"Empire" (2005) TV mini-series

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Directors:

John Gray
Kim Manners

Writers:

Sara B. Cooper (writer)
Chip Johannessen (writer)

Release Date:

28 June 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | History

Plot:

Epic four-hour series about the rise of Octavius who succeeds Julius Caesar and tangles with Marc Anthony for control of the Roman empire and finally went on to become the emperor Augustus.

Plot Keywords:

Julius Caesar | Assassination | Emperor | Roman Empire | Betrayal

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Santiago Cabrera	...	Octavius
Vincent Regan	...	Marc Antony
Emily Blunt	...	Camane
James Frain	...	Brutus
Jonathan Cake	...	Tyrannus
Christopher Egan	...	Agrippa
Michael Maloney	...	Cassius
Fiona Shaw	...	Fulvia
Colm Feore	...	Caesar
Michael Byrne	...	Cicero
Orla Brady	...	Atia
Trudie Styler	...	Servilia
Graham McTavish	...	General Rapax
Dennis Haysbert	...	Magonius
Amanda Root	...	Noella

Runtime:

360 min (including commercials) (6 parts)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | USA:TV-14 | Finland:K-15

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company:

Storyline Entertainment

Trivia:

Real swords were used in close-up shots for authenticity. This risky decision resulted in Jonathan Cake being cut during filming for the first episode. The cut became infected and Cake required hospital treatment.

Goofs:

Continuity: During the final battle between Antony's and Octavius's armies, Tyranus removes two silver emblems from his chest to denounce Antony and fight for Octavius. In the next shot, they are there again. Later, they disappear once more.

Quotes:

[Agrippa sees his general getting ready to kill Octavius]
Agrippa: What're you doing?
Centurion: Aim for the temple. It'll be faster.
Agrippa: This is Caesar!
Centurion: That's no concern of your, boy!

Movie Connections:

Version of Imperium: Augustus (2003) (TV)

What a load...

Well how about fabricating a lot of Roman History! Augustus just didn't do a lot of the stuff in this movie and it isn't as if Roman history wasn't written down. Augustus joined Caesar in two campaigns before he was 18.

After Caesar's murder there was a lot of political wrangling with Marc Anthony and eventual battles, etc. There is no need to fabricate stories when Roman history is full of good stuff.

There are many occasions in history when we just don't know much and one can speculate then... but... well what's the use... Hallmark seldom delivers on these sort of projects...

Their modern drama are much better...