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"THE LAST LEGION" (2007) (Colin Firth, Ben Kingsley) (PG-13) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Minor Heavy Heavy *Mild Extreme Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Mild Minor Moderate None Minor Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Moderate None Moderate Moderate Extreme QUICK TAKE: Action/Adventure: A 12-year-old boy, latest in the line of Roman Caesars, is kidnapped by the Goths in 460 AD. His rescuers include his wise sorcerer-teacher, noble Romans, and a mysterious warrior maiden from India. Once they find the boy, he's already crowned emperor and in possession of a secret, super-powerful sword that serves the "truth" (and will, in later days, be found again by the tales of King Arthur). PLOT: In 460 A.D., young Romulus Augustus (THOMAS SANGER) is crowned Roman emperor Caesar and assigned a guardian, Aurelius (COLIN FIRTH), who swears to defend him "to the last breath." Soon after, Romulus' parents are murdered before his eyes and he's kidnapped by the ferocious Visigoths, whose leader, Odoacer (PETER MULAN), declares himself emperor and sends the boy off to prison on the Isle of Capri. There, he and his loyal and magical teacher Ambrosinus (BEN KINGSLEY) are guarded by the very mean and severely scarred Wulfila (KEVIN McKIDD). Roman Senator Nestor (JACK HANNAH), believing he has a secure deal with the Eastern Empire, the Byzantines, sends Aurelius and a crackerjack team of warriors to rescue the boy, including Mira (AISHWARYA RAI), the loyal and multitalented servant of Byzantine Ambassador Theodorus Andronikos (ALEXANDER SIDDIQ). After much ado and bonding as they retrieve the boy, the team learns the deal has fallen through. They resist their new orders (to send Romulus back to the Goths), and all head off to Britannia, Ambrosinus ' homeland, where the fabled Ninth Legion (the last Roman legion) is supposed to be holed up. Here they find more trouble, and make a final stand against a dreadful villain, the golden-masked commander of another Goth squad. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Yes, if they like sword-fighting and thumping armored chests on the battlefield, though they should know going in that this is not "Lord of the Rings." WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13 For sequences of intense action violence. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: COLIN FIRTH is Aurelius, guardian for the young emperor Romulus and firm believer in Rome. BEN KINGSLEY is Ambrosinus (and later in the film, Merlin), scholar, philosopher and powerful magician, as well as teacher and guardian to young Caesar (Romulus). AISHWARYA RAI is Mira, the fierce warrior who comes to love young Romulus in a maternal sense. THOMAS SANGSTER is Romulus Augustus, 12-years-old when he's made emperor, discoverer of the long concealed sword Excalibur, and quite capable of commanding minions. PETER MULLAN is Odoacer, gnarly leader of the Goths. KEVIN McKIDD is Wulfila, the warrior servant to Odoacer assigned to keep guard over Romulus and Ambrosinus on Capri. IAIN GLEN plays Orestes, Romulus' father. RUPERT FRIEND is Demetrius, youngest member of Aurelius' crew, gallant and eager. NONSO ANOZIE plays Batiatus, a second member of Aurelius' crew, seasoned and large. OWEN TEALE is Vatrenus, the third valiant member of Aurelius' crew. ALEXANDER SIDDIQ plays the Byzantines' ambassador, Theodorus Andronikos, who orders Mira to help Aurelius retrieve Romulus, then turns on her. HARRY VAN GORKUM is Vortgyn, the masked villain and Goth leader who appears torturing Ambrosinus in the sorcerer's nightmarish flashbacks, then shows up in person to try to claim Excalibur at film's end. JACK HANNAH is Senator Nestor, Aurelius' seeming friend and a consummate politician who takes whichever side benefits him. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: Here's a brief summary of the content found in this action-adventure film, rated PG-13. Profanity consists of a handful of minor expletives, while off-screen sex is implied, and a woman is seen in revealing attire. The preponderance of violence is sword-fighting, with some rudimentary martial-arts fighting (kicks and flips), as well as spearing, axing, and knifing. The men (and one remarkable woman) in armor grunt, yell, and charge at one another with shields and swords raised, on foot and horseback. Various parts of that have bloody or gory results, while those scenes and moments of peril might be intense and/or suspenseful to some younger viewers or those with low tolerance levels for such mayhem. Some of the action might be enticing for some kids to imitate, while various characters have varying degrees of bad attitudes, and some tense family material is present. If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, a small amount of this occurs, specifically during battle scenes. