Plot: What’s it about?
I love The Rock. There, I said it. Ok, maybe I’m not in love with him, but over the last 15 years his performances have really entertained me. And as a former professional wrestler, I suppose that entertainment value is a requirement for anyone wishing to become an actor, no? I’ll admit that back in his Scorpion King days I was a bit iffy if his career as an actor would persevere and, surprisingly, it did. He’s become a bit more high profile the last few years than, say, a decade ago and with roles in higher-profile films like G.I. Joe, Faster and the Fast and Furious series – well I don’t think Mr. Johnson will be hurting for cash anytime soon. Moving onto Hercules, well, what more needs to be said? Hercules seems in the same vein as vampires and zombies in that every year or two there’ll be another new movie featuring the legendary warrior. This is the second big budget release of a Hercules movie this year, with the first one being totally different than this one. But I’ve got a little “rule” that I follow when watching a movie starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and another when watching a movie about Hercules (or any Greek god, for that matter) – sit back, take it with a grain of salt and enjoy the ride. And, oh my, what a ride we’re about to take!
This version of Hercules is a bit of a departure from others in that he’s got a “band of merry men (and woman)” so to speak. Hercules (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) is the son of Zeus and a human mother, Alcmene (Karolina Szymczak). Hera, wife of Zeus, disapproved of his philandering and cursed Hercules with 12 labors (essentially dangerous missions) that would either mean the end of him or truly set him free. As we all know, Hercules completed these labors (killing the hydra, the lion, etc.) and was subsequently put in charge of training the armies of Thrace so that they might be more prepared for the troops led by Rheseus (Tobias Santelmann). Hercules, along with is crew: Autolycus (Rufus Sewell), Amphiaraus (Ian McShane), Atalanta (Ingrid Bolsø Berdal), and Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) are out to complete their mission. But nothing is as easy as it seems and nothing ever goes according to plan. Will Hercules and his gang be able to withstand ultimate betrayal or are they destined to perish at the hands of King Eurystheus?
In the opening paragraph I also neglected to mention that this movie is directed by Brett Ratner. Ratner, known mainly for the Rush Hour films and X-Men: The Last Stand, is also a director whose movies you aren’t to take seriously. So add that along with the aforementioned subject matter and the star and, well, need I say more? I’ll be totally honest and say that I loved this version of Hercules. Maybe there are better versions out there but in terms of sheer entertainment value, I really don’t think you can go wrong. Are there plot holes? Yes. Is it “accurate” in the sense that accuracy can be defined about someone who never existed? Not really. But all I know is that I was entertained for 101 minutes and several films I watch simply don’t do that. As much as I kid about The Rock, he obviously threw himself into the role, bulking up his already robust 6’5″ frame. I mean just look at him in this – I wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley – would you? Check your mind at the door, sit back and relax and just enjoy the ride and you’ll end up having a good time. Recommended.
Video: How’s it look?
Visually, Hercules is stunning. The 2.40:1 AVC HD image simply sparkles and dazzles from beginning to end. As is the case with most of these mythological films, there are a lot of scenes that have a very polarizing effect applied to them, deep and rich tones are complimented with unusually bright ones to produce a very unique effect. Of course detail is stunning, you can see every vein in The Rock’s arms and chest, biceps bulging and the like. The overall look of the film is glossy and high profile, with a few scenes of grit and grain thrown in for good measure. The film is also available in 3D, though this is the 2D version reviewed. Suffice it to say that when it comes to looks – it doesn’t get any better than this.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Not to be outdone, the DTS HD Master Audio track simply sizzles as well. Every channel opens up and fires what and when it can, vocals are strong, rich and deep. The Rock knows how to voice the language of a God and it shows here! Seriously, though, the front channels are engaged almost constantly, the surrounds offer the discrete effects (and some that aren’t so discrete), the LFE get a good workout and it all makes for a worthwhile audio experience. Again, this one is hard to beat.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As mentioned above, there is a 3D version of this movie on Blu-ray, though this is the 2D version reviewed. There’s a fairly generous amount of supplemental material, fit for the son of Zeus. Let us explore.
- Audio Commentary – This is available on the theatrical version and not on the Extended cut. Director Brett Ratner and Producer Beau Flynn offer up a pretty decent track that talks about some of the various versions of Hercules over the years, the influence of those on this and Ratner’s desire to direct a movie of this genre. I’m not sure why they couldn’t have placed this track on the Extended edition as well seeing as how it’s only three minutes longer, but still, it’s a decent track. Of note, this track isn’t available on the DVD copy of the film (which only contains the Theatrical Cut), it’s only available on the Theatrical Cut on the Blu-ray. Go figure.
- Brett Ratner and Dwayne Johnson: An Introduction – Just that. The director and star of the film discuss Johnson’s involvement in the film, throwing himself into the role physically (as well as a bit on his subsequent injury that he sustained) and the experience they had making the film.
- Hercules and His Mercenaries – I mentioned that Hercules had an entourage, in this segment we get to meet them all as well as some of the sacrifices they had to make for their respective roles.
- Weapons! – The weapons used in the film are examined.
- The Bessi Battle – The major battle in the film is dissected and we get some behind the scenes look at the shooting locations, preparations and everything that went into the filming of this epic sequence.
- The Effects of Hercules – No, The Rock didn’t really fight a lion with his bare hands. Yeah, I know – shocking isn’t it? Seriously, all of the CGI effects used in the film are discussed here, though it’s really nothing new after seeing countless “effects” featureless.
- Deleted/Extended Scenes – There aren’t that many and they don’t amount to a great deal of screen time, but it’s nice to have these included.
- DVD/Digital HD Copy
