Jojo Macari as Domitian in Those About To Die
Summary If Romans time-traveled to today, there’s one key reason they would be disappointed if they streamed Those About To Die. The release of this new swords-and-sandals epic reflects a persistent appeal – Ancient Rome has been ripe dramatic material for thousands of years. However, critical responses to Those About To Die, which sits at 54% on Rotten Tomatoes, show that, despite great performances including Hopkins and Rheon, the series' appeal falls decidedly flat.
Ancient Rome Was Colorful, Not Drab Like In Those About To Die Close Ancient Rome conjures images of museums and galleries – gleaming, pristine sculptures from Ancient Greece and Rome lining the halls with their ethereal beauty. However, while the marble might seem monochrome, the real Rome, then the capital of the Mediterranean world, was an explosion of color. Bright frescoes and colored marble abounded.
This didn’t stop art historians seemingly being in denial about this until recently, because of the perceived aesthetic superiority of white marble. This opens up so much creative potential for filmmakers – but many still fall into the trap of portraying Roman antiquity in an ironically outdated, predictable way. The overhead CGI shots of the architecture in Those About To Die look glossy and cheap. It would have benefited from more texture and life.
In defense of Those About To Die, its critically lauded predecessor Rome had the benefit of “one of the most expensive productions of all time for its co-producers,” . Those About To Die is relatively cheaper, but at $140 million is still huge. Its events are equally bombastic – thrill-seeking crowds, charioteers, and gladiators feature in Those About To Die. A more vibrant color palette would arguably be more fitting.
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