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Following their escape from Capri, Demetrius and Batiatus arm wrestle over who will get first swig at the wine bottle (but no one actually drinks on screen). BLOOD/GORE Blood and bloody wounds are visible throughout the film, especially during battle scenes. Ambrosinus has a scar on his chest, the cause of which is revealed in several flashbacks to the same scene, when young Vortgyn presses his hot medallion into young Ambrosinus' chest. Romulus sees his father axed and mother speared (slight blood on their chests) and cries. When Wulfila and his men attack Orestes' compound, assaults leave blood on bodies, Wulfila's face, and Romulus' face. Aurelius wakes after the battle at Orestes' compound, covered in blood. He then goes to see Senator Nestor, with blood still on his face. The Goths and their prisoners (Aurelius' team without Aurelius) ride through an area where the Goths have wreaked havoc. We see burning wagons and bloody bodies hanging on walls. Odoacer punishes Wulfila for resisting an order by cutting off his finger. The camera shows the sword near the finger, Wulfila's grimace, and then Odoacer throwing the finger away. No blood is shown. There is a lot of fighting between Mira, Aurelius, and the other team members as they battle the many guards on Capri. At least three scenes show sword-fighting, kicking, and stabbing with knives (bodies fall away with only a little gasping and even less blood). Wulfila appears on Capri with his face cut open, very bloody (this scar will be stitched up and prominent on his face -- from above the right eye to the left cheek -- for the rest of the film). Machines shoot multiple knives at once, and one set hits Vatrenus, who steps in front of Romulus and is dully covered in blood, on his chest. Theodorus Andronikos slaps Mira to the ground and she has blood on her lip. Vortgyn has a flashback to the moment when he put the scar on Ambrosinus' chest, and the initial wound is bloody. Vortgyn suddenly appears beside a young goat-herder girl and threatens her (the legion/village must turn over Romulus to him or he will kill everyone). To demonstrate, he shows her the blacksmith's family, bloodied and screaming as they are held by some minions. In the next scene, their bloody bodies are carted into the village. In the climactic battle scene, Ambrosinus fights Vortgyn and pulls off his mask, revealing a bloody mass of a face. The battle scene also shows various figures bloodied, as their faces (especially mouths), arms, and chests show blood. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE The Barbarian (Visigoth) leader Odoacer tells Orestes, "I am here to claim my Jews," as well as "one third of Italy." When Orestes refuses, Odoacer sends an army to take what he wants. Romulus is brought before Odoacer, in chains, and the big bully threatens him with a sword to his throat. In a long shot, Mira cold-cocks a fisherman into the water, so she and Aurelius can steal the boat. On returning to Senator Nestor with Romulus, Aurelius and his team learn they have been betrayed as Nestor means to turn the boy back to the Goths and remain in power in the new empire, with the Goths. Nestor pulls out and then throws away his sword, embracing Aurelius in hopes of reconciliation, but as Aurelius holds him close, he stabs him in the gut, killing him ("In friendship!"). The Byzantines (Theodorus Andronikos) are in on this new deal, which means Mira is also supposed to obey bad orders. She then stabs Theodorus Andronikos in the back, just as he's about to kill Aurelius. Wulfila takes off after Romulus, and Aurelius catches up and fights Wulfila. They use swords, knives, and axes, as the boy watches. At last, when Aurelius looks near dead and bloody, Romulus picks up his sword and runs it through Wulfila, saying, "This is for my mother and my father!" FRIGHTENING SCENES Scenes listed under "Violence" and "Blood/Gore" may be unsettling or suspenseful to younger viewers and/or those with low tolerance levels for such material. Some battle scenes may bother younger viewers, but they are action-oriented more than frightening. Romulus sees his father axed and mother speared (slight blood on their chests) and cries. His mother says, "Save yourself" before she dies. Wulfila throws him to the floor then chases him and discovers his hiding place. Wulfila then grabs Romulus, who stabs him with a knife in the thigh and escapes again. Wulfila (on his horse) crashes through a door and looks toward the roof where Romulus is hiding. The film then cuts to another scene, but it's clear the boy is in trouble. Vortgyn suddenly appears beside a young goat-herder girl and threatens her (the legion/village must turn over Romulus to him or he will kill everyone). To demonstrate, he shows her the blacksmith's family, bloodied and screaming as they are held by some minions. In the next scene, their bloody bodies are carted into the village. In the climactic battle scene, Ambrosinus fights Vortgyn and pulls off his mask, revealing a bloody mass of a face. Ambrosinus then throws Vortgyn into a burning tree, yelling, "Burn in hell!" Wulfila takes off after Romulus, and Aurelius catches up and fights Wulfila. They use swords, knives, and axes, as the boy watches. At last, when Aurelius looks near dead and bloody, Romulus picks up his sword and runs it through Wulfila, saying, "This is for my mother and my father!" GUNS/WEAPONS Swords/Axes/Spears/Knives/Arrows/Catapults: Carried and/or used to threaten, wound or kill others and/or cause property damage. See "Violence" for details. Aurelius holds a sword to Romulus' throat. Repeatedly, Aurelius and other warriors fight with swords and shorter knives. Battle scenes feature catapults, flaming and regular spears, arrows, swords and axes. