• Latest

Max’s View

March 3, 2014
East Montpelier Student Lands Opportunity at Tech Company

East Montpelier Student Lands Opportunity at Tech Company

June 28, 2022

U.S. Supreme Court Reversal of Roe vs. Wade is a Devastating Blow to Reproductive Rights

June 28, 2022
Just Some Thoughts

I Hate Painting!

June 28, 2022
African Queen (1951)

The Conversation (1974)

June 28, 2022

Central Vermont Council on Aging (CVCOA) Offers Special Memorable Times Online and Ageless Grace/Memory Café Reunion in July 

June 28, 2022

Upper Valley Everyone Eats Returns to Gifford in June

June 21, 2022

Vermont’s COVID-19 State-Run Testing Sites to Close June 25

June 21, 2022
Lenny’s Raises $1,250 in May in support of American Stroke Awareness Month

Lenny’s Raises $1,250 in May in support of American Stroke Awareness Month

June 21, 2022
African Queen (1951)

Pistol

June 21, 2022
“Mr. B” Retiring After 30 Years at Nelson Hardware If He Can’t Fix It, It Can’t Be Fixed

“Mr. B” Retiring After 30 Years at Nelson Hardware If He Can’t Fix It, It Can’t Be Fixed

June 21, 2022

Secretary of State Candidates Forum

June 14, 2022

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England Announces Sustainability Plan to Meet the Challenges of the Moment

June 14, 2022
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Saturday, July 2, 2022
The World Online
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

Max’s View

vt-world by vt-world
March 3, 2014
in Max's View
0

Pompeii

**1/2

Just as clearly as the United States is the ultimate superpower of our time, The Roman Empire was the great superpower of the ancient world.

There are still places on earth that are backward and uncivilized to this day. 2000 years ago, the Romans had already built an impressively sophisticated society.

When you bathe today using water that is pumped in from out of town, thank the Romans for coming up with that terrific technology.

When you feel safe in your country because there is a professional standing army ready to go anywhere to fight for you, thank the Romans for popularizing that concept.

When you get drunk and go to a big stadium to watch men hurt each other for sport, you can thank the Romans for inventing that awesome pastime.

When you go to church or pray, thank the Romans for creating the primary religion of the West. Jesus lived in the Roman Empire.

Rome was so great that I expect that movies about it should be great, too. The HBO series “Rome” was perfect. “Gladiator” was pretty darn good.

“Pompeii” is just okay.

It tells the story of a gladiator slave known only as The Celt who lives in 1st Century Britain. The good news is that he is so impressive in the arena that he gets moved to Italy and meets a beautiful rich girl there. The bad news is that he is moving to Pompeii. At the worst possible time in history.

During the first hour, “Pompeii” is a half-way decent gladiator movie. The last 45 minutes isÉ well, exactly what you are expecting. If you do not know what happened to the city of Pompeii in the year 79AD, you will be as sad about the ending as I am for your high school history teachers.

Like the city itself, the movie “Pompeii” was doomed from the start. You can’t have a serious film about Rome that is rated PG-13.

Ancient Rome was an NC-17 kind of place.

People hacked each other to death in government sponsored public games.

Prisoners of war were herded into cities and sold like animals at slave auctions.

When a politician hosted a bi-sexual orgy, it wasn’t a scandal to be covered up – it was the social event of the season.

The Roman Empire was a wild, violent, decadent place. You just can’t capture its spirit with PG-13. Even the 1979 film “Caligula,” one the most notorious failures in the history of cinema, is a little bet-ter than “Pompeii.” At least the producers of “Caligula” had the guts to portray a realistic version of Rome.

The Roman Empire was truly great and remarkable. The movie “Pompeii” is only pretty good and pedestrian. Take it or leave it.

Previous Post

Max’s View

Next Post

Senate Report

Next Post

Senate Report

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing for Non-Profit Events
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Summer Guide
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In