The Legend of Hercules (2014) (Movie Review)

The Legend of Hercules (2014)
Dir: Renny Harlin
Cast: Kellan Lutz, Gaia Weiss
Duration: 1 hr 38 mins

A good number of us might already have heard of the legend of Hercules. What if anything sets this film apart? Well, honestly, nothing. It’s the same thing garbed differently, that’s all.

For starters, the film lacks the feel of an ‘ancient’ time (apart from the sets and costumes) and the action (if I can call it that) lacked punch (literally). The movie opens with a war between two kingdoms. The Kings face-off and King Amphitryon(Scott Adkins) emerges victorious. It is into Amphitryon’s family that Hercules is born. He is a gift of Hera, a goddess to whom his mother, Alcmene (Roxanne McKee), was devoted and a Son of Zeus, who mysteriously impregnated her, to the king’s chagrin. He is named Alcides (Kellan Lutz) although Hera foretold he would be called Hercules and is the second son in the royal family.

After his birth, we are transported 20 years in to the future. Alcides and Hebe (Gaia Weiss), princess of Crete are in love but Iphicles (Liam Garrigan), Alcides’ elder brother and heir to the throne is set to marry her against her wishes. In an attempt to cut out Alcides from the equation, he is sent on a suicide mission to Egypt. Somehow, he and a commander, Sotiris (Liam McIntyre) survive. They are sold as slaves and ‘wrestle’ their way to freedom.

While being captured Alcides reveals his name as Hercules and this change is crucial to the plot. Upon returning to their native kingdom, Sotiris, his fellow survivor, rallies around Hercules, some of the honest chiefs of the King’s army. They galvanize the villagers to rise up against the tyrannical Amphitryon. In the final battle, Hercules with Divine assistance and the courage of his followers takes the palace by storm. When he is about to end Amphitryon’s life, Iphicles appears with Hebe and threatens to kill her if his father is not released. She drives the sword through her own body and kills Iphicles in the process. Hercules finishes off Amphitryon with the same dagger his mother was killed with. The movie closes with a child being born to Hercules and Hebe.

There was plenty of animation to supplement the largely blasé action. The effects were good but failed to inspire awe. The film pales in comparison to classics like Troy and others. It appears to be an attempt to breathe new life in to old, stale bones. Great try guys, but this anachronism is too far lost.

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