Augustus

Previous reviewers who gave positive reviews have already stated much more eloquently than I could the positive aspects of this movie. I am going to just add some notes as to what made it an entertaining film for me to watch:Despite being nearly 3 hours in length, I found myself drawn into the story. The acting is quite good and some of the Italian actors were very good. One of the standouts was Massimo Ghini. His impressive portrayal of Mark Antony captures perfectly the soldierly toughness, the intelligence, the devotion to Roman duty, and the ultimate foolishness of what the real Mark Antony must have been like.The North African locations really add to the visual impact.The exterior depictions of Rome are not as elaborate as in some other movies. But they are adequate. As an Italian tv production they obviously didn't have the budget for blockbuster movie CGI f/x. However this is more than made up for by the elaborate and careful detail that is evident in the smaller scenes. I watched this on a 12 foot home theater screen, and if at all possible you should see it on as big a screen as you can manage. It is obvious the production went through a great deal of care to accurately reproduce the everyday objects that Romans used. For example, in Augustus's study, if you look in the background the various scrolls in his library have little tags hanging frm the scrolls. This is exactly how the Romans labled their scrolls, because the early empire didn't have the side bound books we have today. Look closely at the background of many of the scenes filmed in Augustus's palace. The details of the frescoes and Roman architecture are elaborate!The scenes with Mark Anthony and Cleopatra were especially engaging.The music for the movie is exquisite and surprisingly moving. The end title theme is great!I would recommend this film for anyone who is interested in the people and history of this time. Sure--some of the history is abridged, but the movie covers nearly 50 years in the life of one of history's greatest rulers. Some things had to be left out.

Great movie! We see Augustus with his friend Agrippa, when young and naive men are trying to improve Rome. Then step by step he becomes a brilliant politician, but also a person who is trying to be a humanist, he does't want to kill a son of one of his opponents, who was killed by his order, Still, with his girl he is more a politician then a father. He wants her to understand that her marriage must serve Rome and not her feelings, he wants Rome to continue to be a great Republic and for that he needs a heir. It's interesting that his desire to spare son of his enemy could change the course of history, so check it for your self, it worth your time.

To have some redeeming value period films need to either be entertaining with limited artistic liberties or, if not entertaining, then at least educational. This film is neither, and it is odd that Peter O'Toole granted his presence to it. The acting - aside that of O'Toole's - is dull and the dialogue is unimaginative.What is worse is that the history is so bad. Artistic liberties are one thing, but this film gets many basic historical points wrong. Begin with the fact that no one in the early first century would have viewed Mark Antony's (Marcus Antonius) legacy as one of defense of the republic - even among those who didn't like Augustus, they admired Brutus and Cato, not Antony. One of the most bizarre historical errors - because it so large and difficult to understand - is the presentation that the civil war was ended by Caesar's victory over a general named Sextus in Spain (it was Octavian who had to beat Sextus, and in Sicily). Actually, it ended with Caesar's victory over first Pompey Magnus in Greece (a momentous event not mentioned at all in the movie) and then over his remaining allies in North Africa, where's Cato's suicide sealed the end. Caesar did have to defeat Pompeian legions in Spain, but they were commanded by three men: Marcus Terentius Varro, Marcus Petreius and Lucius Afranius. The Spanish front was concluded before the others. Also, Octavius (the main character) was a teenager when Caeser died, not in his 20s, as shown here. He was also not a commoner, although he was from the lower classes of the aristocracy.The extremely positive manner in which Augustus' uncle, Caius Julius Caesar, is portrayed is also hard to understand, except purely as a memory distorted in the retelling. Some elements are true - Caesar was known for his clemency and his championing of the lower classes. He was also a leader of great talent and intelligence. Yet he was also immensely corrupt, and showed no hesitation toward political violence when it suited him. These traits were not uncommon, of course, but he was hardly the champion of "government for all people" the movie portrays him to be.

Great movie

I thought this movie was pretty good. Very good acting by Peter O'Toole (a very good actor no matter what he is in). Nice visuals and feel of Ancient Rome. It still has that watered down 'made for TV' feel to it. In my opinion, if you don't have to pay too much for it, then it is worth it. I will probably come back and watch it again at some point in the future. Also, if you like this genre, it is still a good DVD.

I loved this movie. It's entertaining and surprisingly well-performed cause I didnt know most of the actors and actresses.Peter O' Toole, as usual, is amazingly outstanding. Simply brilliant. He took me to tears at the end...I recommend.

Was ok , but a little bit dated. Decent acting and historical value. Not high def or widescreen.Can be a bit bothersome at moments with Peter's over-acting....lol....

Achat sans problème ce n'est un dvd, on en attend rien de spécial!!Cordialement