Rome: The Complete Collection [DVD] [2005] [2007]

I watched Rome when it first aired on the BBC in 2005 and thought it was amazing. It's been 5 years, now, and I saw it was fairly cheap on Amazon so got it for Christmas. It's only 3 days later and I've already seen most of the first series!The thing that stands out this time around is just how good Rome was. The fall of the Roman Republic is quite possibly the most tumultuous period in Political history so the writers were always onto a winner when writing a big-budget drama. Watching the drama and violence may seem over-the-top, but practically all the major events and murders depicted here happened. In fact, if anything, despite this being one of the most violent and perverse mainstream dramas broadcast, the writers have shied away from the darker and more indulgent aspects of ancient Rome -- Mark Anthony, for instance, had several gay (as well as countless heterosexual) affairs and used to attend wild parties dressed as a god, in a chariot pulled by lions! (Anthony here, played superbly by James Purefoy, is still outrageous by modern standards, but surely the reality would have been too much to stomach for the BBC).Where the writers succeed, though, is meshing this story onto strong, utterly-compelling character-driven plotting set within a landscape so fantastically realised that practically every shot takes your breath away. The day-to-day dirty, violent, horny reality of life in ancient cities has surely never been more accurately and beautifully portrayed. The streets of Rome are alive before your eyes, and the characters whose lives you follow through them are equally captivating (the hilarious and brutal story of unlikely friends, Centurion Lucius Vorenus and legionarie Titus Pullo; the family drama of high-society Atia and her children Ovtavia and Octavian (the future emperor Augustus); the political and military careers, the lives and loves of Anthony and Caesar; and supporting plots concerning the plotting against Caesar, the working conditions of Rome, the pagan religions and sacrifices, not to mention the careers and demises of Cato, Cicero and Brutus). As I say, the writers already had writing gold before they even put fingers to keyboard, but the effort they have put in to covering so many of Rome's facets, to also create memorising and loveable characters, has to be lauded as one of the best written dramas of our age.Rome does have its faults (some historical inaccuracies and -- largely due to the events covered in series one being so powerful -- the second season isn't quite as strong), but there is nothing else like it (if you have been put off watching this from seeing the Tudors, give it a go, I think you will be surprised by the difference). I think I enjoyed Rome more second time around. I guess because it has been and gone and nothing has come close to matching it for sheer extravagance, debauchery and spectacle. I can't wait to watch it on Blue-Ray )If (as I) you are interested in reading more about Caesar and Rome after viewing this, I'd recommend Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic (which covers the same period as season one) and Caesar: The Life of a Colossus (which is a comprehensive biography of Caesar, and covers his early life and military career in Gaul as well as events after the Rubicon).

An excellent series. Raunchy and lots of nudity and rumpy-pumpy so not for the shy or easily shocked. This is a truly international product with a distinct Italian flavour in the cast, locations and acting and the behind the scenes support is impressively Italian.The series grips from the beginning and you get it in digestible chunks too. Most of the cast fit comfortably into their roles and the historical context in which they are placed and the sets and costumes are impeccably researched and reflected in the quality of the production. I enjoyed the slightly different aspects emphasised by the different directors throughout the series[ see if you can spot them!] and the unfolding of the story was taken at a measured pace in the script for me to get my head around the principal characters and their motivations. Good transitions as characters get older and the entrances and exits are well integrated. Very disappointed with the Egyptian episodes and didn't like the selection of the actress to play Cleopatra at all. All in all a cracking set of dvds well worth the outlay

'Rome' is quite simply the best TV series I have ever seen. It has everything - outstanding acting, a superb set, unforgettable characters and a plot line which, though not always historically accurate, really did make you feel like you were there in the dying days of the Roman republic. Oh, and did I mention the extremely attractive actors, male and female? It's hard to choose a favourite from so many brilliant performances - Ray Stevenson as Roman 'everyman', Titus Pullo; the lovely James Purefoy as the unscrupulous Mark Antony; Polly Walker as the rather camp Atia; Lindsay Duncan as the ice-cold Servilia; Kevin McKidd as the conflicted Lucius Vorenus, Indira Varma as his guilt-ridden wife ..... so much to love.HBO executives have apparently said that, with hindsight, cancelling 'Rome' was a mistake and they regret their hasty decision. So do I. There was enough material in this story to easily last 5 seasons, yet we had to make do with two, albeit two seasons of the best TV I have ever seen. If I was to nitpick, I'd say that season 2 is definitely not quite as good as season 1, especially in the second half, when the need to squeeze years of highly eventful history into a few episodes makes the storyline and characters somewhat distorted. I also disliked the portrayal of Cleopatra as a manipulative, squeaky voiced druggie, with little of the intelligence and charisma she was so famous for. But that's just a nitpick. Even if you're not normally a fan of ancient history, or or historical dramas in general, watch 'Rome'. You will not regret it. You'll merely find yourself wistfully wondering about what might have been had the show been allowed to reach its full potential.'Rome' is a wonder. That is all.

Brilliant series in every way, from its historical authenticity to its acting by the main characters, who are all well cast for their parts. The Imperial City itself is portrayed as mainly dirty and smelly in the areas inhabited or frequented by the common people, the battle and fight scenes realistically brutal and bloody - the first battle scene showing exactly how the legions actually fought in formations of four ranks, with each rank being rotated in and out of the front line of the fighting every few minutes, so as to give the legionaries recovery time, and at the same time continually presenting the tiring enemy fighters with fresh opponents. The senators are as devious, self-seeking and power hungry as our modern day politicians (plus ca change!) and the main female characters seem to spend their lives spurring on their menfolk to be ever more ruthless and ambitious, often with catastrophic and fatal consequences. All in all, an excellent purchase and well worth the watching over and over again.