Centurion (UK - 2010)

When it's over, director Neil Marshall (Descent, Dog Soldiers, Doomsday) proves again that he has a lot of vision and he can stretch that vision with little dollars.  His vision may not garner him box office gold, but it does establish him as an inventive independent film director.  In Centurion, Marshall tells a story set in Britain 117 AD.  The story follows Quintus Dias and his march with the Ninth Legion under orders to wipe out and destroy the Picts, a warrior tribe of painted people.  What the Romans thought would be their grandest victory, turns out to be a trap and Dias becomes the sole surviving centurion of the raid.  Soon, Dias becomes the hunted as he tries to make his way to the nearest Roman outpost.  There is a hint of a love story - small and sweet, and is a nice break from the fighting sequences.  This film is ultra violent with slashing swords and copious decapitations reminiscent of 300.  As much as I respect Marshall as a director, his films lack character depth and development.  He's great at creating setting and suspense, but fails at making the connection between character and viewer.

My rating: 2 out of 5