791 replies to this topic

[BloodNGore]

Loving the gore level of Ep 4 man that face rip was awesome.

[crossplain pilgrim]

I also enjoyed this ep most so far. Not only because it was most brutal action scenes so far. Spartacus descent to the pits was so emotionally strong,you felt for the poor guy guy losing his mind,body to fights.


Whitefield and Jonh Hannah are impressive and so is the black Gladiator trainer. Dont know the actor's name.

This show should be a hit among sword fights fans and sandal flicks. Thats most adult male that like adventure,action.


I also like the title of the eps.

"The Thing in the Pit." sound like a S&S story from the fantasy pulp days

Doctore, the gladiator trainer, is played by Peter Mensah. Yea, he's doing a great job. As the Marines used to say, he's the meanest mother in the valley. I think we have also neglected Lucy Lawless. This last episode pointed up the complexities in her character, Lucretia, the avaricious wife of Batiatus, owner of the gladiator ludus. She's selfish and promiscuous, but in her own way loyal and loving to her husband. So far. Interesting twist that she seems to be developing as a mortal enemy of Spartacus. So far.

[Libaax]

I also enjoyed this ep most so far. Not only because it was most brutal action scenes so far. Spartacus descent to the pits was so emotionally strong,you felt for the poor guy guy losing his mind,body to fights.


Whitefield and Jonh Hannah are impressive and so is the black Gladiator trainer. Dont know the actor's name.

This show should be a hit among sword fights fans and sandal flicks. Thats most adult male that like adventure,action.


I also like the title of the eps.

"The Thing in the Pit." sound like a S&S story from the fantasy pulp days

Yeah Mensah looks,acts among the meanest i can think of

Doctore, the gladiator trainer, is played by Peter Mensah. Yea, he's doing a great job. As the Marines used to say, he's the meanest mother in the valley. I think we have also neglected Lucy Lawless. This last episode pointed up the complexities in her character, Lucretia, the avaricious wife of Batiatus, owner of the gladiator ludus. She's selfish and promiscuous, but in her own way loyal and loving to her husband. So far. Interesting twist that she seems to be developing as a mortal enemy of Spartacus. So far.

Yeah Mensah looks,acts among the meanest i have seen.

Lucy Lawless i know what to expect from,i have enjoyed her even in Battlestar Galactica.

Heh i thought the same as you about her character,work in this ep. I found it very historicly correct how Lucretia might be promiscuous with the slaves but she is still loyal to her husband when it matters. She can toy with Crixcus but she knows who her man is.

I wonder is she is with him for his money,easy life(when they had money) or because she feels for him despite having lovers that is not on her free woman level.

Edited by Libaax, 14 February 2010 - 08:52 PM.

[monk]

Got to hand it to the writers, I did not foresee tonight's ending. I kept thinking, "How the heck does Spartacus get out of this?"...

come now dog brother, you didn't see from a mile off that Spartacus was going to somehow rescue Batiatus from being murdered, as the plot device for his redemptive return to gladiator status?

I kinda like the affected dialogue too...I have no idea how it corresponds to latin syntax but if it did I would give the writers their props. If they could just tone down the cgi. It's seriously becoming a road block for me to really enjoy these shows.

[John Maddox Roberts]

Hollywood loves a formula. So far, "Spartacus" has remained faithful to "The Hustler" with Spartacus as Fast Eddie, Crixus as Minnesota Fats and Batiatus as the gambler played by George C. Scott. Thus far, Fast Eddie has challenged Fats, been defeated and humiliated, descends into the underworld where through degradation he acquires the character to return and defeat Fats in a final tournament. That's where the old movie ends, so I presume that there will be another formula adopted for the second part, the slave insurrection. Of course, they can always use the old Kirk Douglas movie. that had a good formula, too.

[crossplain pilgrim]

I agree with your insights, JMR. However, I don't recall Kirk Douglas ever facing off against Crixus (John Ireland) in the Kubrick flick. His big duel was against Draba (Woody Strode). Like the TV version, Spartacus loses his fight and is spared by his opponent.