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "Burn in hell!" All of the fighting and related stunts might be enticing for some kids to imitate. Romulus declares that he can "speak for Aurelius" during a meeting of the Ninth Legion members. JUMP SCENES Vortgyn suddenly appears beside a young goat-herder girl as the camera circles and music lurches. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) A moderate amount of percussion-heavy, action-style music occurs in the film. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 1 damn and 1 hell. SEX/NUDITY Mira reveals herself as a woman by rising from a lake. She's wearing a tunic but it's wet and you can see cleavage in front and her bottom through fabric from behind. Aurelius is VERY impressed. Mira reveals her long hair to Aurelius' team ("He's a woman!"), then walks toward a fisherman who has a boat they need, adjusting her tunic and sword-holding straps across her chest so that she gets the old man's attention. Then she cold-cocks him into the water, so they can steal the boat. Mira shows cleavage. While climbing up the rock wall of Capri, Mira and Aurelius almost fall and are flung together, hanging from ropes. They gaze into each other's eyes, then she keeps climbing, her foot on his head. In Britannia, Mira sees Romulus laughing with a pretty little girl and asks Aurelius what he thinks of her. He says she's "a fine warrior" who misses some opportunities. They proceed to practice fighting, circling and flipping, drawing closer and closer. The scene ends before they kiss, but it's plainly all flirtation. On the night before the final battle, Mira enters Aurelius' tent in a sheer white gown (you can see her legs' outlined). She gets into his bed, and they gaze longingly at one another. The scene then cuts to morning, where they ready their horses and touch hands on a railing. SMOKING None. TENSE FAMILY SCENES After being crowned emperor, Romulus worries out loud to his father, "Five emperors have all been murdered." Orestes and Romulus' mother promise he'll be guarded "by the best." Romulus asks his mother why he can't leave the palace, now that he's supposed to be "the most powerful man in the world." Orestes resents Ambrosinus' attachment to his son Romulus and sends him away, and Romulus looks sad. Romulus sees his father axed and mother speared (slight blood on their chests) and cries. His mother says, "Save yourself" before she dies. Wulfila throws him to the floor then chases him and discovers his hiding place. Wulfila then grabs Romulus, who stabs him with a knife in the thigh and escapes again. Wulfila (on his horse) crashes through a door and looks toward the roof where Romulus is hiding. The film then cuts to another scene, but it's clear the boy is in trouble. On Capri, Romulus says he'd like to be with his parents (dead). Ambrosinus says they're with him, but as if "in another room," and that he must follow his own fate. Romulus worries that "Some of my ancestors built a prison" (he has a conscience, at 12). A blacksmith in Britannia says he wants revenge for his family's murders, but thinks fighting Vortgyn is "suicide." TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT The differences between history and legend. The legend of the Sword in the Stone, in its many iterations. The coronation of boy kings. The loyalty of military men to their leaders, even when they believe their leaders are wrong. The multicultural casting for Aurelius' team, a change from most "historical" renditions. The men's surprise that Mira is such a great fighter. VIOLENCE The film opens with horses thundering, as if onto a battlefield, under voiceover setting up the imminent fall of Rome in 460 A.D. When Aurelius believes young Romulus is stealing his sword, he grabs him and holds another blade to his throat. He has his man Batiatus take the boy outside, threaten to cut him, and then throw him in a public water tub. Ambrosinus has a scar on his chest, the cause of which is revealed in several flashbacks to the same scene, when young Vortgyn presses his hot medallion into young Ambrosinus' chest. When Orestes banishes Ambrosinus, Aurelius threatens Ambrosinus, "If I see you again in Rome, it will be on the point of my sword!" Wulfila and his men invade Orestes' compound, breaking through gates and doors, killing guards and knocking out Aurelius, creating havoc with axes, swords, shields, and punching. During this, a man falls from a balcony, and a couple of men are stabbed. Romulus sees his father axed and mother speared (slight blood on their chests) and cries. His mother says, "Save yourself" before she dies. Wulfila throws him to the floor then chases him and discovers his hiding place. Wulfila then grabs Romulus, who stabs him with a knife in the