|
Rome: The Complete HBO Season 2 (5 Disc Box Set) [2006] | ![Rome: The Complete HBO Season 2 (5 Disc Box Set) [2006]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61xSTb9EGHL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Director: Michael Apted
Actors: Kevin Mckidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, James Purefoy, Tobias Menzies
Studio: Warner Home Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £54.99
Buy New: £24.00
You Save: £30.99 (56%)
New (18) Used (5) from £23.00
Rating:  44 reviews
Format: Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region: 2
Number Of Discs: 5
Running Time: 572 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 7.7 x 5.8 x 1.7
EAN: 7321902165615
ASIN: B000RVWM4E
Release Date: September 10, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: New and sealed
| |
| Similar Items:
|
| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
Unlike another certain celebrated HBO series, Rome's end will satisfy those swept up in its lavishly mounted spectacle and invested in the human dramas of the historical figures and fictional characters. Series 2 begins in the wake of Julius Caesar's assassination, and charts the power struggle to fill his sandals between "vulgar beast" Mark Antony (James Purefoy) and "clever boy" Octavian (Simon Woods), who is surprisingly named Caesar's sole heir. The series' most compelling relationship is between fellow soldiers and unlikely friends, the honorable Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus "Violence is the only trade I know" Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who somewhat reverse roles when Vorenus is overcome with grief in the wake of his wife's suicide. Series 2 considerably ups the ante in the rivalry between Atia (an Emmy-worthy Polly Walker), who is Antony's mistress, and Servilia (Lindsay Duncan) with attempted poisonings and sickening torture. Another gripping sub plot is Vorenus's estrangement from his children, who, at the climax of the season opener are presumed slaughtered, but whose true fate may be even more devastating to the father who cursed them. Rome's second season does not scrimp on the series' sex and violence, in both cases exceedingly brutal. But in this cauldron of treachery and betrayal, words, too, are vicious, as when a defiant Atia ominously tells Octavian's new wife, Livia, "Far better women that you have sworn to [destroy me]. Go look for them now." In writing Rome's epitaph, we come to praise this series, not to bury it. Although two seasons was not enough to establish a Rome empire, it stands as one of HBO's crowning achievements. --Donald Liebenson
|
| Customer Reviews:
 Never mind the critics August 17, 2007
Antyllus (London, UK)
33 out of 36 found this review helpful
Critics in the UK's newspapers panned the series as a Dallas in ancient Rome; but viewers everywhere have given it their seal of approval. I have friends who couldn't stop watching the series, even though their interest in Roman history was minimal before; one even bought Cassius Dio's history.
Like the first series the second too is based on ancient Roman sources, adapted for necessary dramatisation, and so losing a few vital facts and chunks of history but making the entire thing delightfully watchable. - Cicero was actually betrayed by his freed slave and decapitated when he stuck his neck out of his sedan chair's window while fleeing to the coast. And there are a few other historical inaccuracies; thus I do not recommend the series as a substitute for serious cramming.
Overall though I have nothing but praise for the production, the acting and the accuracies of dress, customs and culture.
Here the actors were Caesar, Brutus, Marc Anthony, Cleopatra and Augustus Octavian; not stars desperately trying not to play themselves. Highly recommendable and very enjoyable at that to get any generation to appreciate history and how it repeats itself.
The Roman proverb: "Quidquid ages prudenter agas et respice finem" * has never been truer.
* (Whatever you do, do it with prudence, and consider the outcome.)
"Watch closely... This is how history is made!" July 24, 2007
G. D. Francis (UK)
26 out of 30 found this review helpful
I caught up with the first series of "Rome" via DVD, enjoyed it and impatiently awaited the next chapter. Thankfully, its second outing did not disappoint! In fact, I found this series much more satisfying that its predecessor. The acting is once again first rate, as are the sets, costumes and the writing. And whilst Rome most definitely has its share of horrific moments (a man getting his tongue bitten out being just one), there is always great humour to bring light to the darkness.
The only thing this series suffers from is almost too much action. Originally the show was meant to run for multiple seasons, but a dwindling budget put paid to that and thus years' worth of stories had to be squeezed into just 10 episodes. As a result, the programme moves at breakneck speed, often spanning years per episode; skip just one installment and you could be left very confused indeed. The love affair between Mark Antony and Cleopatra for example, would have benefited from a lot more screentime than the handful of episodes that were devoted to it.
