Kareiya's Kareviews
“Betrayed by the Romans. Forced into slavery. Reborn as a Gladiator. The classic tale of the Republic’s most infamous rebel comes alive in the graphic and visceral new series, “Spartacus: Blood and Sand.” Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. Treachery, corruption, and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test Spartacus. To survive, he must become more than a man. More than a gladiator. He must become a legend.”
Sparticus: Blood and Sand is an interesting concept as a series goes. It’s a series that is on STARZ(Premium cable network)airing its premier on the 23rd and airs new episodes on Friday. They take the concept of moving graphic novel ala 300 and the feel of Roman fighting ala Gladiator. As it has a “Me too” feel to it. This I learned from gaming class. If anyone enjoys shows about Ancient Times you’d would enjoy this show to its fullest, even though it may not seem like it is all that ancient. It is a very Manly Man show with Tits, Dicks, Sex, Swearing, and Bloody Battles & disemboweling. Some will enjoy the tits and sex, while some might enjoy the full male nudity portrayed, & other will contently enjoy the awesome battles.
Scripts
I believe this is the week point of the show due to the overshadowing all the 300-esque slow downs and speed ups, though from the look of episode 1 to Episode 2 there has been a mass improvement, or at least from a plot or story stand point.
Episode 1 script just seems a little bland too me, with more of the action & sex, rather then script content.
300-esque graphic novel CG
While not original, it gives it a conceptual feel that is intriguing, some speed up or slow down of time, adding massive amounts of blood during action scenes or fight scenes. Though my criticism, for the use of it in Sparticus: Blood and Sand is that they use at very strange or unessarry moments , such as snapping of a whip or a kissing scene. I guess it depends on who is directing. I think its the unpredictability that makes this effect so interesting.
Sex Scenes
While at the revealing level of any premium cable, it is mostly softcore, minus the moaning and pleasurable sounds. The sad thing is, they make any sexuality or sensuality mute by an overture of music, this is something that I did not enjoy as a part of the series thus far, though I have have not scene many episodes I will want to see how this plays out in the end, i doubt there will be any moaning of any kind in future episodes but the love scenes are quiet enjoyable from a story stand point.
Modern Swearing
Honestly if this is suppose to be Rome, I can understand the massive amount of blood, sex and nudity, but all the modern slang and swearing up and down…I don’t think that would of been possible back then, and they do say before the episode starts “the accuracy portrayed of Ancient Rome” I don’t think that is entirely true, cause no one lived back then, maybe they cursed in Latin or whatever language they spoke back in ancient rome, still a bit confusing but it adds intese felling of this series, but not always.
Why I am enjoying this…
My first reaction to this when I saw ADs for Sparticus “Whoa! This looks pretty awesome” I had been seeing this probably since the start of Novemeber. I was very enthusiasic and probably bringing a bit of hype for myself, but I wasn’t disappointed when it aired last week. The action, sensuality, cursing and Bloody dismemberments were enough to en-trace me into this series. I know this because I laid down, watched, and when i checked the clock it was an hour later. “Holy Crap, already over?” I think this series was just the thing I’m looking for as far as an action series went. On a side note, Sam Raimi is one of the directors, and I’ve always notices he likes to bring Ms. Lucy Lawless into anything he working on, two of my fav people in the TV/Movie industry
Overall: 79% - While not the perfect series, Sparticus: Blood and Sand has some intriguing action, sex, & Ancient Roman history never before seen. It does have those “me too” technical aspects such as the 300-esque slow downs during battle with that moving graphic novel feel. If you’re a fan of any of the actors/actresses or directors or Roman History this will be the series to watch.
Story: 65% - The story by far, is probably the weakest link of this series, so far I have seen vast improvements from episode 1 & episode 2, but still a little weak, this will probably get an improvement in the coming weeks or stay about the same.
Visuals: 90% - By far this is what makes the series itself to support its weak story. With the epic battle scenes and extra amount blood, to the slowed down graphic novel feel, Innovative but too much of a “Me Too” feel from such other great graphic novel movies, such as 300 or Roman type movies as Gladiator. Sparticus: Blood and Sand still has a great visual appeal to it, does have a tendency to overuse the graphic novel CG technic a little too much, giving it a repetitive flavor.
Final Score: 82%
For the International Group…
The series is scheduled to start airing in Canada on January 25, 2010 on TMN.[19]RTL 5 announced in their January newsletter that Spartacus: Blood and Sand will come to the Netherlands in March 2010.[20] In Australia the seven network has bought the rights and will likely air it on 7two.
