Kmac35

As a Roman historian but an avid fan of Gladiator I wasn't expecting historical accuracy but I was looking forward to an adult film about Rome. What I got was something like an episode of Scooby doo with silly characters an awful plot line and wooden, unbelievable acting. I can't believe that anyone over the of 12 actually wrote this.

Right at the start and the silly animals came on that looked like they belonged in Jurassic park I realised this was not a sequel to the Russell Crowe movie I loved. It was some awful caricature written by a dreadful child with a silly imagination. After managing to watch to the end the final speech proved me right. It sounded like a child shouting in the playground, 'Rome is horrible we must make it nice'. So pathetic it's embarrassing. Anyone who likes Roman history would absolutely hate this travesty. This is a movie written by someone who has no talent, no skills and no imagination but has been given free rein and this is the result. We waited almost 25 years and we got this. Shameful.

I really like to see diversity in historical fiction. I love Bridgerton which explains it is diverse because it is an alternative history, ie a 'what if' and is an amazing cast. The BBC however has completely lost the ability to produce a period drama of any merit. I find it not only silly to make a real person, who we know was white, a person of colour but it is also extremely insulting and disrespectful. How can they think it is okay to make a person of colour pretend to be a white person? It's shameful that this kind of mockery is accepted in the 21st century. The BBC should be ashamed of itself. I can only assume that the actors concerned took the part to become better known because there is no other reason a person of colour would deign to pretend to be white. This is not supposed to be historical fiction, it is supposed be a factual retelling of real events and real people. Once again the BBC has failed in its ignorance.

I love British movies and this one didn't disappoint. I knew I would like after reading the Guardians review. They hated it and they are always wrong about everything so, guess what? It was really good. One of those quiet movies about something quite trivial but has you routing for them at the end. Britain is renowned for supporting for the underdog and this movie has you cheering them on till the end. Bromley FC are going down and it's up to schoolboy Dave to save them. Even better that it's a true story and great to see the actors with the characters they played at the end.

Proof that you don't need to be a superstar or action hero to tell a good tale.