Spartacus: Leader Among The Slaves

This is a slight departure, again, from hardcore corporate life and hardcore endurance sports. I watched the television series Spartacus: Blood and Sand and derived viewing pleasure from it.

If you have watched the 1960 version, led by Kirk Douglas and directed (albeit in a director-for-hire only role) by the late-Stanley Kubrick (of 2001: A Space Odyssey fame; as well as Dr Strangelove and A Clockwork Orange), this is an extended version of it. Plus, this 2010 version runs 13 episodes with enough Mature-Audience material to make you blush (if you watch it with family). There is little compromise by way of artistic intentions and execution; like Kubrick in most of his work (save, ironically, of course with Spartacus, circa 1960).

So, what is all about? Circa, 70 B.C., a Thracian soldier is arrested by Romans and trained as a gladiator for the amusement in the arena. The slave-gladiator, defies odds and death, to emerge victorious and popular among the mass. Motivated by his personal mission, he, subsequently, leads the other gladiators when he stages an en masse coup that topples the gladiatorial school and its cruel master. Well, at least, up till the finale of Season One.

The acting is very good, with little-known, lead actor Andy Whitfield playing Spartacus convincingly. He ably supported by a motley cast of credible and seasoned actors including Lucy Lawless (Xena: The Warrior Princess) and John Hannah (The Mummy trilogy). Despite the CGI-enhanced scenes (recall the film, 300) the action scenes are gory, realistic and violent. In a sentence, Spartacus has elements of Caligula, 300, and Gladiator. This is definitely not a family-night-in series, although you can be fooled by the rock soundtrack accompanying the heart-stopping, action sequences. There is an ample flesh-fest and coarse language to make you feel sheepish. This is the trend (in-your-face gratuitous nudity, violence and coarse language) in mainstream television/cable TV series in the past decade, and reflects shows like Sex In the City, Californication, True Blood, Entourage and Rome.

Like most of Hollywood contract work, the series was shot in New Zealand. The thriving film industry – with springboard project, The Lord of the Rings trilogy – is held buoyant and healthy with Spartacus: Blood and Sand, among many other projects. The significant Kiwi cast of athletic actors and extras add to the authenticity and action-genre of this mega-series. This is a highly physical series, as the gladiator-actors have to stay in prime shape for the intense choreography with sword and shield. Unfortunately, Season 2 is now up in the air, as British actor Whifield may be leaving the show because of serious health issues. It will be a pity as he is a leader who is both face and front of this new series. We hope that he makes a complete recovery.