Druids

Rating:
Summary: "Braveheart" this is NOT
Review: If you are a fan of Roman history, a fan of Caesar, a fan of barbarians, or interested in Celtic/Nordic/Gaelic history...then don't watch this movie, because it tarnishes all of the above. Anthesteria, the reviewer before me, mentions it's based off a book and says the book is much better - I will take their absolute word for it, because this movie has the feel of a story butchered by bad film making.

First, they treat the main character Vergingetorix very poorly. Christopher Lambert looks absolutely ridiculous, and reading in Anthesteria's review that he was supposed to be young at the beginning makes me laugh even more. His hairdo looks like they slapped a bad wig over his balding scalp...matter of fact, they probably did. They also develop his character poorly and the movie simply expects you to BELIEVE he is a great, brave man. Characters are continually saying, "You are a great warrior! As good as your father!" but you know what he does to prove this? He stabs a man...with a spear...from behind...on horseback...and the guy was sitting down...and unarmed...and uh...yeah...

And now I must give my biggest grief about this movie: they chose the absolute worst man to play Caesar. Not acting-wise, in that area the man was fine, but...the way he looked? No! During this campaign Caesar's camp was ambushed at night, and he went through out the legions fighting at the front line with his men to inspire them. The man in this movie doesn't do much with his sword except spin it around in one scene, and he doesn't look like the battle-hardened veteran Caesar was. This combined with Christopher Lambert as Vergingetorix with a comb-over does not make for good re-enactments.

The battles are actually decent I suppose, particularly those involving the siege of Alesia. There is a grave exception though: in a siege scene before it, the Druids have women atop the wall go topless apparently to distract the Roman soldiers. OK, but...did we really need it to go on so long? I didn't keep track of time but it almost felt like half the movie was that scene of topless women laughing in their annoying tone - and no these aren't just model women, these are OLD women too, and overweight women.

"The most exciting historical drama since Braveheart" the back of the video box claims. They must have seen a different "Braveheart," because the version I know could be forgiven for all its historical inaccuracies for providing a good story with well-done characters. If the people who did "Druids" had done "Braveheart" they would have had 30 minutes of naked women before the Battle of Stirling Bridge and made William Wallace a dumpy old man with two strands of hair.

Rating:
Summary: Watching it is painful
Review: This movie gets 2 stars, which is truly a gift, simply because it at least brought attention to an historical figure who really deserved not to be lost in obscurity.

I tried, really tried, to find something to recommend this movie, as I had much higher expectations, having read Morgan Llewellyn's book "Druids", and found it wholly entertaining. I did not see any credits acknowledging Ms. Llewellyn, so I can only assume they either loosely used her book for the script, or she shuddered in disbelief at the final cinematic product and wanted no association with it at all!

I tried to be open-minded about what was presented here, recognizing it as a work of fiction, but the historical innacuracies were too ridiculous and defeated the purpose of the movie. To start with, Vercingetorix is historically represented as a large, muscular man, a fearsome warrior, and also was an attractive man with a commanding presence, good leadership capabilities, and a brash, impetous personality. I was repulsed by the selection of Christopher Lambert as the actor portraying him. (They should have selected the actor who plays the other "Highlander" lead role, it would have been much more believable, Scottish accent and all, though Vergingetorix was Gaulish, of course.) For pity's sake, Vercingetorix was a WARRIOR, a hero, someone who put fear into the hearts of his enemies!!!! Lambert makes him look like a pathetic weakling, speaking with a lisp, and coming across like an effeminate boy-girl!! And having some REALLY bad-hair days!! We're expected to believe that THIS is the leader who inspired the Gaulish tribes to finally unite, to follow him, rising up against Caesar???? The aged Druid, played by Max von Sydow, towers over him, making his appearance even more small, timid and unreal.

Vercingetorix was known for his raging temper, and he had the physique to back it up. Lambert's depiction of the emotion of anger or rage is so ineffectual, so ludicrous, that Boy George is more frightening. It's as out-of-context as Kevin Costner's "Robin Hood" speaking in "Olde English", with a Southwestern American twang in his voice. Then we have von Sydow and the actor playing Caesar, I forget his name, both having German accents in their speech.