thigh and escapes again. Wulfila (on his horse) crashes through a door and looks toward the roof where Romulus is hiding. The film then cuts to another scene, but it's clear the boy is in trouble. Romulus is brought before Odoacer, in chains, and the big bully threatens him with a sword to his throat. Odoacer punishes Wulfila for resisting an order by cutting off his finger. The camera shows the sword near the finger, Wulfila's grimace, and then Odoacer throwing the finger away. No blood is shown. Aurelius, not knowing Mira is a woman yet (she's disguised in a mail veil) holds a sword to her throat when Theodorus Andronikos and Mira surprise him in his quarters. The Goths and their prisoners (Aurelius' team without Aurelius) ride through an area where the Goths have wreaked havoc, and we see burning wagons and bloody bodies hanging on walls. Aurelius and Mira show up, and he pretends she's another prisoner, where she kicks him and escapes. The Goths then chase her while Aurelius frees his men. They rush to the woods where she has dispatched all the Goths, with sword-fighting, knife-stabbing, kicking, and hand-to-hand fighting. In a long shot, Mira cold-cocks a fisherman into the water, so she and Aurelius can steal the boat. Romulus won't drink water into which Wulfila has spit. Wulfila then grabs him and holds him over a cliff, threatening to drop him. Ambrosinus intervenes, whereupon Wulfila throws the boy to the ground (hard) and "strings up" Ambrosinus over the cliff, so he dangles over water from his wrists. Romulus explores the island, falling through a hole into the secret chamber where a statue of Caesar holds the secret sword he's supposed to take. Mira sneaks up behind Aurelius as he climbs the rock wall on Capri. He turns his sword on her before he knows who she is. Romulus takes the sword into Wulfila's room (he's sleeping) and almost slices him, but Wulfila wakes and flips over, so Romulus chops the bed instead. There is a lot of fighting between Mira, Aurelius, and the other team members as they battle the many guards on Capri. At least three scenes show sword-fighting, kicking, and stabbing with knives (bodies fall away with only a little gasping and even less blood). Mira is especially adept, and the men pause to marvel at her. When the Capri guards are pounding at a final door, Aurelius sends Mira to protect the boy, with the other men, but she turns back, and just as he's facing a crowd of thugs, she appears (making her entrance by throwing two bodies through a doorway). After a couple of thrusts, they escape by jumping into the sea and swimming to the boat where their friends wait. On returning to Senator Nestor with Romulus, Aurelius and his team learn they have been betrayed, as Nestor means to turn the boy back to the Goths and remain in power in the new empire, with the Goths. The betrayal takes the form of machines that shoot multiple knives at once. Nestor orders his men to shoot several of these, at Romulus, Aurelius, and Aurelius' men, and one set of knives hits Vatrenus, who steps in front of Romulus and is dully covered in blood on his chest. The ensuing violence includes stabbing, punching, kicking, a flaming cart and a man on fire. Nestor pulls out and then throws away his sword, embracing Aurelius in hopes of reconciliation. However, Aurelius holds him close and stabs him in the gut, killing him ("In friendship!"). The Byzantines (Theodorus Andronikos) are in on this new deal with the Goths, which means Mira is also supposed to obey bad orders. Theodorus Andronikos then slaps Mira to the ground and she has blood on her lip. She then stabs Theodorus Andronikos in the back, just as he's about to kill Aurelius. Vortgyn has a flashback to the moment when he put the scar on Ambrosinus' chest, and the initial wound is bloody. Vortgyn suddenly appears beside a young goat-herder girl and threatens her (the legion/village must turn over Romulus to him or he will kill everyone). To demonstrate, he shows her the blacksmith's family, bloodied and screaming as they are held by some minions. In the next scene, their bloody bodies are carted into the village. The climactic battle includes arrows, sword-fighting, thrusting and falling on the battlefield, grunting and yelling, charging on horseback, spearing, knifing, punching, and kicking. In the climactic battle scene, Ambrosinus sends fireballs flying at enemy warriors. Demetrius falls off the fortress wall, while Batiatus leaps into the throng of enemies to save him, and is speared and dies. Mira fights an ugly bald warrior, stabbing him and several others. In the climactic battle scene, Ambrosinus fights Vortgyn and pulls off his mask, revealing a bloody mass of a face. Ambrosinus the throws Vortgyn into a burning tree, yelling, "Burn in hell!" Wulfila takes off after Romulus, and Aurelius catches up and fights Wulfila. They use swords, knives, and axes, as the boy watches. At last, when Aurelius looks near dead and bloody, Romulus picks up his sword and runs it through Wulfila, saying, "This is for my mother and my father!" Reviewed August 17, 2007 / Posted August 17, 2007

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