HBO | 2005-2007 | 1229 mins. | Rated MA
A visual masterpiece, told over two seasons, HBO’s Rome is as epic in scope as legendary films such as Ben-Hur and Gladiator. But as is the case with several HBO projects in the past (Band of Brothers comes to mind), the scope isn’t allowed to interfere with drama. Rome is blessed with superb acting and writing, that will make this a must have for history buffs. A partnership between Radiotelevisione Italiana (RAI), HBO and BBC, the series brought together production teams, funds and actors from multiple countries to complete the 22-hour drama.
Things begin in 52 B.C., and we are introduced to the two main characters: Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson) and Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), both battle tested warriors, who can only watch as their republic evolves into a powerful empire. (Though both Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus are fictional, they both are mentioned in Caesar’s Commentarii de Bello Gallico.) Both soldiers are witnesses to, and often influence, many of the events depicted in the series. As Caesar (Ciarán Hinds) becomes overtaken by amounting god complex, he strips the Roman senate of power, much to the dismay of politicians Porcius Cato (Karl Johnson) and Marcus Tullius Cicero (David Bamber). In his grab for absolute power, Caesar puts in motion the events that will lead to his downfall and murder.
At the same time, Caesar’s niece, the happily and manipulative Atia (Polly Walker), uses whatever means necessary to make sure her son Octavian (Max Pirkis) ascends to the throne; Caesar’s voice in the senate, Mark Antony (James Purefoy), desperately fights to support Caesar as commander; and a moralistic young man named Marcus Brutus (Tobias Menzies), finds himself torn between king and country.
As season two begins, the death of Caesar has shaken Rome to its core. Marc Anthony is forced to bully his way back into the good graces of the Senate, which has regained some of its power lost during Caesar’s reign. At first, Antony’s main goal is preventing Octavian from taking the throne, but he is eventually sidetracked by more important issues. Pullo and Vorenus struggle to survive the perils of Octavian’s empire; Brutus and Cassius (Guy Henry) assemble a massive army, determined to unseat their new emperor; Atia finds she isn’t as invincible as she once thought; and Egypt’s unorthodox queen, the sly and charming Cleopatra (Lyndsey Marshal), arrives and begins to woo Mark Antony.
Midway through the second season, with cancellation imminent, the events in Rome start taking place very quickly. As a result, some of the later events aren’t given as careful an examination as those depicted earlier. That being said, HBO and its partners still produced a series that should be commended. It’s important to remember though that Rome is a drama and not a documentary. The writers do take a bit of creative license: they trot out a Cleopatra that’s as far removed from historical accounts as can be. That’s the only real inaccuracy I saw; Purists will tell you the show plays up Vorenus and Pullo more than it should, but that’s one of those things that’s in the eye of the beholder. All in all, Rome does a remarkable job depicting the ancient world.
The AVC/MPEG-4 1080p transfer is a good one, but it doesn’t really jump out at you. The Black levels are strong and even, and colors look natural. However, the picture is uneven from sequence to sequence, particularly in outdoor scenes in long shot or indoor scenes involving fire, all of which produce a little noise to go along with the thin layer of film grain that’s consistently visible. To be clear though, none of this detracts from the overall beauty of the production. Rome is presented in 1.78:1 aspect ratio.
The audio is somewhat better, with the English or German DTS-HD MA 5.1 featured track delivering a dynamic soundtrack that really comes to life with every clash of blade against blade. But even the smallest of noises is picked up. The level of ambient sound is nicely balanced among the effects speakers, it helps foster that sense of reality that the filmmakers were trying to achieve. The bass is strong, too, though not rumbling. Additional soundtrack options are Spanish, Castilian, Polish, or French DTS Digital Surround 2.0, with a long list of subtitle options: English, English SDH, Spanish, French, German, Castilian, Polish, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish, Greek, Hebrew, Portuguese, Romanian, and Turkish.
The Blu-ray edition of Rome: The Complete Series is a handsome, albeit slightly oversized release. Nestled neatly within a sturdy outer sleeve, the set’s case has been meticulously designed to resemble a leather-bound tome, complete with fourteen heavy cardboard “pages” that feature production photos, episode synopses, and a list of exactly what content fans will find on each disc. But while the discs themselves are housed comfortably in separate sleeves, one to a page.
• Audio Commentaries (Discs 1-6, 9-10): Writer/co-creator/executive producer Bruno Heller and co-producer/historical consultant Jonathan Stamp deliver the majority of the set’s audio commentaries, digging their way through episodes including “The Stolen Eagle,” “How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic,” “Pharsalus,” “Kalends of February,” “Passover,” and “About Your Father.” These guys are so stayed in their tone and discussion of casting, historical aspects and the like, I’d be surprised if anyone found them riveting.
