The Eagle

T he Eagle is a historical epic film adapted by scriptwriter Jeremy Brock from Rosemary Sutcliff’s historical adventure novel The Eagle Of The Ninth (1954). The story is based on the Ninth Spanish Legion’s supposed disappearance in Britain

When the famed Eagle standard of the Roman Legion goes missing,soldier Marcus Aquila requests a post just outside the most savage of England’s territories. When he is wounded defeating a marauding band of angry locals,rescuing many of his imprisoned men in the process,he is given an honorable discharge and the luxury of spending his days in retirement with his uncle,a former Senator Aquila. But Marcus wants to travel deep into the forbidden region,beyond the boundaries of Roman rule and into the No Man’s Land located north of Hadrian’s Wall. He wants to bring back the Eagle,especially since it was his father who supposedly lost it. With the help of Escape,a Celtic slave with knowledge of the province and his own indomitable will,Marcus hopes to restore his faded family name and find a purpose beyond being a former member of the mightiest army in the then known world.

The Eagle is pure action and adventure; sustained by a goal-oriented narrative. The show piece of the film could be the excellent battle scene where the main Roman defense strategy is illustrated,and Kevin Macdonald’s directorial flair is displayed such that it carries him throughout the film.

As for the cast,Channing Tatum is adequate,considering he’s not given much to do on the emotional front. Jamie Bell is an excellent accessory,both physically and psychologically,and Donald Sutherland clearly leaves his mark.

The Eagle is Macdonald’s chance to explore the visual elements of such a distant and alien time and place. There are sequences that suggest a much more heroic touch in the making,but The Eagle can’t sustain its scope.

RATING: **

One star each for battle scenes and cinematography.