Hercules

Year: 2014

Genre: Action

The Greek legend 'The 12 Labours of Hercules', is a series of episodes that have a lot of cinematic potential given the advanced computer generated imagery techniques available to modern directors. Done in the right way, they could showcase some pretty epic battles on the big screen. Slaying the nine-headed Lernaean Hydra, obtaining the girdle of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, or capturing the Erymanthian Boar. It's almost like the screenplay and script are already written, and all they have to do is get the right people for the job. 

Sadly, 'Cliffhanger' director Renny Harlin got there first this year, with 'The Legend of Hercules'. Harlin made what is largely considered to be one of the worse adaptations of the legend in cinematic history. If the origins of the character have already been explored so recently, where is there to go? 

This Summer's Hercules, is Brett Ratner's (Rush Hour / Prison Break) big screen adaption of the graphic novel 'Hercules, the Thracian Wars', and refers to the labours of Hercules in the opening scene but that is pretty much the last the audience hears of them. The protagonist has already completed his twelve labours by now, and is leading a band of mercenaries which include Ian McShane crowbarred into the plot for comic effect and Ingrid Bolsø Berdal who seems to be there for no other reason than balancing the books gender wise. 

I found the plot to be unnecessarily hard work, with awkward twists and confusingly complicated turns throughout. Little is made of the main character's potential, or his mythos, with set pieces comprising of watered down '300' esque battles that if you have seen aforementioned, were done so much better by Zack Snyder and Gerard Butler. Dwane Johnson plays Hercules competently, with his sheer steroid enhanced physical size giving gravitas to a character that needs an actor with huge stage presence. Lets be honest though, it's hardly a role that requires someone with a Shakespearean background. 

I found little going for the film and left the auditorium disappointed. That's not to say others didn't enjoy it though, as there are plenty of 7/10 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes if you care to look. 

2 out of 5 stars.