Hercules

The demythologizing of Hercules was a success. While I would’ve loved to see him complete the twelve labors, this fresh, alternative take on his story isn’t bad at all. In this version, Hercules is a unique and nearly unbeatable warrior, but he’s also just a mortal and a mercenary, backed by a team of loyal comrades. His legendary reputation is cleverly crafted through savvy PR, playing on the naivety of the ancient populace. The Rock fits the role perfectly, and it’s clear he put a lot into it. I especially enjoyed the two main battles — they were shot in a compelling and clear manner, without the disorienting chaos that often plagues action scenes. The runtime is just right to keep boredom at bay, with the creators wisely avoiding unnecessary filler and getting straight to the point. They packed the film with enough action and intrigue to keep us engaged the entire time. To my surprise, the film also includes some great lines that brought a smile to my face more than once. This new take on Hercules delivers a stylish and entertaining experience that’s definitely worth watching. (20/05/2018)

When I saw the trailer - just that short one where Hercules fights the lion - I thought to myself that finally there's an American film that has taken hold of myths and interprets them as they are told. The first few minutes even hinted at that, but five minutes were enough, and then all my hopes collapsed. This is simply an American action film that has some good characters - like Rufus Sewell or Ian McShane - and perhaps Tydeus' character, portrayed by the excellent Axel Hennie, is well-written. It plays on being heavily packed with action and humor, and of course, it ends well as expected. Pretty good for popcorn entertainment. I wasn't completely bored, although there were moments when I was close to it. (30/07/2014)

I like the idea of removing the myth from Hercules, the story based on the comic book is fine. Predictable and simple, but fine. The tempo is just right (slowing only after the introductory action sequence), decent effects and Dwayne is trying hard. Liberal usage of snappy lines (soothsayer Ian McShane dominates in this) and everything’s simply ok. Unfortunately “ok" is the problem. Ratner isn’t able to come up with anything interesting or original. The story fizzles out and ends in flames and in Scorpion King style. Hasn’t the Rock learned anything over the years? (22/10/2014)

It’s a bit of a mess with tons of digital effects, but hey, it’s got The Rock, and that’s not nothing. Still, it feels like something’s missing. If I’m being honest, Pompeii had a similar vibe but was a notch more entertaining for me. (28/12/2014)

If Hercules had focused on completing the 12 tasks I think the film would have gone into the red as well, but I'm still very pleasantly surprised at how entertaining it is. I'm definitely impressed by the awesome Dwayne Johnson, the very attractive visuals and CGI, I haven't seen such top notch effects in a long time. I was also surprised by the great and creative action, it  is long, imaginative, excellently shot and at times decently brutal, so fans will definitely get a kick out of this one. And I was especially pleased that the film pokes fun at legends and superstitions and that there's always a realistic explanation. Perfect entertainment! (25/10/2014)