The legend of Hercules is an amazing Ancient Greek myth about a child born from Zeus, King of the gods, and a mortal woman. Knowing that this film had plenty of mythological "cannon" to draw from and such a legendary character excited me quite a bit. Unfortunately the "cannon" they chose to pull from for this film was a Hercules comic book rather than the stories of Ancient Greece. Rather than playing up the son-of-a-god angle they chose to stray away from the mythology and use a more historical lens to examine the possibilities of a man named Hercules who did great things, but whose feats were exaggerated by storytellers.
The film starts with a narrator guiding us through the life of Hercules, son of Zeus, hated by Hera because of her husband's infidelity, and grew up to be an amazing warrior. Such an amazing warrior he was sent on 12 labors by the gods. Included in these 12 labors were the battles with mythical beasts like the Lernean hydra, Erymanthian boar, and Nemean lion. Although these scenes make great moments in the beginning of the film, the rest of the movie takes place after Herc's 12 labors when he and his small band of warriors have become mercenaries traveling Greece as hired muscle. The group of warriors fighting with Herc are also interesting elite fighters, however we never get a good sense of who they really are other than a few hints and campfire stories about them. After a successful campaign of ridding a city-state of pirates, Hercules and his men are called upon to help save a kingdom known as Thrace from an evil warlord.
Although I really wanted to like this film quite a bit, I found it falling a bit short. The lack of character development is tough. The warriors that surround Hercules are all interesting characters, but we never learn much about them. Ian McShane plays a soothsayer and warrior named Amphiaraus who Hercules has befriended. It's a great character and McShane does a nice job, however we know very little of his character. Other notable performances come from John Hurt as Lord Cotys, the leader of Thrace, Rufus Sewell playing another warrior with Herc named Autolycus, and of course Dwayne "the rock" Johnson as Hercules. The Rock actually does a great job playing Herc. I typically enjoy the Rock's films, especially when he is kicking butt, and this film does not disappoint with the butt kicking. The fight scenes were done well and were fun to watch. Ultimately though I believe the film falls victim to its lack of myth. Throughout the entire film they push the fact that Hercules and his band of warriors are perpetuating the legend of Hercules. That there is no such thing as a demigod, and that Hercules is just a great man. I like the attempt to make it more historically based, as if he was just a great man and not a god, but I came to this movie to see a full on demigod battle mythical beasts and the gods themselves. Outside of the first 10 minutes of the film, that wish falls short.
If you are looking for a great film based in Ancient Greece, watch Troy. If you want a good movie based on a comic book in Ancient Greece, watch one of the 300 films. If you want decent action and like to see The Rock kick butt, then this is the film for you. I give this movie 2.5 stars out of 5.
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