“The Legend of Hercules” is an entertaining movie in the fantasy-action genre directed by Renny Harlin from a screenplay written by Harlin, Daniel Giat, Giulio Steve and Sean Hood, “The Legend of Hercules” is an entertaining movie in the fantasy-action genre. The film tells a complex tale of warring kingdoms with the city-states of Greece positioned as the protagonists in the battles. Infused alongside the bloody battle scenes is a simple love story between Hercules and the woman who becomes his wife, a beautiful maiden called Hebe.
The action and adventure commonly associated with battles of antiquity is enhanced with fantasy elements, including magic swords and other fanciful devices. As a consequence, the film appeals to all fans of action-adventure, suspense and fantasy.
Experienced director Renny Harlin provides “The Legend of Hercules” with a strong visual style. His previous credits include a number of strong box office hits, including “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master,” “Die Hard 2: Die Harder,” “Cliffhanger,” “The Long Kiss Goodnight” and “Deep Blue Sea.” At the time Harlin took the directorial reigns on “The Legend of Hercules,” his films had earned an impressive $500 million in United States box office receipts alone. His reputation for directing fast-paced movies is reaffirmed in this production. As an aside, Harlin maintains such a strong box office position as a director despite once holding the Guinness Book of World Records distinction as the director of the biggest financial flop of all time, the pirate-fantasy “Cutthroat Island” starring Geena Davis.
Harlin shared screenwriting credits with Daniel Giat, Giulio Steve and Sean Hood. The resulting script is complex, complete with a compelling overall story arc packed with suspense and sustained action. Attention is also paid to fairly detailed character development, particularly for Hercules, King Amphitryon, Queen Alcmene and Hercules’ wife, Hebe. This level of character development is not commonly seen in fantasy or action-adventure films.
The lead role of Hercules is played by Kellan Lutz. Lutz’s best known prior screen credit is the role of Emmett Cullen in “The Twilight Saga” film franchise. He is also known for playing recurring roles in the television program “Model Citizens” and co-starring in the one-season HBO sitcom “The Comeback,” which featured former “Friends” star Lisa Kudrow.
The hunky former model physically fits the bill when it come to the legendary Hercules. He also turns in a performance that commands attention, particularly in battle scenes and when mustering his troops. There is a soft side to this cinematic version of Hercules, which Lutz also effectively plays. Intermittently during the film, Hercules is presented as a tender lover as well as a proud father.
Relative newcomer Gaia Weiss plays Hebe, Hercules’ wife. She provides a steady portrayal of the character and particularly shines in quieter scenes with her husband. Despite the movie being in the fantasy genre, Weiss turns Hebe into a believable, flesh and blood character.
Weiss plays Hebe as a bold film heroine. Indeed, in one particularly suspenseful moment in the film, she kills one of her husband’s opponents by driving a knife through her own body to thrust forward and stab and kill this individual. She barely escapes this feat with her life.
Although the remainder of the cast is populated with relatively unknown actors, they combine to form a solid ensemble. Overall, they present interesting character studies and interact well with one another throughout the diverse scenes that make up the film. A nod goes to the casting director for a solid effort choosing the actors for the production.
A particularly strong performance is provided by Scott Adkins. Adkins plays King Amphitryon, the foster father of Hercules. His prior screen appearances include roles in “Zero Dark Thirty” and “The Expendables 2.” He renders King Amphitryon into an appropriately formidable character, as legend dictates.
Special effects add an important dimension to the film. In addition, the excellent costuming efforts leave moviegoers feeling that they have indeed been transported all the way back to ancient Greece. The detailed character makeup is incredibly striking. The artisans associated with these efforts appear to have provided a unified front to create an optimal visual presentation.