Attila [DVD]

Wish they made more movies like that

It was kinda' weird having an Asian Hun speaking with a Scottish accent. That being said, Gerard Butler is beyond excellent as the haunted Hun Warrior Atilla. He plays this role with such authentic feeling that I frequently found myself so absorbed in this movie experience that I felt I was watching a documentary of a living, breathing man and warrior. Butler seems to have an uncanny ability to just walk into a role and really BE the character he portrays. He doesn't seem to be acting at all. When his ability to BE a character is draped in furs and costumes and makeup, the overall effect can be quite powerful. That surely is true here!I have long been a fan of Powers Booth and his performance here doesn't disappoint. He effectively portrays a very unlikeable, dispicable, manipulative anti-hero. At one point in the movie, he even shares his some of his self-serving advice with Atilla. He plays a very sneaky, conniving "snake in the grass" bad man, and he does it so well. I really love him as an actor, but he was so good at being bad in this movie, I found myself wanting to throttle him!It is uncommon, I believe, for women to like war movies, but I loved all the battle scenes. The battle between Atilla and his older brother for the right to rule the Huns is a real standout and is very intense and exciting -- no matter how many times I watch it! How they managed to ride horseback in circles while shooting at each other with bows and arrows is astounding and so beautiful that it almost felt poetic. Their final struggle with knives gives the whole scene a heroic feel. Even though I knew Atilla would ultimately win the battle, there were moments where I was holding my breath.The costumes in this movie are works of art. I especially loved the costume Gerard Butler as Atilla wore for his entrance into Rome. Butler's shoulders are draped with the fur of what appeared to be a wolf -- paws, head and all. This costume adds to the mystique of Atilla's persona as a skilled hunter and Hun conqueror and highlights how much thought and creative energy went into the making of all the costumes. The wedding costumes were lavish and beautiful.This is a great movie with terrific actors, gorgeous costumes and lavish sets. The more I watch it, the more I love it. Buy this movie and see for yourself what a visual stunner it is..

ATTILA is a must see for anyone who appreciates the great epics of by-gone years! My purchase of the USA Original movie ATTILA (2001) was because Gerard Butler portrayed the main character. I've come to know this man's ability as an actor on whom I rely to perform brilliantly. His rendering of the historical "Attila" was absolutely that plus more! Let me also add dazzling and radiant. "Attila" literally jumps from the screen. The first scene of "Attila" galloping across a large steppe on horseback is magnificent! The writer begins the scene with him as a youngster who as the frames continue grows into the splendid specimen of manhood, "Attila." Regardless of Mr. Butler's captivating green eyes, the main character is "Attila the Hun" whom I saw! Gerard Butler did NOT appear ONCE in this movie! To me THAT is the mark of a GREAT ACTOR! You BECOME the character! Acting opposite him as the Roman "General Aetius" is another actor of great repute, Powers Boothe. It's a rare pleasure to feel the "air being sliced" in the performance between two fine actors as their characters square off against each other as friends as well as enemies! "Attila's" introduction to the city of Rome is all that the spectacle an entrance of two great leaders being hailed and adored by the citizens should be. Director Dick Lowry follows "Attila" with superb and fastidious detail from his days as a young warrior in Europe (circa mid 400's AD) through his rapid rise to power. Robert Cochran's script could have been translated to the big screen but I was glad that it had three hours rather than two to expand the story; not take away from it. The extra time gives more ability for all of the characters to interact. Tommy Flanagan (BRAVEHEART) is another actor who I look for in films. In ATTILA, he portrays "Attila's" older brother "Bleda." Their well orchestrated duel to the death from horseback over who shall rule the Hun Empire after "King Rua's" demise (Steven Berkoff) will in itself keep the viewer not only riveted to the set but re-running the scene over again and again! ATTILA is historically sound, well acted with performances also given by actors Tim Curry as "Theodosius," Simmone Jade MacKinnon as "N'Kara" and Reg Rogers as "Valentinian." USA Network's ATTILA deserves a five star rating! Janet Polk Molyneaux of Charlotte, North Carolina

Tres bien!

