Hercules (2014)

How do legends form? How is it possible that some stories are forgotten within a few months, but others are still read centuries later and are still being told? Could it be because a specific story holds a lesson, like the well-known fairytales do? Or is it because the story is so unbelievable that it is exactly that which inspires its listener/reader? The admiration only increasing the more beautiful the story is, even if it might not be grounded in reality. It is something the best movies do. This one looks at the legend of Hercules. The son of the god Zeus who managed to defeat an unbeatable lion or who cut off the heads of the Hydra.

The story of Hercules has been told in various forms for centuries and has also been brought to the screen in various films and TV shows. In this version the titular role is played by Dwayne Johnson, who seems to become more muscular each film he is in. Here he is surrounded by warriors like Amphiaraus (Ian McShane, who clear is enjoying is role and is responsible for the jokes), Atalanta (Ingrid Berdal, who is sort of a female Legolas with her bow and arrow, feared by many) and various others. And even though he doesn’t fight, it is Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) who is responsible for turning Hercules, a normal man, into a legend, by telling stories which are everything but realistic. It is the reason why Hercules becomes so well-known and also why everyone belives he is truly the son of a God.

This movie is not about the obstacles that Hercules has to face, which almost everyone knows. Here Hercules and his men are an army for hire prepared to help others fight their wars. In this case it is Lord Cotys (John Hurt), who wants them to defeat his enemy. The execution of the story is in the action movie template, sprinkled with a couple of serious moments. But the main focus is action and slick dialog which turn this into an entertaining popcorn movie. Johnson is perfect for the role and acts as is expected from him, with lots of screen presence, various winks to the camera and showing a lot of force. It turn Hercules in a fun film, even though not memorable at all. I like how it explores the creation of a legend and the movie itself makes sure that the original story of Hercules keeps living on.