Historically, Crixus bedame a leader of the slave rebellion. I'm not sure if Spartacus and Crixus were buddies or rivals. The former seems to be the case as Spartacus forced captured Romans to fight to the death in Crixus honor after the latters untimely demise. We may get a hint of the evolving relationship between the two tonight. Spartacus and Crixus have to learn to work together to survive an undefeated opponent.

[deuce]

I agree with your insights, JMR. However, I don't recall Kirk Douglas ever facing off against Crixus (John Ireland) in the Kubrick flick. His big duel was against Draba (Woody Strode). Like the TV version, Spartacus loses his fight and is spared by his opponent.

Kubrick took that straight from the Howard Fast novel. Despite the fact that sub-Saharan Africans were quite rare in Roman Italy (especially during Republican times), filmmakers (and Fast) can't seem to resist throwing them in there. The Romans had plenty of Caucasoid slaves to buy with a lot less transport costs. "Mongoloid" visitors and slaves from Asia were about as common in Roman Italy as sub-Saharan Africans, yet you rarely see any actors of that phenotype in "Roman" films.

You don't see filmmakers giving Shaka Zulu a Hindu mentor/side-kick/slave.

Historically, Crixus became a leader of the slave rebellion. I'm not sure if Spartacus and Crixus were buddies or rivals. The former seems to be the case as Spartacus forced captured Romans to fight to the death in Crixus honor after the latters untimely demise. We may get a hint of the evolving relationship between the two tonight. Spartacus and Crixus have to learn to work together to survive an undefeated opponent.

Fast downplayed Crixus about as much as was feasible.

BTW, I saw the first episode last weekend and I'll admit it was a guilty pleasure. I hope it improves. The real Spartacus deserves it.

[deuce]

REH scholar, Steve Trout, has an excellent write-up on Howard Fast's Spartacus novel (which inspired the Kubrick film) here:

http://www.thecimmerian.com/?p=11310

[Libaax]

deuce :

You wont find a better show that focuses so well on historical gladiators like Spartacus,Crixus. At first i thought it was too much slow mo violence,sex. But ep 3+ has become better story wise,seriousness.

Ep 5 i just saw was mostly about Crixus and was a quality story from his POV.

Frankly it makes me want to read good historical books about these guys. The show might on the action side but they capture well the Gladiator POV. The slave,warrior,honor,powerlessness etc

[Andradir]

BTW: the battle at the end of episode V was epic!

[crossplain pilgrim]

I watched Episode 5, which is a transformational story. Crixus and Spartacus must fight as a team against a super-gladiator who is considered unbeatable. The character of Spartacus reaches a new, and I'll wager, permanent level of development in the story. Crixus also evolves and his character takes an unexpected turn. I didn't think the plot packed the emotional punch of Episode 4, however. The super-gladiator was hyped to such proportions that when he finally takes the stage (arena) at the show's climax, it is an inevitable letdown from our imaginations. However, don't get me wrong, he's pretty bad and the fight is memorable.

In addition, the darker side of one of the show's principal characters is revealed, which I found somewhat unsettling, as the character has been presented in a mostly sympathetic light previously. His deed is dark indeed. Talk about a take no prisoners attitude. I was reminded of an episode of "Deadwood" when Al, the town's criminal boss, kills a perfectly innocent girl to save his former lover. It just seemed wrong and I never again felt the same way about the show.

It seems to be the dramatic pattern of this series to provide a story that is generally resolved each week, but to telegraph future developments and evolving character relationships that leave the viewer anxious for the next episode. Very reminiscent of "Hill Street Blues," "Deadwood," and, of course, "Rome." My biggest regret about the show is that unlike "Rome," "Spartacus" has (so far) only one well-written and interesting character (Batiatus), while "Rome" had such wonderfully realized characters as Pullo, Caesar, Purefoy's marvelous Mark Anthony, Attia, Cicero, and a dozen more. However, to be fair, this is a different kind of show from "Rome." This one is far more accessible to the average fan, moves faster, and ladles out levels of violence and sex that paint previous series pale in comparison.

