Marcin Kukuczka
The novel by Howard Fast deservedly works as a source for the story of Spartacus on the screen. However, it got considerably condensed in the 1960 classic Kubrick/Douglas production due to some specific limitations/requirements in the Hollywood of that time. This resulted in a fabulous motion picture, a cult Roman epic, the last great production of the period; yet, that is the movie which, for more than half a century, has stood on its own as a more independent production rather than a good novel adaptation. Therefore, the idea to make something more faithful to Fast's bestseller occurred reasonable after all these years when Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR marked a new rise of ancient epics. Robert Dornhelm's SPARTACUS is no remake, which makes all comparisons fruitless but its great challenge of adapting the novel to the modern expectations leaves many factors open for analysis. Does it succeed in that respect? Does it make us keen on the novel? Dornhelm's interpretation of the story, being merely a TV production, appears to surprise both the novel buffs and the epic freaks. SPARTACUS succeeds at two major levels.First, this production maintains the core idea of what the entire story is about. Having read Fast's novel, most people agree that the content of the movie strongly resembles the ideals and events therein incorporated. Our attention is focused on various personalities, various lives that meet at one significant moment: their mutual fight for freedom. The slaves (no human rank within the Roman society) are at the core, the slaves are the 'heroes.' Therefore, at the very beginning when Varinia and Spartacus are equally introduced to us, we feel the very spirit that is so unique in the novel: human stories, simple stories with no king, no hero. That ideal is, of course, contrasted with the Roman world, the world of corruption, greed and self-admiration. The world of hierarchy vs the world of equality. Consider the Roman leaders talking of sunrises vs sunsets. While the world of slaves represents many fights but one goal, the world of Romans represents individual ends and means justified. The events that shook the politicians and ambitious masters reflected upon at the Villa Salaria in Fast's novel (an important location for the novel not mentioned here) truly contribute to the spirit of the entire theme. The faithfulness to the novel is expressed in the development of characters, including Spartacus and certain aspects in scenes like the 'soul' blowing between Varinia and Spartacus, the true reason for the revolt in Batiatus' school at Capua, the ill ambitions of 'noble' Marcus Crassus, finally, the rescue of Varinia and the baby. And that beautifully addresses the novel buffs.Second, unlike the novel built upon flashbacks (beginning with the actual crucifixions of slaves and young adventure seekers' journey for Capua), the linear content in Dornhelm's SPARTACUS better resembles the spirit and manner of epic productions. The events clearly develop to certain climaxes; the battles are realistic; the gladiatorial fights are enriched with concrete 'ornaments' which, not necessarily historical, rouse viewers' interests. Deeper analysts will be particularly keen on the depiction of Draba's death...far and close to the novel similarly to the 1960 version. The convincing adaptation addresses the merits of the movie like wardrobe, locations, graphic violence (respectfully handled), sets, and... performances.Goran Visnijic, to a great extent, emphasizes Spartacus' humanity. He is more the 'leader with the broken nose' described in the novel, he focuses on human nature of his character including his own weaknesses. He has little of a great superhero's features - Visnijic's Spartacus is sympathetic, he does not distort the image that was incorporated in the novel – a good husband, a good gladiator and a good 'father' for his peoples. Sir Alan Bates (who actually died during the production) is another key character here. His role of Agrippa refers to the role of Charles Laughton's Gracchus and, similarly to the novel character Gracchus. He represents the different face of Rome – although his ways up the ladder were also deceptive, he is the politician who can face and accept the truth no matter how bitter it is. That makes Agrippa a good Roman...that made Gracchus a good Roman. Finally, the character portrayal that needs more attention is...Rhona Mitra's Varinia – something revolutionary! There is nothing about her that makes you think of Jean Simmons but Ms Mitra is indeed closer to the Varinia described by Howard Fast – a simple girl from Gaul, an emotional girl, a 'savage' girl that makes the proud Roman leader beg her for her love and a Roman senator say "You shame us." All those facts, however, do not justify Robert Dornhelm's SPARTACUS for its flaws that appear to be striking at certain moments. First, it refers to the character of Draba and the viewers of Draba vs Spartacus fight – the key character and the key moment in the whole story. Draba teaches them how to live, he is a hero for the gladiators in the novel. They were selected to fight to the death by two Roman men who wanted to rouse themselves while seeing naked men fighting and dying in arena. One of them was Crassus...I think that this decadent debauchery should be emphasized more because it constitutes a certain basis for later struggles within Crassus' mind. I can understand that it was changed dramatically in 1960 due to the censors but in 2004 Mr Dornhelm could have considered that aspect of homosexuality. Another simplification is the weak development of David, the Jew.All in all, a decent novel adaptation, one of the TV productions that has really succeeded at multiple levels to address the very gist of the story. After the ancient Appian Way filled with crosses, the highly optimistic finale follows and beautifully resembles the never ending dream of humanity: dream to be as simple as a child, as free as a child. That's what never dies, that's what is written in stars...
gzerna
If there is any reason to watch this remake, it is Alan Bates' brief appearance as Agrippa. This was his very last, and his easy brilliance is a treasure, as always. There is also some decent camera work and editing in this mini-series. Poor Goran V. is horribly miscast as Spartacus. If he had hoped to break his type-cast as a thoughtful, well-spoken intellectual type with this role, he should have put some organic, animalistic effort into it. Vin Diesel (whom I detest) would have been better casting for this part. And as much as I sometimes tire of Kirk Douglas's over-the-top acting, his raw power in the original Spartacus was a world-away more convincing.
dstager-1
The original Spartacus is a superior movie as movies go. However, this version has much to offer and won't disappoint. The depiction of the Gladiator fights has several authentic touches such as the branding on the neck of the losing fighter. The brand was to insure the gladiator wasn't faking death! They still got the thumbs-down crowd signal wrong. In the movies, the thumbs-down means the crowd wants the loser to die. In reality the thumbs-down meant to let the loser live and to signal the victor to put down their sword. The death signal was a thumb stabbing motion toward the heart. I suppose they can be forgiven because few people watching the movie would know that and it would probably confuse most people to change it. They likewise included the signal of the losing fighter to plead for mercy, but got that wrong slightly too because the signal is one finger, not two. Still, they obviously tried to get things more accurate. The gladiator characters were quite accurate as were their weaponry and armor. Very good job there. They obviously paid attention to the discoveries made since "Gladiator" came out in 2000.But the gladitorial combat scenes are a very small part of this movie. This is primarily a war movie and the war is a fight for freedom by slaves against the Roman empire. The producers retained much of the social commentary from Howard Fast's book. It fact they hit you over the head with it in case you didn't read the book. Most important in this the Draba character, the black gladiator who fights Spartacus. His role, though small, is key to the story. Also pay attention to Agrippa, the Roman Senator who is constantly making Crassius' life miserable. He's not what he seems, so pay attention.Watching the mini-series on USA Network over two separate nights days apart is unbearable. But when commercials are edited out and you can watch the whole thing without so many interruptions, the narrative is quite fluid. This would make a nice DVD because the photography is good, the costumes detailed, the acting/casting good, and the story excellent.It is just not the same movie as the 1960 version. Don't expect a simple remake. The ending is different. Spartacus' fate is different. It's more like Howard Fast wrote it originally than what Hollywood made of it in 1960.The 1960 version is superb, but it's not the same as this movie. It's a similar but different story. I highly recommend this version along with the original.
