The Eagle (6/10)

I have always said that an accented performance is not needed if the whole story is based in another country or based on a whole different community. But hearing actors in American accents while wearing Roman uniform was really weird, I have to admit.

Yes, the trailer did look unconvinving but it was actually better than that, though just slightly.

This was going for that kind of Pocahontas or Dances With Wolves feel, with a strong pace of character progression and story build-up. But it was really a slow build-up and I kept wondering if certain scenes could have been sped up a little.

Acting wise, Jamie Bell gave more spark then Channing Tatum. I thought it was very fortunate for Tatum to gain this lead and to be directed by Kevin Macdonald, who previously had a few good movies that I really liked.

But for this one, yes the story was entertaining, fight scenes were directed well enough to be believable; ultimately though, it wasn't something original, it tried to be a lot more than it had, and there was one scene at the end when a kid was murdered which was just rubbish - sure drag a kid for a few days' run just to kill him. Again, one of those stupid scenes just for the sake of a dramatic effect, and it wasn't effectively at all even.