The Eagle
Focus Features | Release Date: February 11, 2011
6.2
USER SCORE
Generally favorable reviews based on 105 Ratings
USER RATING DISTRIBUTION
Positive:
49
Mixed:
45
Negative:
11
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User Reviews

User scoreBy dateMost helpful
6
MarcDoyleFeb 23, 2011
I'll simply say that Shiira's review (below) is awesome. Long-time user reviewer on the site - excellent work. I enjoyed the movie, but scoring it is tough. It seemed to have some pacing problems, but the tone and feel of the movie wereI'll simply say that Shiira's review (below) is awesome. Long-time user reviewer on the site - excellent work. I enjoyed the movie, but scoring it is tough. It seemed to have some pacing problems, but the tone and feel of the movie were pitch-perfect. Tatum was born to play the role, and Jamie Bell is perfect as the slave-turned-friend. I don't think I'd easily recommend this film to friends, but I enjoyed it.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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6
BikerjamesFeb 14, 2011
The Eagle feels a little amateurish in parts. The acting and writing is not stellar, and the battle scenes with the camera moving all over the place is ridiculous. You cannot tell what is going on during the battle scenes. However, I didThe Eagle feels a little amateurish in parts. The acting and writing is not stellar, and the battle scenes with the camera moving all over the place is ridiculous. You cannot tell what is going on during the battle scenes. However, I did feel there was good chemistry between the two leads, and the main crux of the story is the loyalty and trust between master and slave. The best part of the movie is when they are captured by a barbaric tribe, and the master becomes the slave and vice versa. It can be slow moving in parts, but I was not bored. Donald Sutherland was a waste - he has a small role and his character is never developed enough to give him much personality. Another plus, however, is the beautiful countryside where the movie was shot. Overall not bad, but could have been better.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
ThegodfathersonDec 15, 2013
Despite its potential, "The Eagle" adheres too closely to formula and is driven by stunted dialogue with sparse action scenes that do little to keep it interesting as well as a cast that aren't up to the material. It's the type of film thatDespite its potential, "The Eagle" adheres too closely to formula and is driven by stunted dialogue with sparse action scenes that do little to keep it interesting as well as a cast that aren't up to the material. It's the type of film that may have thrived in the '90s and been nominated for lots of awards, but instead ends up being one that may finally retire an overused genre.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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5
nutterjrAug 24, 2011
Tatum feels emotionally unattached and never quite connects, making the whole project a bit of a bore. He should not be casted in anything that does not address teen girls. And the depiction of the Scotts seemed odd - more like the men inTatum feels emotionally unattached and never quite connects, making the whole project a bit of a bore. He should not be casted in anything that does not address teen girls. And the depiction of the Scotts seemed odd - more like the men in the Amazon in Apocalypto.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
TVJerryFeb 16, 2011
Channing Tatum stars as a Roman soldier on a quest with Jamie Bell, who plays his "body slave" (insert appropriate homoerotic comment here). Even with the historical histrionics, Tatum turns in an earnest performance. The film is shot with anChanning Tatum stars as a Roman soldier on a quest with Jamie Bell, who plays his "body slave" (insert appropriate homoerotic comment here). Even with the historical histrionics, Tatum turns in an earnest performance. The film is shot with an artful eye: lots of beautiful scenery and interesting setups. However, the battle scenes are a useless blur that's edited in a confusing frenzy. Overall, the film is a competent effort in the genre.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
Texas_Movie_FanFeb 18, 2011
Not much that is good that I can say about this movie. There are long periods of nothing that make you want to go to the grocery store for more popcorn. The lines are absurd at times. And I am still trying to understand how a handful ofNot much that is good that I can say about this movie. There are long periods of nothing that make you want to go to the grocery store for more popcorn. The lines are absurd at times. And I am still trying to understand how a handful of Romans, who had aged more than 20 years, killed many times their number in much younger seal people. All in all this movie wasn't even a good waste of time.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
rotkuMar 23, 2012
Passable action/buddy movie with a good storyline but poor cliche ridden acting. The action scenes are good but sparse. It could have been so much more.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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4
HalfwelshmanDec 20, 2011
The Eagle starts well - director Kevin Macdonald is clearly concerned with providing the viewer with an immersive, authentic historical world, and the details of the everyday life of a Roman soldier are fascinating to witness. ChanningThe Eagle starts well - director Kevin Macdonald is clearly concerned with providing the viewer with an immersive, authentic historical world, and the details of the everyday life of a Roman soldier are fascinating to witness. Channing Tatum's Marcus Flavius Aquila also begins the film as a well-developed, compelling protagonist. Where the film begins to falter is somewhere early in the second half. Allegory between the actions of the Romans and the modern American military is heavy-handed and unsubtle, and the representation of the main Pict tribe as very akin to Native Americans is more than a little jarring. What is also laughable is the completely blatant homoerotic subtext between Marcus and Esca (Jamie Bell). The Eagle could have been a clever, compelling and believable historical epic, but instead is overburdened with pretentious intellectual baggage and some drastic misjudgements in tone.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
