RichC2

I keep hearing the movie isn't all that bad, but it doesn't seem like it's worth paying for.

Cloudy with a Chance of Lava

rexinnih

Yeah!! (Comment by non-female straight man who likes gladiator movies)

dex14

...is what this should've been called.

RichC2

I agree, it's what one of the Sony execs keeps calling it

Dr. DVD

This was shot in 3D, so I will give it a chance for nothing more than a cheap thrill.

GoldenJCJ

I'm guessing you're right and I'll go one step further and say the movie will be bookended by such scenes.

Dr. DVD

There were documented cases of such in Pompeii, so that makes sense.

Why So Blu?

I remember when I saw 300 at the theater (twice), the first was in IMAX at Universal City and there was a line to get in, because it was a sold-out show. I'd say it was a 70-30 male audience. We kept joking around that it was "Club Sauságe" up in here. Then when I saw it with a chick, I was with over at The Bridge , it was more evenly split crowd - 60-40 male. 300 was a big deal and it was obvious that dudes wanted to see the carnage - the whole homo-eroticism (what little there is in that film) was incidental.

That's why I don't get the criticism when it comes to flicks like this. People are really fucking cynical nowadays and it's a bore trying to keep up with the haters.

RichC2

300 also had a killer trailer at the time.

Why So Blu?

Right, it's years later now, that everyone says it's "gay."

Giles

well.. duh

Dr. DVD

Saw it in 3D. The real irony of this movie is that Mt. Vesuvius is the only thing that doesn't really blow.

Greg MacGuffin

Nope. Movie came out in March 2007 and this video was uploaded a month later.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8mJJjo1WYj0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I'm actually a fan of the flick but as Patton Oswalt would say, it's gayer than eight guys blowing nine guys.

Why So Blu?

Anyways, back to Pompeii - my friend liked it enough - gave it a 3 out of 5:

Sometimes it is fine just taking what you can get. A serviceable film is not necessarily a bad one if you had an overall good time. I would be curious to revisit my thoughts on Pompeii a week from now or even a couple days from now and figure out what I would do differently in this review, but as of now, I am fine giving a mild recommendation to this disaster epic that aspires to be Gladiator and Titanic combined into a shorter and more streamlined film. It may lack the ability to be emotionally affecting and there are many elements that are way over-the-top, but at the same time, I knew what I was getting into and was fine with eventually giving in. Pompeii is not great art, but I cannot say it does not deliver on its goal. It is just a matter of how far you are willing to go to enjoy a campy B-movie set in the Roman Empire.

http://whysoblu.com/pompeii-movie-review/

Dr. DVD

^ Kind of agree. I just wish they had treated the subject matter as more than a campy B-movie.

Rypro 525

i can see this being the conversation between Sutherland and his Agent

Agent: hey Keifer, you get to be like Juaquin in Gladiator, and you get to film in Europe for 2 months
Keifter: SIGN ME UP
Agent: but you have to master a british accent
Keifer: DAMMIT. bring me some Jose Curervo

ie his accent is kinda cringeworthy. The movie isn't all that bad. I do think it should of been R rated, as there's a lot of sword play and bloodless throat slashing.

Since some have mentioned the 'titanic/gladiator meets dante's peak' comparison, i'd also add

Why So Blu?

Fuck, I didn't think it was PG-13. Maybe they'll add it back (the blood) for an Unrated cut on Blu-ray? I really dug Death Race (all of them, in fact) and I really dig Three Musketeers.

Rypro 525

Also the first half or so is very much a Gladiator style historical melodrama, with only the volcano looming over it.

RocShemp

I'm genuinely surprised/disappointed that isn't exactly how it ends.

Matthew Chmiel

I saw this with my wife yesterday. I thought this was the first Paul W.S. Anderson film I've seen in theaters, but I forgot about Death Race.

Long story short:

• It's definitely a Paul W.S. Anderson film.
• The film is unoriginal, boring, but at least unintentionally hilarious. The comparison of Gladiator meets Titanic is spot on. At least Anderson had the decency to keep the film under 100 minutes.
• The 3D sucks despite the fact Anderson shot it in 3D.
• The film's accents reminded me a lot of Valkyrie in regards to the actors speaking in their native tongue (ahem, Sutherland, Moss, etc). Can't do an accent? Who cares!

At least Anderson had the balls to:

E Unit

But did they play that song by Bastille at the end?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/F90Cw4l-8NY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Supermallet

I'm surprised the 3D is bad. WS Anderson usually does some really cool stuff with it.

Rypro 525

hense my post of reminding me of

PenguinJoe

Can't wait to watch this on SyFy.

DJariya

Despite the bad reviews, I think I still want to see this. We'll see if I have time tomorrow.

Funny thing to mention, Kiefer Sutherland took a break from shooting 24 to do press on all the talk shows for Pompeii including The Today Show, Live with Kelly and Michael. Kiefer's a smart guy, but the way he plugged this movie and his character, he made it sound like he just filmed Hamlet.