The Last Legion: Maid Marian kicks ass; viewers have some old-fashioned fun

Reviewer: James van Maanen
Rating (out of 5): *** 1/2

All hail the throwback new action film The Last Legion--or, if not all, at least those of us who fondly remember films like The Adventures of Robin Hood with Errol Flynn, from an era before special effects had effectively drowned out pesky little things like plot and characterization. Remember when an exciting action scene could stimulate the eye, ear and mind without non-stop, let's-be-in-twenty-places-at-once editing, and a villain could command the screen without having to be an eight-legged monster, robot or shape-shifter supreme? For those interested in discovering what a movie might look like that adheres to those elderly verities yet commands the skills of today's writers, director and crew, take a chance on this barely-seen-theatrical surprise that has an almost child-like innocence and delight--as though a tale such as this had never before been told.

The story is co-credited to Carlo Carlei (whose 1993 Flight of the Innocent remains one of the better first-theatrical motion pictures in memory), the screenplay to Jez and Tom Butterworth (Mojo and Birthday Girl); and the direction to Doug Lefler (who's worked in TV). Together, they've managed to come up with a genuinely pleasant and exciting diversion that, I suspect, deliberately looks back to those old-time action/spectacle movies many of us loved so well. The setting is that period when Rome was falling and Britain just beginning to rise, and one of the many little pleasures of the movie is how its diverse cast of characters manages to reflect today's Britain, as well as this nicely re-imagined scenario of its birth. The plot, simple but not stupid, involves protecting the youngest Caesar and smuggling him to safety from the Barbarian hordes, including a vicious leader (played by Peter Mullan) and his even-more-so second-in-command (a very scary Kevin McKidd, of Rome).

In the leading roles are Colin Firth, as the nicely buttoned-up commander; Ben Kingsley as Caesar's foremost protector; the gorgeous Aishwarya Rai as a kind of kick-ass Maid Marian; and a very fine Thomas Sangster as the young Caesar. The supporting cast, just as fine, includes John Hannah, Iain Glen and Rupert Friend. There are battles aplenty but little outright gore; the cinematography by Marco Pontecorvo (My House in Umbria, HBO's Rome) is simply terrific: crisp and beautiful with some magnificent compositions. The story moves fast and straight-ahead, with a few surprises along the way. Among these (unless you've read one of the spoiler reviews) is the ending, which is quiet, lovely and may have you murmuring, "Of course!"