Common Sense Media Review
Mr. Darcy trades Austen for Excalibur. Only OK.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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The Last Legion
What's the Story?
"The legend begins beneath these dark hills." That would be the oft-told legend of Excalibur. After his parents are killed, 12-year-old Emperor Romulus Augustus is imprisoned on the island of Capri, along with his former teacher, Ambrosinus (Ben Kingsley). Aurelius (Colin Firth), Romulus' new teacher, Batiatus (Nonso Anozie), Demetrius (Rupert Friend), and Mira (Aishwarya Rai) help them escape, and they journey to Britain to find the 9th legion.
Is It Any Good?
The leaps of faith required for this brutally bloody film are many. But once you've already made one or two of 'em, it's easy enough to accept that Bollywood superstar Rai is as likely to a super-lethal fighter as Mr. Darcy. Both Aurelius and Mira suffer betrayal by their leaders, which prompts their decisions to cut ties with the past and throw their lot in with the boy, the apparent future of Rome.
The question of country -- of borders that need defending and serve as markers for identity -- remains mostly unresolved. The fact that the titular legion has been abandoned by foundering Rome and now waits for a mission in Britannia suggests that the whole empire thing isn't all it's cracked up to be.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why stories about Arthur, Merlin, and Excalibur hold such fascination. What is it about legends and myths that continues to appeal to -- and inspire us -- for so many hundreds of years? Do you think filmmakers try to make movies like this one as accurate as possible, or do they care more about how the movie looks and the reaction it gets from an audience? Families can also discuss leadership and loyalty; how are both portrayed in this film?
Movie Details
- In theaters : August 17, 2007
- On DVD or streaming : December 18, 2007
- Cast : Aishwarya Rai , Ben Kingsley , Colin Firth
- Director : Doug Lefler
- Inclusion Information : Indian/South Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Weinstein Co.
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : sequences of intense action violence.
- Last updated : September 21, 2019
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