The beginning of the season also suffers a mild post-Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) hangover in parts. He was the man (it seems strange to label Caesar a 'character') who so much of the action revolved last series and so the show feels a little fragmented this time around. In his place, the programme-makers have divided our attention, focusing on the power struggle between Mark Antony (a show-stealing James Purefoy) and Octavian Caesar (first played by Max Pirkis and later Simon Woods). Unlike last series' tussle between Caesar and Pompey, where I believe the audience was naturally bound to take the former's side, the battle between Antony and Octavian is not so clear cut. We are both repelled by each of them and their actions but can also feel pity for them, at different points. For the record, I was always in Antony's camp but that might have something to do with Purefoy's charismatic performance.
I feel like I have written an essay instead of a review, my apologies! And I haven't even mentioned Pullo (Ray Stevenson) or Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), Rome's pleb princes. They're both back too and as fantastically portrayed as ever. My advice is to do yourself a favour and buy these DVDs. TV this compelling is hard to find.
If ever there was a follow up that topped the original- this is it. October 4, 2007
Bezerus Bezby (Leeds, UK)
22 out of 23 found this review helpful
As the title says and more. The second season is simply superb. Yes, it's graphic and there's a lot of swearing, but if you like reading about ancient history, you will find that although the Romans were creators of the advanced sewer systems and masters of running water systems, for example, they were also crude, extremely violent and often lacking in basic morals.
As in the first series, the actors do an excellent job of bringing Rome to life. Polly Walker as Atia is particualarly brilliant as is James Puefoy as Mark Anthoney. The costumes asnd set designs are a visual delight.
You will also appreciate the fantastic packaging in a wonderfully illustrated box set with some worth watching extras, such as the story of Anthoney and Cleopatra.
Yes, this is shocking but it does make you realise that the Roman way of life is not something to aspire to and makes the antics of Big Brother contestents look relatively tame.
Simply wonderful- I have nothing bad to say about this series at all. Well worth buying as you will want to watch it more then once. It is just a shame that HBO and the BBC have no intentions to make another series.
what have the romans ever done for us? well... June 30, 2007
Adam Benyon (soton, uk)
21 out of 23 found this review helpful
i have only seen a few episodes from the new series, and by god they haven't lost direction! far from it, the new series has taken a much moodier turn, with a turn around for many of the characters, pullo and vorenus in particular swapping roles to some degree, with the latter becoming more violent and unpredictable as he comes to terms with his new career in "politics". with the of caesar, a power vacuum is left in his wake, resulting in the growing collapse of his household, promising some uncomfortable rivalries between antony, octavian and the senators. with many of the original cast returning, along with new situations and conflicts, this season promises to deliver, perhaps even more so than the original, if only because of the uncertain period of history in which the action transpires.
An Outstanding Conclusion to a Wonderful Series April 19, 2008
David Rush (Glasgow, Scotland)
20 out of 24 found this review helpful
The first series of Rome offered everything a viewer could want: drama, intrigue, romance, revenge, lust, betrayal and everything else in between. It was filled with highs and lows, twists and turns and a number of unexpected moments.
The second series picks up immediately after the events of the first series: Caesar is dead and the city of Rome is in mourning, Lucius Vorenus is struggling to cope with a terrible loss in his family; Atia and her family are faced with the prospect of leaving the city following the loss of Caesar while Mark Antony encounters Cleopatra once again.
The performances from the cast as whole are nothing short of excellent and are vital to the plot, which is often complicated and as usual, dripping with subtext. Polly Walker is once again terrific as Atia, Caeser's niece, who is always scheming to ensure the survival of herself and her children. However, her son - whose role is now played by an older actor - soon demonstrates a change in composure and plans to follow in his uncle's footsteps to become leader of Rome.
The sets and costumes are stunning as is the art direction - at a cost of $100,000,000 - which sees entire buildings reconstructed as they were at the time. Various parts of the series were filmed on location in Rome, which only helps add to the realism.
The second series of Rome is an amazing follow-up to the first one and is a must see for any dedicated fan as well as anyone who loves television drama or HBO series.
|
|
|
|
Copyright Thalasar Ventures | |
![Rome: The Complete HBO Season 2 (5 Disc Box Set) [2006]](http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/navbar/eBayLogoTM.gif)