Then there is no identification of who is who, and what role they play, to help us understand what is going on and why. For instance, if you know something of Celtic mythology, there is in Irish myths a warrior-woman, named Skye, the island is named after her (Sky-uh), who is a master in the use of all weapons, and trains the mythological hero-warriors, like Cuchulain, and I suppose this is what is being alluded to, with the female warrior training Vercingetorix. But without that mythological insight, that scene makes no sense, and how many people seeing this movie would be up on Celtic mythology. Judging from the reviews, very few, if any. Too much about the movie was just unrealistic, not in the least believable, and this film has some of the most stilted dialogue and worst acting I have ever seen. Lambert is just awful in this film, truly awful. There isn't even one scene that redeems his role here. He is not the least bit convincing as a warrior, leader, or lover. How the hell he wins not only one, but two women is beyond me.

This film might have been salvaged, if a more believable lead actor had been chosen. A story about a hero needs a strong actor in that role, someone who can anchor the story-line and lift the rest of the cast into working with him. Lambert is just not the man for this film. He is not just bad, he is awful, he is ridiculous. His acting is so poor it makes the whole film flop. It might have survived the German-accented Druid and Caesar, and the manufactured battle scenes, but with the zero-appeal of the lead actor, the movie was doomed.

And it seems like overkill to mention the music was horrible as well, but, well, that just added to the disjointed nature of the venue. Skip this movie, please, as enduring it will be painful.

Rating:
Summary: Should be rated zero stars.
Review: I bought this video recently hoping that it would be both entertaining and informative. It was neither. The story line was poorly developed, and the acting was flat. Lambert's acting was . . . well . . . tedious, and he gave one of the "best" performances in the film. Bottom line here is that if you are thinking about buying this flick, just grind your money up in a food processor . . . that, at least, would be visually interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Pathetic piece of garbage!
Review: Well I didn't make it through the whole movie....I fast forwarded to some battle scenes but even they weren't any good.

Positive:
Costumes...the romans looked pretty cool

Negative:
Just about everything else...
The acting was horrible, the music was horrible (techno in a historical movie? WTF?)
Even the battle scenes (which are usually a highlight in movies) were horrible!
I didn't understand the story, mainly due to bad acting & the fact that theres nothing in the movie to draw the audience in.
I can't get over the fact of how horrificly bad the acting is!
My brother's high school drama class would appear Oscar worthy compared to this movie's cast.
One of the worst movies I've ever seen, period!

Rating:
Summary: WIMPHEART
Review: DRUIDS is one of the movies that tries to achieve the lofty status of such movies as BRAVEHEART or GLADIATOR, and fails miserably. Padded with endless scenes of marching soldiers, horses, etc., the movie lacks any true epic proportions. Christopher Lambert is an awful choice for such a fierce and charismatic leader; and the hairdos are preposterous. Then we get German actor Klaus Maria Brandauer with his heavy accent and his attempt to mimic the hairdo of Marlon Brando in the role of a flaccid and boring Julius Caesar. Not being a true historic buff, I can't attest to the accuracy of the story, but I'm sure it should have been more exciting. Some of the battle scenes have some power, but overall DRUIDS joins a list of other Lambert movies to avoid including THE TARGET. The music is also anachronistic and unsuited for this film.

Rating:
Summary: Though not a masterpiece, a movie worth watching!
Review: Druids, brings to the screen the story of the Gaul chieftain Vercingetorix, as he seeks to protect his country and his people against Julius Caesar and the Roman legions.
The major setback is in relation to the acting (or lack of it); apart from Christopher Lambert who is his usual Highlander self, the rest of the cast are badly in need of acting lessons! Another weakness is in relation to the very poor dialogues.
Aside from that, the setting, the plot, and the costumes are pretty good!
The film combines drama, action, and adventure making it rather enjoyable, as long as you're in that kind of a mood.
In short, it is a movie worth watching, especially for those with a soft spot for History and all things Roman, though you might not want to go as far as purchasing it.


Rating:
Summary: What a waste of good, historical costuming...
Review: I my vain search to find a movie that accurately depicts the correct or even vaguely correct historical attire for a movies plot led me to "druids".
As far as the costumes used by the gauls and romans, involving the armor, swords, helms, bows, markings and shields it held its ground as a historical movie. The horned helmets were finally linked to people that actually USED them. Unlike in the movie "gladiator" the armor is really made out of metal!! not resin. The roman battle moments have to be the largest grouping of romans troops wearing metal lorica segmentata I have ever seen (must of been a lot of european historical re-enactment societies used). Its not perfectly accurate but is far more than most "historical" movies - at least costume wise. At least it looked the part.

