Rome: The Complete HBO Season 2 (5 Disc Box Set) [2006]

Product Details

Director : Michael Apted
Actor : Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, James Purefoy, Tobias Menzies
Format : PAL
Binding : DVD
EAN : 7321902165615
Product Group : DVD
Region Code : 2
Release Date : 2007-09-10
Running Time : 572minutes
Studio : Warner Home Video

ASIN : B000RVWM4E

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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

And the story continues--just as amazing as before (2008-09-11)

And the story continues--from the chaos following Caesar's assassination, Mark Antony's inept rule, the intrigues of Brutus and Cassius, and the rise of Octavian..this series is just as good as the first one, and every bit as gripping and visually magnificent. Superbly acted and produced, both series 1 and 2 are just gems. I feel bereft now I've watched the whole thing.If only they could keep going! But maybe they don't want to tread on I, Claudius' toes, which takes us into Octavian's(Augustus')long reign and beyond?

Something wrong with your DVD player? (2008-04-21)

After 50+ years of enjoying cinema,films of all types..but mostly films that engage the audience and require input...I have never complained about a Director of Photography before....every episode of "Rome" that mentioned the dreaded Marco Pontecorvo as the DOP..stand by for an amateur version of "The Shield"-all hand held..in your face,up your bum-whatever..wobbly picture,jerky background,cast walking right across the foreground of the frame-absolute RUBBISH..and with a famous Director as his father!!!- a little man with a massive ego..and directors letting him get away with it?Although this element stinks the place out-everything else about "Rome" is superb.

An Outstanding Conclusion to a Wonderful Series (2008-04-19)

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.

But do I want to BUY it? (2008-03-08)

I enjoyed the second series - but would I want to watch it more than, say, one more time? The story - naturally, when tracking the rise of Augustus - is simpler. The men of power and then the man of power take over: the influence of the women (that series one made so much of) diminishes. Livia is a mere cameo part. And, like others, I vastly prefer Max Pirkis as Octavian/Augustus to Simon Woods. Pirkis' younger man was clearly intelligent and understood people as well as being ambitious and dangerous; Woods' version is so much more black and white. And as the climax of the series is the victory of Augustus, well, do I want to buy it, even if Vorenus and Pullo do keep interest alive?

Even better (2008-02-11)

If you liked series 1, you will love this. The script is better, there is more momentum, excitement and depth. They all seem to have relaxed into it - and the results are breathtaking. Vorenus and Pullo are more complex and compelling, the political story is more convincing because the clumsy treatment of the "Senate versus democracy" cliche in the first series is gone. Of the anti-Caesarian Senators, only Cicero, Brutus and Cassius are left. Both of the latter are more measured and interesting than in the first series, and even Cicero, in his garden, does some justice to the historical person, whom of all the Romans we know best, because we have all his letters and speeches preserved. There is even a moment in the Senate where they allow a cameo to his Philippics, the great speeches denouncing Mark Antony.Ah, Mark Antony. As this series progresses and his situation becomes more and more complicated (and sympathetic, faced with the undiluted, comic-book "chill terrorist" Octavian/Caesar/Augustus of Ronald Syme's creation!), James Purefoy's performance gets better and better. Having seen it all through now, I can say without question that when I think of Mark Antony, I will always see him. His performance is utterly convincing and fascinating, human, barbaric, tragic and superhuman all at once. I hear that he is to play "The Saint" and "Flashman" - he'll be definitive as both. In his scenes with Cleopatra (and Lyndsey Marshal is also absolutely superb as well as very easy on the eye), they manage to suggest something not just chemical, not just political, but something akin to two people in love on the very edge of the world as it burns up... when Antony says the line, "Oh, we have lived, haven't we?" you can't help but admire him and envy him, despite his immediate predicament. Brilliant stuff.If you don't know the history of this period, buy this DVD and enjoy the thrill of it all - then, if you like, go and read "Caesar's Legacy" by Josiah Osgood and find out some more. If you do know the history, buy this DVD and wallow in it. I think it can be quite well fitted with Samuel Johnson's remark about London - if you don't enjoy this, you're tired of life.

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