Film Review | Hercules

sL Star Rating: ★★★★

Everyone knows the legend that is wrapped in one name: Hercules (Dwayne Johnson). Son of Zeus; Hated One of Hera; Sport of the Gods; Strongest of all men. His twelve labours match no man’s achievements. They testify to his strength and his prowess as a demigod.

But what if the legend is all that he is? What if the legend is merely a story? What if Hercules is only a mere whisper to the ear?

Did such a myth ever truly exist?

The Story

The premise of this retelling of the Grecian hero is that Hercules was a simple man who achieved many things. His glory was achieved by many men (and a woman) rather than on his own. In this story, we see that the twelve labours are not what they seem, just as much as Hercules is not who he appears to be. In the process of serving a striving ruler, Hercules and his might warriors find themselves in the middle of a civil war that has the past, present and future colliding. Suddenly, in his darkest hour, Hercules completes the twelve labours that reality spawns from myth; here, Hercules is turns legend into truth.

I enjoyed watching this movie a lot! The first reason is that it’s not at all the myth of Hercules, in fact is about how the myth was birthed and prolonged – and ideally how it came to be true. I loved the fact that Hercules was not just the name of one man, but rather the name of many men. From the get-go you realise that it’s not about a hero, but the fact that anyone can be a hero. The second reason I loved this movie is there’s no love interest. Taking from the original text, this film picks up somewhere in the middle where Hercules had and lost his wife and children – creating a mystery as to how he lost them in order to add to the legend. The third and final reason I love this film is for its simplicity. It didn’t try to portray a man larger than life, but rather a man getting by in life.

I also liked that Hercules struggled with anxiety from the trauma of his loss. I liked that this weakness was framed in the context that it’s a personal labour that he must conquer – something that he must gain closure for. I’m a bit at odds with whether the military formation was more Roman than Grecian, but in saying that, I really enjoyed seeing ancient military tactics that I read about back when I was in high school.

The Cast

Dwayne Johnson was a great Hercules. He was believable in his seriousness and light-heartedness, even in his spurts of comedy. Much like his character, Johnson was well supported by Ian McShane, Rufus Swell, Aksel Hennie, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal and Reece Ritchie. McShane being the wise seer of the pack, along with Ritchie’s youthful antics and powerful “wordsmanship”, provided much of the comic relief with their little quips about death from the former and witty retorts from the latter. Boslø Berdal and Swell were the serious and sarcastic additions to the pack who kept Hercules intact. Although Hennie only had one intelligent line the entire film, when he did deliver it, it was powerful and meaningful in the father-son-like dynamic between Hercules and Tydeus.

John Hurt and Joseph Fiennes play very interesting characters as they portray two fairly similar rulers. Both were believable and incredible contrast to each other and to Johnson. The power dynamic between these three characters is incredible.

Rebecca Ferguson also did an incredible job of being the wife and mother that Hercules’ lost. Not that their was any interest projected by the two characters, but rather a common ground in the loss of loved ones and a hope that comes with overcoming such tortures. Ferguson portrayed a friend and sister – if anything an added member to the comrades – rather than a possible love interest.

Aussie, Stephen Peacocke, receives a special mention for his sound performance in his first motion picture. Though his accent was a little unclear, he delivered his lines with conviction and even with a slight hint of humour. Kudos mate!

Overall

It’s a well-written, well-executed and beautifully casted film. There’s enough action to keep you buzzing, enough emotion not to miss a side-line love story, enough comedy to have you smirking and enough heart to have you swelling with communal pride. I recommend it for all ages – but if you get a little sick with the sight of blood, be prepared to shut your eyes tight. It’s one for the history nerds – represent!

Next on sL: The Giver