The Eagle

This movie sucked.. it was so bad.. don’t waste your time unless you’re wanting a cringy bore fest.. Should’ve dropped all mature themes and made it a kids movie, even then they would probably think it sucked too.. if you like this movie I would advise keeping it to yourself as the movie really really isn’t any good.

I really enjoy this movie. I admire the director's work and the acting prowess of all the performers, but especially of Donald Sutherland, Channing Tatum, and Jaymie Bell. Their performances are outstanding, and the dialogue, cinematography, and plot are all spot on. It's enjoyable to watch an ancient Rome movie once more after occasionally watching The Gladiator, and Channing Totum deserves praise for his portrayal of the character. Based on their expectations, past performance, and ego, I wonder how in the world Rotten Tomatoes rated it as low as 39%. Come on, this is a movie, it's supposed to be entertaining.

The beginning was good but the development and story didn't turn out to meet the start

Not sure what's wrong with people. A really enjoyable film with solid acting, and unique story line. Great adventure and look at the conquering nature of the Roman empire. Enjoyed it.

This is a really bloody poor film. I love films about Rome, the medieval period, Scotland - it should be right up my street. But it's just really poorly written, the story and characters aren't engaging, some of the costuming is quite silly. Tatum is a really poor actor, like I didn't realise how bad he is til I saw this. Also, they must have had a tight budget, at one point they CGI a small funeral pyre and it's painfully obvious. Even if you're into this type of film, it's one to avoid.

One of the worst movies I've ever paid for to sit through. I saw it when it came out, back in 2011. Good points: the costumes were pretty cool, except for all the cotton. It looked nice. And... well, that's it. Oh, and it was kind of funny, but only unintentionally so. Another customer at the showing (which was sparsely populated) summed up my opinion really well. As they roll the credits, he just said loud enough for everyone to hear, "Well...that SUCKED." Everyone in the theatre laughed, because we were all thinking the same thing...

Despite all the bad reviews this works well as an action movie and the sacenery is wonderful. The acting might not be as good but it is more than adequate and I think that Channing Tatum and Jamie Bell build up a credible relationship the twists and turns of which are nicely portrayed. All in all it does the book, on which it is based, justice, is enjoyable, accurate enough for the casual historian and it is entertaining. I would certainly recoomend it to those who like a bit of historical faction.

Entertaining enough, but not great. It sure could have benefitted (for me) from audio description.

Promises much, but delivers cringing cliché ridden dialogue which overshadows what should have been a good storyline. "What are your orders sir?!" shouts the American marine, to which our ‘Roman' hero replies "Prepare to defend the eagle" was the final straw that actually finally turned this into a comedy. Need I say more? There's too much wrong to outweigh the little bit of good (mainly the scenery)……..

In the year 149 AD, twenty years after the Ninth Legion disappeared in the north of Britain, Marcus Flavius Aquila (Channing Tatum), a young Roman centurion, arrives in Roman Britain to serve at his first post as a garrison commander. Marcus's father, who was the Senior Centurion of the ninth, disappeared with the eagle standard of the ill-fated legion, and Marcus hopes to redeem his family's honour by bravely serving in Britain. Shortly afterwards, only Marcus's alertness and decisiveness save the garrison from being overrun by Celtic tribesmen in a local insurrection. He is decorated for his bravery but honourably discharged due to a severe leg injury. Living at his uncle's estate near Calleva (modern Silchester) in southern Britain, Marcus has to cope with his military career having been cut short and his father's name still being held in disrepute. Hearing rumours that the eagle standard has been seen in the north of Britain, Marcus decides to recover it. Despite the warnings of his uncle and his fellow Romans, who believe that no Roman can survive north of Hadrian's Wall, he travels north into the territory of the Picts, accompanied only by his slave, Esca (Jamie Bell). The son of a deceased chieftain of the Brigantes, Esca detests Rome and what it stands for, but considers himself bound to Marcus, who saved his life during an amphitheatre show. After several weeks of travelling through the northern wilderness, Esca and Marcus encounter Guern, a Roman-born Lucius Caius Metellus, one of the survivors of the Ninth Legion, who attributes his survival to the hospitality of the Selgovae tribe. Guern recalls that all but a small number of deserters were killed in an ambush by the northern tribes – including Esca's Brigantes – and that the eagle standard was taken away by the Seal People, the most vicious of the tribes. The two travel further north until they are found by the Seal People. Identifying himself as a chieftain's son fleeing Roman rule and claiming Marcus as his slave, Esca is welcomed by the tribe... Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus reads: "The Eagle has a pleasantly traditional action-adventure appeal, but it's drowned out by Kevin Macdonald's stolid direction and Channing Tatum's uninspired work in the central role." Roger Ebert gave The Eagle three stars out of four saying that "it evokes the energy of traditional sword-and-shield movies" and praising its realistic battle scenes and limited use of CGI. Kevin Macdonald´s so called epic historical drama is based on the Ninth Spanish Legion's supposed disappearance in Britain is nothing more than a classic poor mans action adventure set during the Roman empire with a truly miscasted and uninspired Channing Tatum in the lead. The narrative, acting and direction is not satisfactory to my mind. What Ridley Scott managed to do right with "Gladiator", Kevin Macdonald manages to do wrong with "The Eagle". No need to see.