I find some of the sexual material uncomfortably overdone, but I suspect that if the show eased up on it's more shocking flourishes it would undermine its distinctive pedal-to-the-metal, over-the-top style. I have come to the conclusion that if I want the adult melodrama, great fights, and historical ambience, I am going to have to put up with the sleaze.

[deuce]

deuce :

You wont find a better show that focuses so well on historical gladiators like Spartacus,Crixus. At first i thought it was too much slow mo violence,sex. But ep 3+ has become better story wise,seriousness.

Ep 5 i just saw was mostly about Crixus and was a quality story from his POV.

Frankly it makes me want to read good historical books about these guys. The show might on the action side but they capture well the Gladiator POV. The slave,warrior,honor,powerlessness etc

Thanks for the recommendation, Libaax. It's good that Crixus is getting his due. There's a decent chance I'll get caught up on a few more episodes tomorrow.

[monk]

hopefully they shyte can the helmet cam.

[Michael Miko]

I am not uncomfortable with the sexuality of the show. I think its great that they don't shy away from it. Sexuality is like breathing and eating, a natural drive. Violence is part of that world, so is sex. I appalaud the creators for not taking the easy way out.

[Libaax]

I watched Episode 5, which is a transformational story. Crixus and Spartacus must fight as a team against a super-gladiator who is considered unbeatable. The character of Spartacus reaches a new, and I'll wager, permanent level of development in the story. Crixus also evolves and his character takes an unexpected turn. I didn't think the plot packed the emotional punch of Episode 4, however. The super-gladiator was hyped to such proportions that when he finally takes the stage (arena) at the show's climax, it is an inevitable letdown from our imaginations. However, don't get me wrong, he's pretty bad and the fight is memorable.

In addition, the darker side of one of the show's principal characters is revealed, which I found somewhat unsettling, as the character has been presented in a mostly sympathetic light previously. His deed is dark indeed. Talk about a take no prisoners attitude. I was reminded of an episode of "Deadwood" when Al, the town's criminal boss, kills a perfectly innocent girl to save his former lover. It just seemed wrong and I never again felt the same way about the show.

It seems to be the dramatic pattern of this series to provide a story that is generally resolved each week, but to telegraph future developments and evolving character relationships that leave the viewer anxious for the next episode. Very reminiscent of "Hill Street Blues," "Deadwood," and, of course, "Rome." My biggest regret about the show is that unlike "Rome," "Spartacus" has (so far) only one well-written and interesting character (Batiatus), while "Rome" had such wonderfully realized characters as Pullo, Caesar, Purefoy's marvelous Mark Anthony, Attia, Cicero, and a dozen more. However, to be fair, this is a different kind of show from "Rome." This one is far more accessible to the average fan, moves faster, and ladles out levels of violence and sex that paint previous series pale in comparison.

I find some of the sexual material uncomfortably overdone, but I suspect that if the show eased up on it's more shocking flourishes it would undermine its distinctive pedal-to-the-metal, over-the-top style. I have come to the conclusion that if I want the adult melodrama, great fights, and historical ambience, I am going to have to put up with the sleaze.

When Spartacus has Cirian Hinds,Purefoy,Polly Walker,Kevin McKidd and co can you only compare it to Rome. When they have HBO,BBC millions,HBO fame,when they have one of the most famous characters in all of western history....

People are surprised all over the web about this show. They except lame action feast....

Batiatus seem more interesting because he has more freedom for potential stories because he isnt a slave who sleep in a cell. He is a free,rich Roman...

To me Spartacus,Crixus is as interesting.

To me its realistic and nothing will change how i see him when he killed that kid,his family. Vendetta comes from these people. These are barbaric times plus Batiatus i saw early as a modern mob leader. I mean he has his men who will kill for him,he has buisness to make money off,he has has the drive,will to kill for his money.

Al Swerengen was a generic bad guy in comparison. I liked how Lucretia was shocked,saddened that he would kill a boy. I geuss she didnt know that side of him.

