Centurion was the Super Secret TBD Screening at the 2010 South by Southwest Film Festival. I couldn’t find out any information about which film it was going to be and honestly, when they said it would be Centurion at the theater doors, I had no idea what the movie was and had no time to look it up online. So throughout the entire film, I was trying to figure out if it was an old film or a film that had not come out yet. It’s the latter…it’s planned to come out in the UK in April and there is no planned US release date yet. I couldn’t tell if the film was new or old because it’s a time piece based in the first century and is filmed in a way that puts you back in that time. It’s a bit grungy and definitely not polished with newer techniques and high tech CGI. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t take away from the movie at all, but instead, it adds to it.
Centurion is the tale about the legendary Ninth Legion which mysteriously vanishes while out to capture more land for the Roman Empire. No one really knows what happened to this group of soldiers but Centurion tells one story of what could have happened. Have you ever thought to yourself how people could battle and fight each other back in the days when guns weren’t invented? When all they had were pieces of metal and their bare hands? This movie holds nothing back and shows you how it was done back then! It’s probably one of the goriest in your face films made in quite a long time. Usually, when an actor uses his sword to attack another on screen, the camera moves away in the following frames. Centurion doesn’t – it keeps you right there in the action. No matter how many slasher and bloody films you’ve seen, you’ll be squirming in your seat during some of the scenes in this movie. Guaranteed. The action is incredible – it’s gruesome and wonderful. The group of characters you follow are enjoyable and at times comedic. The villains, who are the Picts, are pretty badass and cutthroat including a bad b*tch played by Olga Kurylenko whose tongue is cut out. If it wasn’t, all the guys in this film would be hearing a mouthful.
While the movie is entertaining, it isn’t over the top amazing. I don’t see anybody going out of their way to watch this one which is probably why it hasn’t been picked up for a US release yet. I’m writing this review after seeing Clash of the Titans and I would definitely recommend Centurion over that. Clash of the Titans is rated PG-13 and Centurion will most likely be rated R but comparing the movies after seeing both, Clash of the Titans is G and Centurion is NC-17…the action scenes are just that bad ass and visual. You’ll be wanting to high-five your friends after every hit and blow. Needless to say, lots of people die in both movies, but they die so much better in Centurion
.
Here’s the international trailer so you can get a glimpse of the movie, but it doesn’t show any of the awesome scenes (you’ll have to wait for a red band trailer for that)
This post is part of our SXSW Film Festival coverageThe South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. The internationally acclaimed, nine-day Film Festival celebrates raw innovation and emerging talent, with a truly diverse program ranging from provocative documentaries to subversive Hollywood comedies.Visit South by Southwest’s Official Website






























