-
Co-adapted by Tom Butterworth and Jez Butterworth from Valerio Massimo Manfredi's bestselling historical adventure novel, Doug Lefler's period epic The Last Legion unfurls c. 470 A.D., just prior to the fall of the colossal Roman Empire. As the most recent in a long line of Caesars, a young Roman child, Romulus (Thomas Sangster) is poised to inherit the throne - until Germanic forces invade, lay siege to the city, and brutally murder his parents. At the last second, with his life hanging by a thread, Romulus receives the protection of military commander Aurelius (Colin Firth), who assembles a cadre of rebels, including Romulus, the boy's magician instructor Ambrosinus (Sir Ben Kingsley) and the Indian female warrior Mira (Aishwarya Rai). After Romulus discovers an enchanted sword once claimed by Julius Caesar, the troupe heads out to the province of Britannia and Hadrian's Wall. There, the men will regroup with the Ninth Legion and plan one final triumphant stand against the barbarian invaders of Rome. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