[Taran]

Well, of course it ain't Rome. A lot of people went in trying to get their Rome fix, including George R.R. Martin, and then acted disappointed when they knew the budget wasn't nearly as high, or that Starz wasn't anything like HBO, or that none of Rome's team was working on the project. I wasn't expecting that, and I think the show did itself a disservice by trying to paint too broad a sweep with the first episode: in trying to be cinematic, all the cracks in the budget and actors were painfully obvious. However, once we moved into the ludus, the show improved considerably--this is where a TV series like this can shine, like I, Claudius, by setting dramas in limited spaces. I wouldn't be surprised if they are also re-editing episodes on the fly, since it seems each episode they pick up on complaints and fix them -- notice that we only get the briefest show of helmet-cams in Episode V, the slow-mo sequences are less frequent, we're not getting the truly ridiculous sprays of blood from odd places that we got in the pilot.

I'm interested to see how long the show can keep on improving. I'm pleasantly surprised up to this point, since it upgraded from dreck to something I'm keen to see every week.

It's not Rome. But it was never meant to be.

[John Maddox Roberts]

In this episode Spartacus finally got Crixus to admit that he didn't fight "for the glory of these walls" but because he was a slave and had no choice. This will probably prove to be a pivotal scene, winning Crixus to his side in the upcoming slave rebellion. Historically, Crixus was leader of the Gauls in the slave army and eventually broke away with them to escape Italy to Gaul, which proved to be a tactical mistake.

[deuce]

I am not uncomfortable with the sexuality of the show. I think its great that they don't shy away from it. Sexuality is like breathing and eating, a natural drive. Violence is part of that world, so is sex. I appalaud the creators for not taking the easy way out.

Well, I think the "easy way out" is blood and sex. Classic, universal, timeless attractions. Not one or the other. Basically every culture in history has applauded one or the other or both (within set parameters).

That said, I can't see why someone would sit more easily seeing human beings killed rather than human beings (potentially) being created. If the sex is "unnatural and decadent", the violence is most assuredly so.

[monk]

In this episode Spartacus finally got Crixus to admit that he didn't fight "for the glory of these walls" but because he was a slave and had no choice. This will probably prove to be a pivotal scene, winning Crixus to his side in the upcoming slave rebellion. Historically, Crixus was leader of the Gauls in the slave army and eventually broke away with them to escape Italy to Gaul, which proved to be a tactical mistake.

no doubt a very key sequence and it's clear crix is starting to have some thoughts about his situation begin to percolate- what I liked about this episode is the grim practicality sinking in as they trained to take on the Shadow That Precedes Death- great name by the way- really set a foundation between the two.

I liked the dramatic tension, even though it was about as subtle as a mack truck- when the two champs thought they had it in the bag, their foe dead, and then the crowd starts making big O mouths lol...

Not sure about the timing of the rain. I mean, I get it, but...this show always seems to have a 'but' moment, lol.

That rain bit, and the sun blinding from the helmet beam were the two "But" moments of this episode for me.

Still, pretty enjoyable so far.

I was also wondering how Doctore survived his encounter. They didn't get into that. Or I missed it. I also just placed him as he was the messenger from 300. That was driving me nuts!

And wasn't the husband of the slutty roman wife glorfindel in LotR?

[crossplain pilgrim]

The budget discrepancies between "Rome" and "Spartacus" are obvious, as is the level of the actors. My "regret" was that the characters weren't as developed as those in "Rome," not disappointment. As I have said, this is not "Rome." I never expected it to be. That said, I have every expectation that some of the characters introduced to date will evolve and provide more interesting facets. I do not think the budget precludes developing more fully dimensional characters and there are already indications, such as Batiatus's ruthless streak, Crixus's love for a slave girl, and Lucretia's genuine love for her husband, etc., that the characters are indeed developing. I also think the quality of the dialog has improved every week.

I agree that Spartacus has planted the seeds of dissent in Crixus's consciousness and we will see how that develops in conjunction with the latter's severe wounding.

What I admire about this show is its commitment to entertaining its audience. Things happen every show. They manage to cram into every episode their singular brand of action and sex along with the plot development and human drama. The viewer doesn't have to sit though two or three episodes of plot development patiently awaiting the next burst of swordplay and battle. When you sit down to watch "Spartacus" you know you are in for a ride, not a set up for future shows. I like that.