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Dealt to perfection
It is an attempt to humanise the God-like character and make him overcome his family tragedy to live a normal life amidst conniving folks lusting for power.
Cast : Dwayne Johnson, John Hurt, Rufus Sewell & Ian McShane
Music: : Fernando Velassquez
Direction : Brett Ratner
Rating : ***1/2
Like : Screenplay and lead performances
UnLike : Hardly any
Is Greek mythology and its towering figures relevant and sellable in this day and age? It all depends on how it is presented and director Brett Ratner weaves a strong narrative with dashes of humour and not-too-copious doses of action to make ‘Hercules 3D’ the best release of the week.
It is an attempt to humanise the God-like character and make him overcome his family tragedy to live a normal life amidst conniving folks lusting for power. Prominent among them is Cotys, King of Thrace (John Hurt) who gets him to wage battle against blood-thirsty warlord Rheuseus (Tobias Santelmann).
Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) has a bunch of loyalists like warrior Thydius (Aksel Henrie), prophet Amphiorous (Ian McShane), Archer Atlanta (Ingrid Boise Berdel) and narrator Iolaus (Reece Ritchie). But King Coty’s daughter Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson) also supports Hercules for nefarious reasons.
All this while and even after it, is the clever, irreverent screenplay by Steve Moore and Admira Wijaya that keeps the viewer going. There’s prophet Amphioraus’ asides on the gods who promise but do not deliver and the reference to Haedes as the “place where all the fun is.”
First, Hercules and his men fight a band of barbarians who begin by ambushing them but they soon decimate those near-naked men and go to meet warlord Rheseus whose army is believed to possess Centaurs. But in truth they are merely men on horseback. Rheseus is defeated and captured but the warlord proves to be a red herring. There’s a twist in the tale.
The cunning Cotys combines with King Eurestheus (Joseph Fiennes) to fight the Hercules. More war scenes and there are some clever and inventive battle formations. The Archer is at her best and even after taking a tumble from a chariot doesn’t miss her mark.
But the climax is almost indoors in the temple Hera where Hercules does a Samson and brings down the giant statue of Hera with obvious results. But even here director Ratner steers clear overkill, a major blemish in today’s cinema.
Dwayne Johnson does a good job in the lead role and has a vast cast not unduly stretched. Ian McShane impresses and Rebecca Ferguson provides female relief. Veteran John Hurt still seems to relish these villainous roles.
Yes, it’s worth taking a look at ‘Hercules 3D’.