Le film est très bien fait et les acteurs ont joué leurs rôles à merveille

ottimo film, belle atmosfere. Soprannominato flagellum Dei ("flagello di Dio") per la sua ferocia, si diceva che dove fosse passato non sarebbe più cresciuta l'erba. Ancora oggi è considerato nell'Europa occidentale tra i personaggi più malvagi della storia tuttavia gli studi storici moderni vedono in lui più un predone che un distruttore insensato. il film gli restituisce questa aura di saggezza.

I got this after becoming curious as to whatever happened to Rollo Weeks, the child actor. Apparently he became a lawyer, but before that he made this film in which he plays the child Attila.To my great joy, the film is excellent and I was really glad to find something this good about a very interesting historic character.

"Attila, der Hunne" ist unbestreitbar das beste, - dh. verglichen mit den Möglichkeiten, wie z.B. einem geringeren Budget usw., die hier ausgeschöpft wurden, was ich in den vergangenen Jahren gesehen habe.Änlich wie bei den TV - Produktionen "Julius Caesar" oder "Napoleon", mit einem sehr, - von der Statur und charakterlich gesehen, überzeugenden Christian "Klavier" ;-), stören mich hier gewisse Un, - bzw. Halbwahrheiten, sowie künstlerische Freiheiten und die dramaturgische Geschichtsklitterung nicht im gerinsten.Die Darsteller (z.B. Alice Krige - "Rache aus dem Reich der Toten", - bekannt geworden aber mehr durch ihre Rolle als "Borg - Queen" in diversen SF - Serien, - Gerard Butler - "Beowulf und Grendel", "300", Tim Curry - "Rocky Horror Picture Show") sind größtenteils sehr überzeugend. Darunter auch die Nebenrollen, wenn eben auch nicht alle sehr namenhaft.Besonders die Schlachtszenen und gerade hier einige Details darin, - die Kriegsführung mit - dh. für Klischeevorstellung vom dümmlichen, ultra - brutalen Hunnen unüblicherweise - Belagerungsgerät usw., - einige Landschaftsaufnahmen und Dekorationsaustattungen sind gut bis überzeugend gewählt. Was will mann da noch weiter übertrieben großartig daran kritisieren.Klar, war die geschichtliche Figur mit Sicherheit eher kleiner, untersetzter und wschl. auch unatraktiver. Über seine sprichwörtliche grobschlächtige Art und sein hässliches Aussehen ist ja genug nach zu lesen. Allerdings, - nicht zu vergessen, oft genug von der "kultivierteren" wie angeblich gebildeten Gegenseite geschrieben.Und auch über die genauen Umstände seines Todes gibt es Anlass für wilde Spekulationen. Allerdings wird auch von Attila's Selbstbescheidenheit bei gleichzeitig, großzügiger Gastfreundlichkeit und dem hohen gesellschaftlichen Niveau der hunnischen, - genau wie später erst Recht der, oft ebenso verrufenen, mongolischen, Kultur berichtet.Wenn sich immer und vollständig an die meißtens gerade noch halbwegs bekannten Fakten gehalten würde, bräuchten ja nur noch sterile Dokumentationen, - auch nicht fälschungssicher, gefilmt werden.Nicht immer gleich zuviel erwarten oder hinein interpretieren, - einfach nur erstmal, möglichst entspannt und unvoreingenommen, gut unterhalten lassen und hinterher, bei geweckten Bedarf, die einschlägigen Quellen durchforsten.Am stärksten, und wschl. auch schaurigsten, im Gedächtnis hängen bleiben wird hier diese Szene mit den wie Lämmern dastehenden, römischen Gefangenen, denen ein Hunne mal eben so nebenbei die Kehlen durchschneidet. Die Parallelen zu einer änlichen bei "der Pianist", - dh. wenn dieser Film auch zu einer völlig anderen Epoche spielt, aufkommen läßt.