The problem... the worst acting and screenwriting I have ever been exposed to. I should have known better when I saw who played the celtic leader. The action scenes are confusing and just lame. The only actor that actually held his own was caesar. If it was rated on how it looked historically I would have given it 3.5 stars (I won't even go into the orange haired goths...) but the caveman screenplay makes it a 1.
Disappointing, watch it with the sound off...

Rating:
Summary: Booty galore!
Review: This is perhaps one of the most dreadful movies ever made, so bad that it is unintentionally hilarious. Which is how I got the idea for this new parlor game...

Invite all your friends over and put this movie on. Everytime someone in the film says the word "booty" everyone has to take a drink. The first one to pass out wins and doesn't have to watch the rest of the film.




Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: This superb movie tells the story of the rebellion led by Gallic nobleman Vercingetorix against the occupying Roman forces of Julius Caesar.
Vercingetorix (Christopher Lambert) avenges the death years before of his father, at the hands of a rival Gallic chief, before uniting the various tribes of Gaul against the Roman Empire.

His chief Nemesis is the ruthless Roman general, Gauis Julius Caesar (Klaus Maria Brandauer), commander of the Roman forces in Gaul, and a ruthless, ambitious man, determined to subdue Gaul, and so make a name for himself in Rome, even if it means putting all of Gaul to fire and sword.
He defeats Caesar at the Battle of Gegovia, and is reunited with his childhood sweetheart, a Gallic Princess played by the beautiful and talented Ines Sastray, who I would give an award for having the most beautiful smile of all time.
The Gauls are very well portrayed as a hearty and boisterous lot. The men are fearless and hearty warriors and the women even more admirable. What was beautiful about the scene where the Gallic woman partially strip and dance on the ramparts of the fortress of Gegovia, is their sheer courage and joy of life, in the face of the brutal enemy legions.
How these beautiful spirited women show absolutely no fear in the face of Caesar's legions, and instead dance on the rooftops of Gegovia. (...)
I think that the costumes, battle scenes and landscapes where done superbly, although the battle scenes may have been shown a little too small a scale.
As for Brandauer playing a Caesar with a German accent, I don't really see this as a problem, as no one was speaking English in 50 BC in Gaul or Rome anyway, so an English hot potatoes accent, or an American accent would not really be any more authentic to Caesar than Brandauer German one.
Don't compare it to Braveheart or Spartacus, just enjoy it in it's own right!
I must admit though that the English title `Druids' is not a good one , because the Druids where indeed not the main part of the story.

Instead of comparing this movie to Braveheart, I recommend that instead you enjoy it for the superb peace that it is.











Rating:
Summary: Highly fudged but entertaining history
Review: This was a pretty good concept movie that didn't quite work in the end. While most of what Gauis Julius Caesar is noted for is his life after crossing the Rubicon (to face Pompey and start a Roman civil war) his accomplishments prior to that phase of his life were quite interesting as well. Among the most salient of these was his duel with the Gallic commander known as Vercingetorix.

It is fitting that the Gallic hero is played by a French actor, Christopher Lambert. I've always liked Lambert, although he's been in plenty of bad movies. This one is more of the mediocre variety; decent, but not great.

Contrary to the story depicted in the film, Caesar and Vercingetorix were never best-buddies. Of course, I understand that this brings a bit more pathos to the tale when they are said to actually know each other. Historically speaking, however, this is nonsense.

There are some components of the film that score points insofar as historical veracity is concerned, however. The siege of Alesia is pretty accurate. As is portrayed in the film, Vercingetorix had a substantial advantage in manpower. His problem was coordinating their attacks and focusing the firepower he had at his disposal.

A few other things I didn't care for on the DVD. One, the special effects showing the comet at the beginning seemed to be vintage 1960s. I've seen low-budget films from the 1970s with better FX. Also, the site of Caesar's very own 10th Legion advancing to a pseudo-rock drumbeat was something I found to be strange & inappropriate.

All in all, if you're a buff of historical / period movies, this one might be worth a look. To this day they have re-creations of the ramparts and palisades of the siege of Alesia in France, and there is also a statue of Vercingetorix that extols him as a freedom fighter. While far from perfect, this film does in fact re-tell an important epoch of European history.