The volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD is arguabley one of the most famous natural tragedies. The grandeur and epic scale of the devastatingly tragic eruption was certainly captured by Anderson in his latest offering, so aptly named 'Pompeii'. Where the film soared in the macrocosmic spectacle it lacked in more intimate moments. Smaller-scale scenes were rushed over and clumsily scripted, giving otherwise quite capable actors little to work with. It was clear to me that for Anderson the money was in the bigger picture: the fireballs rocketing through the sky, the tsunami charging back towards the land, think billowing smoke, and molten lava.
The exception to this generalisation is the love affair between Milo, your classic leather bound gladiator, played by Kit Harrington and Cassia, the beautiful daughter of a wealthy merchant, played by the doe-eyed Emily Browning. However potential moments of intimacy and realism were lost due to poor writing and some pretty dire delivery. Using the star-crossed lovers to set up the film is a narrative device employed so often in disaster films, and to be quite honest I was bored. Yet, perhaps this is because I was sat there waiting for the volcano to erupt, just as in 'Titanic' you are waiting for the iceberg.
However it's not all doom and gloom. Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje gave a fantastic performance as Atticus, another sandal clad gladiator, who teams up with Milo in a not so unexpected friendship. I felt an empathy for his character and was genuinely moved when he was swallowed by a cloud of ash.
Technically the film was, in no doubt, impressive. The use of 3D certainly provided a spectacle and music was used to great effect. If I wore a hat I'd take it off to Clinton Shorter, the composer of some pretty remarkable and moving music.
Overall this film was over-reaching in its aims, and almost unintentionally humourous in places.
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