TAKE A MOVIE TO WORK: The Eagle

LOL, as a Scots descendant I also wanted to find a point where I could root for the ancestors. But it was not to happen. That is, other than to root for the slave become comrade. He was Scots, wasn't he?

Thank you, Bill. I will make a point of seeing "The Eagle" at the earliest opportunity.

Could I possibly persuade you to do a "Take a Movie to Work" segment about the Pixar film "The Incredibles"? I've seen it half a dozen times, and I'm always amazed at how much it has to say about values like heroism, excellence, and doing what is right rather than what is easy.

Where can I download the movie? It wasn't on iTunes.

Where can I download it? Couldn't find it on iTunes.

I am so very ready to have the Declaration Entertainment movies come online. I just read a review of "Thor" that hailed it as having a real masculine hero.

That masculine hero had to come from off-planet.

I am ready for real stories about real men.

Sigh.

"The Eagle" is outstanding. Oh, I liked this movie so much. It is fantastic for me, a movie lover and a mom, to take my son and his buddies to see a movie that speaks of strength as a good. I think that boys get so much from stories of strength and heroism and as the mother of a teen/young man (sixteen years old) I found this movie to be a rare and wonderful gem. There is so much to this movie that it takes an essay to do it any justice at all.

The movie works with worn and beautifully burnished classic themes and story elements. Narratives with these qualities feed the human heart so well. Bill Whittle says it so true in that too many movies ruin this type of story by framing the hero as the horrible and the barbarian as noble and victim.

Pius and noble, the hero, Marcus Flavius Aquila, is a wonderful persona for a youngster to watch. He is a classical hero sans superpowers. He is a young man to whom teen boys can compare themselves. He commands a Roman outpost in a violently hostile region; a way of life that teen boys can barely imagine. He leads his men into one particular battle, a battle full of the promise of extreme brutality in which they are vastly outnumbered. I almost described him as “fearlessly” leading his men, but he does have fear, just to all outward appearances he neither hesitates nor shows fear.

The hero, then, takes viewers further; he transcends that exciting existence, puts fear firmly in her place, and, trusting in his strength and knowledge attempts a much larger challenge. It is all so wonderful and old fashioned and masculine.

In the movie, Hadrian's Wall represents the physical and metaphoric limit of the "known world" or civilization, take your pick. There is danger even within the limits of the wall at this extreme edge of the Roman Empire. Yet the problem of his father's fate lures, no, urges young Marcus Flavius Aquila to step beyond that "known" and venture past, out into the insecurity and danger of an alien, hostile world. This metaphor underlies the rest of the movie. The harsh physical challenges of the gorgeous rugged landscape and weather illustrate and reinforce the theme.

The movie also works with another classic theme that wears its age well, that of the conflict, within a civilized culture, between the man of action and the opportunistic, scheming, soft and ambitious man. The man of action is civilization’s defense against the wild forces of brutality and anarchy. He can be honorable, as portrayed in many classic stories, and as he is here in the hero, Marcus Flavius Aquila. Or, as a foil to an antihero, he can be a dishonorable figure to be despised, as portrayed so brilliantly by Jack Nickleson's character, Colonel Jessup, in the movie "A Few Good Men.”

Aquila’s urge to restore the honor of his father is strong and he is stationed at this extreme outpost at his own request as if to follow his father’s path. Yet, he makes no move in that direction until spurred into action by the slanders of soft, ambitious men.

“The Eagle” then moves into a journey beyond the Wall that is, at first, meditative. Aquila has to remain strong and yet adapt to depending on his companion, his slave. His slave, Esca, who has made clear that he loathes Aquila and all that he and Rome represent, owes Aquila for saving his life. The question of loyalty and trust between men looms large. Teen boys will recognize that masculine dichotomy of comrade versus adversary, between Aquila and Esca, which they themselves experience. Trust, betrayal, who is on top who is not ...

In the part of the movie beyond Hadrian’s Wall, the story becomes heavy with the threat of brutal tribal violence. With the viewers’ anxiety heightened in this way, the film then begins to raise serious questions concerning the tapestry of the human condition. Questions about large ideas that do not come with easy answers. Questions about tribalism, the terror of the being an outsider versus the comfort of belonging. Questions arise about the civilizing effects of empire versus the oppression of the conquered. There are vague parallels drawn between the officers in the outpost and the leaders of the seal people. The movie seems to compare the oppression of slavery, as a universal practiced by the Roman Empire and the barbarian tribes alike, with the oppression of conquest as a question to puzzle over. There is so much to appreciate in the way in which “The Eagle” presents grand, difficult questions, questions fit for a current events class, without providing pat easy answers while at the same time providing a rollicking good adventure story with the classic storybook ending.

This movie is just plain wonderful.

I realize that this site is about movies, but it is worth mentioning that this movie was based on a book, _The Eagle of the Ninth_ by Rosemary Sutcliff. If you enjoyed the movie, may I suggest you read the book?

Perhaps if this movie does well, we might see an adaptation of _The Silver Branch_, its sequel, an equally good story, and one whose message about Western civilization should resonate with this audience.

Haven't seen this movie yet but it sounds and looks a lot like "Centurion" which is on DVD. It gauls me to see the Romans always as the gold standard for decent behaviour when in reality it was an enormous crime syndicate. Julius Caesar was murdered because he wanted to enlarge the Senate to include Germans, Gauls and Britons taking power from the fat cat Italians-only Senate. This Empire of Brutality culminated in the Battle of Teutoburger Wald in AD9 in Germany where the German army of Arminius wiped out 3 Roman Legions about 18,000 soldiers in about 2 hours. It stopped forever the expansion of the Romans and broke the spirit of Augustus. But you never hear about that battle, where the bully got his nose broke, it goes against the patriarchal narrative.

I'd just like endorse the other commenter who gave you the name of the book and the author. Rosemary Sutcliff was a wonderful writer and our family are stitched-on fans.
When my son told me they were making a movie of The Eagle of the Ninth I was worried about how much they would stuff it up, but your recommendation makes me ready to see it. It should be noted that in the book at least, Marcus gives Esca his freedom before they make the hazardous journey to find the lost eagle.
Those 'savages' are my people too, and who knows, there may be some Roman blood mixed in there as well. I am very grateful that the Christian gospel reached my people so long ago and shaped the culture that I am blessed to call my own.

Thank you for this great review, Mr. W. I enjoyed the book when I was a kid and was pleased to learn that it would be made into a movie. I saw it opening day and enjoyed it, and we are of like mind as to the reasons why it was a good and enjoyable film.

When the film was over, I thought about it a bit and decided that this movie was just past its time, as far as moviemaking goes. That's not a bad thing, it's an indictment of modern movies and cinema. I figured that if this movie came out in 1960, it would have been a huge hit and it would have captured the imaginations of audiences.

I loved everything about it. Great review!

Vinnie Vegas, Las Vegas, NV