The Duke of Movietown
I saw HERCULES! Now, this new sword and sandal film might as well be a sequel to Scorpion King because it's pretty much the exact same movie. Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson plays Hercules in this movie and unlike a lot of other films, this version is more of a man than demi-god with the legend of his exploits far exceeding his reality. With his team of mercenaries, which includes Ian McShane, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, and Rufus Sewell, he travels the world in search of gold and glory. However, Hercules' true metal has yet to be tested as he fights against a new enemy which holds mysteries of his past. Now that's all I can tell you without giving anything away. This movie is trying really hard to recapture the magic of Gladiator and mix in a little bit of that mystic Troy flavor and it might have done that if it were handled better. First off, The Rock is not a very good actor...like at all. He's like Stallone, as long as he doesn't talk, a la Rocky & First Blood, he's great. This movie doesn't get it, and it ends up giving Johnson too many opportunities to put his foot in his mouth (shined up and turned sideways of course). The second thing is that the movie is rated PG-13 and I'm sorry but if you're going to try do this right, it's simply got to be an R-rated film. Without the brutality it comes off as like a tiny bit better version of Hercules the 1990s TV show which MAYBE they were going for but ehh... I highly doubt it. Overall I'd say this is a good Redbox movie but with so many other choices this summer, save your money. It's not bad, it's just passable. Put it on the shelf as better than Alexander but not quite as good as Troy and just BARELY under Scorpion King. Hercules gets a 2.5...out of 5.
codywinfrey
Other than the presence of Dwayne Johnson the acting and special effects in this movie wouldn't be out of place in a Doctor Who episode set in ancient Greece. It seems more like the low budget WWE films The Rock was in before the Fast franchise made him a star. Every decent special effect sequence teased in the trailer is essentially no more than was shown in the trailer and the movie doesn't seem sure of what it wants to do with Hercules's Origin, it plays at him being a con-man selling the idea he is Zeus's son as a lie, then has him perform feats of strength that wouldn't be out of place in a Thor movie. Every actor looks bored , I didn't think it would be good, but I thought it might be a fun silly action movie. It's just not what the trailer sold it as.
reenieshelton
My family enjoyed this movie. We grew up watching movies such as Jason and the Argonauts, Sinbad etc. We found this movie entertaining and action packed. Ian McShane is always good in his roles. John Hurt does not let anyone down either. I think people are much too harsh in judging this movie as the worst they've seen and they apparently have not seen Pink Flamingos the absolute worst movie ever made and that is not just my opinion. How did John Water's ever become some kind of hero? Sorry I digress. Hercules does contain minimal profane language. There are no sexual situations or gratuitous nudity. Dwayne Johnson may not be an Oscar winning actor but he's not the worst I've ever seen. I suspect if you watch this movie with an open mind you may enjoy it too. Or not :D
