of Princess Hebe to form an alliance with Crete. In fact, King Amphitryon sends Alcides off to a battle in Egypt with one of his captains, Sotiris (Liam McIntyre), where he has arranged that there will be no survivors. That almost comes to pass but Alcides and Sotiris are the only survivors sold into slavery where they become arena combatants. Hercules in Arena Well, you know Hercules won't be a slave for long, nor will the evil king and prince get their way. I don't have to tell you this - it is legend. For all its faults, the costuming and sets were nicely done. CGI was not of the best quality but the action scenes carry this movie and they were good. However, as with every other movie showing ancient archers they yelled "FIRE" which is so stupid it makes me grimace. Where's the fire? It's a term that was not around until "FIREarms" were invented. The command in English for bowmen was "Loose." The actors were all very attractive so you could just sit back and enjoy the visuals. Kellan Lutz didn't have too much real acting to do in Twilight and it shows here as well - but he has what it takes to play a buff laconic action hero. (Exhibit A: Young Arnold as Conan the Barbarian). Who knows what he might do in future. Meantime enjoy the eye-candy. This movie is being sold in 3-D but I saw it in 2-D. I saw all the scenes that pandered to the 3-D and they would probably be good if you are into that gimmick.