Actor Ray Stevenson sits down to watch “The Ram Has Touched the Wall,” but ends up dissecting the entire first season, describing Heller’s on-set atmosphere, and discussing the series’ lighting, locations, production design, characters, cast members, creative team and everything else Rome related. His is arguably the best commentary in the set, and the one I would suggest everyone begin with. Director Steve Shill dives into “Caesarion,” touching on the actors’ performances, his directorial sensibilities, and the techniques he employed to get the most out of every shot. For “Utica,” director Jeremy Podeswa hones in on the tone, historical relevance, and impact of the series. Actor Kevin McKidd tackles “The Spoils,” breaking down key sequences, character motivations, and plot points.
Director John Maybury and actress Lindsay Duncan discuss “Death Mask,” and the process behind filming an episode, the subtleties of the storylines and characters, and other season-centric topics. Likewise, executive producer John Melfi and director Carl Franklin produce a spirited track for “A Necessary Fiction” in which they chat about historical Egypt, its incorporation into the series, Franklin’s staging of several scenes, the actors and their performances, and the themes that dominate the show’s second season. Last is James Purefoy’s “No God Can Stop a Hungry Man” commentary.
• Interactive Bloodlines (All Discs): HBO has created an interactive pop-up interface that provides bios and reveals connections between the men and women of Rome. Unfortunately, it’s a rather simplistic, text-based addition that few will use.
• All Roads Lead to Rome (All Discs): Each episode also includes a somewhat remedial trivia track peppered with basic historical facts and production tidbits.
• Friends, Romans, Countrymen (Disc 1, SD, 11 minutes): A clip-heavy EPK that introduces and examines the many characters of Rome. It’s heavy on plot synopsis and base analysis, but makes succinct work of the first season’s themes, heroes, soldiers, women, and storylines.
• The Rise of Rome (Disc 1, SD, 24 minutes): This behind-the-scenes documentary covers the costumes, sets, props, and design decisions of the series’ first season in great length, as well as the countless hours and hard work that produced such elaborate, yet realistic results. Actors, creative heads, and technicians are on hand to provide their thoughts, making this one of the more inclusive and informative features in the set.
• Shot X Shot (Disc 4, SD, 23 minutes): Entire documentaries aren’t usually devoted to a single scene, but when it involves as much spectacle and psychological nuance as Caesar’s turning point, it certainly deserves it. Key members of the cast and crew offer their thoughts on director Alan Taylor’s contributions, the tone of the sequence, the framing of several shots, and the planning that went into making it the successful scene it is.
• Shot X Shot, Gladiator (Disc 5, SD, 23 minutes): Another thorough “Shot X Shot” documentary focuses on a tricky gladiator battle, the weapons and armor crafted for the sequence, the composition of its shots, the scope of the sets, and the production team’s practical and CG effects.
• When In Rome (Disc 5, SD, 23 minutes): An in-depth look at the historical accuracy of the series and its portrayal of Rome’s religious practices, women, brutality, slaves, citizenry, culture, and political turmoil.
• A Tale of Two Romes (Disc 6, HD, 21 minutes): 753 BC, the date historians traditionally assign to the founding of Rome, is at the heart of this historical documentary. Stamp discusses the origin of the city’s rivalries, the dangers faced by its citizenry, the empire’s revolving-door of power, early clashes between the Jews and the Romans, and the vulgarity, brutality, and graffiti that filled the streets.
• The Making of Rome: Season II (Disc 8, HD, 23 minutes): This second season doc focuses on the differences between Rome’s seasons, the series’ new characters, and the expanding scope of the show.
• The Rise of Octavian: Rome’s First Emperor (Disc 9, HD, 21 minutes): Stamp helms yet another historical overview, this one focused on Octavian, that mixes fact with production details to create an absorbing documentary.
• Antony and Cleopatra (Disc 10, HD, 15 minutes): A short but solid look at history’s so-called greatest love story, the series’ approach to Antony and Cleopatra’s relationship, and the manner in which the creators worked to pay respect to the historical figures.
• Episode Previews, Season 1 (Discs 1-5, HD, 10 minutes): Brief ads for all twelve Season 1 episodes are presented in high definition, but each one has simply been upscaled from standard definition.
• Episode Previews, Season 2 (Discs 6-10, HD, 7 minutes): Commercials for all ten Season 2 episodes are presented with the same quality.
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