ZuZuZuJul 8, 2011
Hadn't it been for the plot, scenery and tremendously Jamie Bell, this movie would have been a disaster. The lead guy was just awful to watch, so unconvincing, so general. Jamie Bell did a much better role, although he didn't receive the spotlight.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
TyranianApr 11, 2020
Halfway-decent Roman film with some good visuals but boring characters and muddled plotting.
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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6
reviewzorAug 30, 2012
This movie is alright. It's aimed towards a target audience so if you are not part of the fans who love Gladiator, braveheart and movies of the like, then you might find this film luke warm, but if you do like those movies, you will love toThis movie is alright. It's aimed towards a target audience so if you are not part of the fans who love Gladiator, braveheart and movies of the like, then you might find this film luke warm, but if you do like those movies, you will love to add this film as another anglo-saxon/roman genre movie to your collection, the movie starts off well with a couple of well done fight scenes, moves on with some travel which many other reviews have panned as boring, which is rubbish because travel time is a necessity, see movies like The Lord of the rings. Simply put, This movie is not as good as some of the greats mentioned earlier, but is not poor in quality and un watchable. It's simply an alright movie, which you would likely watch if it was on tv at the time, but probably wouldn't be your first thought when choosing something to watch… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
worleyjamersDec 7, 2012
I actually really enjoyed this film. I had very low expectations, but I was completely surprised. Obviously, this is no Gladiator or Braveheart, but the film still was enjoyable and entertaining. I still am not not a Channing Tatum fan, butI actually really enjoyed this film. I had very low expectations, but I was completely surprised. Obviously, this is no Gladiator or Braveheart, but the film still was enjoyable and entertaining. I still am not not a Channing Tatum fan, but he and Jamie Bell were fine here. The acting did not appear bad to me by any means. It was definitely only decent at best, but where the acting lacked, the film made up for it with other elements.
I liked the story. It was a bit cheesy, but I think it was told in a good way and was executed very well. Also, I thought there was a nice blend of story and action. This easily could have been a low budget gore fest. Overall, this is a good movie. I liked it and I'd recommend it!… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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5
FilipeNetoJul 28, 2018
This film is based on a mystery that has long intrigued historians: the uncertain fate of the Ninth Hispanic Legion (Legio IX Hispana). Founded in the Republican period, it participated in military actions such as the Gallic Wars (underThis film is based on a mystery that has long intrigued historians: the uncertain fate of the Ninth Hispanic Legion (Legio IX Hispana). Founded in the Republican period, it participated in military actions such as the Gallic Wars (under Julius Caesar), the Battle of Pharsalus (where Caesar crushed the troops of his rival, Pompey) and the Battle of Camulodunum, where the British tribes, led by famous Queen Boudica, resisted the attempt of conquest by the Romans. It appears that this legion, which for a long time integrated the Roman garrison in the British Isles, was transferred in uncertain date to Nimegue (Noviomagus Batavorum), where it was suppressed. However, the doubts persist, and it is upon them that the film works, proposing the idea that the legion was crushed in a disastrous battle against the barbarians. An idea that existed in the historical community but is now considered improbable. Its likely that the film was also inspired by a totally different event, which was the disastrous Battle of the Forest of Teutoberg, where the German tribes crushed two Roman legions.

The script is pretty good but it lacks logic when we look at what the Roman mentality was like at this time. There is clearly a current approach behind how actors behave, especially the protagonist, but I am able to excuse this. The best advantage of the script is its ability to tell the two perspectives of the story (the conquerors and the conquered). About the historical veracity of the script, I confess, I have some doubts. It seems to me that the Roman military uniforms used here are closer to the Republican period than to an average imperial period. I found the British tribal costumes interesting. Channing Tatum was competent and satisfied us as the protagonist, even though he did not shine. Donald Sutherland also remains in this middle line, without shine or disappoint. Jamie Bell is, perhaps, the most prominent actor here, in that he has played the most difficult and psychological character of the film in a moral, psychological and relational way.

In short, it's a movie that delivers on what it promises and it has high-quality notes, without ever becoming grand or memorable. Above all, it entertains quite well and gives us an appealing story, good action and fighting scenes that do not let us sleep in front of the screen.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
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