Hercules

Name: Hercules
Genre: Action, Adventure
Released: July 25, 2014
Duration: 98 min
Rating: 47
Cast: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Sewell

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 335 Ratings

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6.2

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6.2	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 335 Ratings

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Hercules

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Movie Details & Credits

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: July 25, 2014 | PG-13

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Joseph Fiennes, Rufus Sewell

Summary: Both man and myth, Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) leads a band of mercenaries to help end a bloody civil war in the land of Thrace and return the rightful king to his throne. A tormented soul from birth, Hercules has the strength of a God but feels the suffering of a human.

Director: Brett Ratner

Genre(s): Action, Adventure

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 98 min

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Critic Reviews

Scott Foundas

Jul 23, 2014

It’s a grandly staged, solidly entertaining, old-fashioned adventure movie that does something no other Hercules movie has quite done before: it cuts the mythical son of Zeus down to human size (or as human as you can get while still being played by Dwayne Johnson). Read full review

Sherilyn Connelly

Jul 28, 2014

Johnson is genuinely talented. He's often the best thing in bad movies, and Ratner's Hercules is, at the very least, pretty good. Read full review

The Guardian Peter Bradshaw

Jul 23, 2014

There are some rousing battle scenes, preceded by stirring addresses on the subject of going to Elysium – all cheekily borrowed from Ridley Scott's "Gladiator." Read full review

Barbara VanDenburgh

Jul 25, 2014

There's a welcome lack of pretension to the proceedings. Stalwarts like Hurt and Ian McShane are on hand to class up the joint — everyone's got a British accent except for Johnson — while the predictable story bludgeons its way towards an inevitable conclusion. Read full review

Ben Kenigsberg

Jul 25, 2014

As the plot clogs up with foreseeable reversals, wisecrack duties go to Mr. McShane, whose oracular character keeps wrongly predicting his own death. Like Hercules, the movie is plagued by a split identity: It’s half-slog, half-Mel Brooks. Read full review

Peter Travers

Jul 31, 2014

Director Brett Ratner could boast solid source material in the five-issue Radical Comics series Hercules: The Thracian Wars by the late Steve Moore. They had a shot at something here, and they blew it. Read full review

Rob Humanick

Jul 26, 2014

The film fluctuates haphazardly between semi-serious reverence and tongue-in-cheek camp, with no shortage of opportunities for the inevitable Rifftrax accompaniment. Read full review

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User Reviews

Rhae

Jul 28, 2014

It's a really wonderful action movie and really get into the legend of the character. I don't get what others they want: an epic mythological movie must be really epic action, great beasts and powerful gods. And Hercules is probably the best of this

10 of 21 users found this helpful1011

trigun123478

Jul 28, 2014

I will admit, I went into this movie expecting something different, the trailers are a little deceiving. While it's different from the trailers, it's still an awesome movie. I saw it in IMax non 3D, this movie has lots of great action, and even has a little humor. If there was ever someoneI will admit, I went into this movie expecting something different, the trailers are a little deceiving. While it's different from the trailers, it's still an awesome movie. I saw it in IMax non 3D, this movie has lots of great action, and even has a little humor. If there was ever someone that was made to play Hercules it's Dwayne johnson, It made me really want to see more movies like this with him in it. His impressive build gives life to the character and you really believe his strength. Go see the movie, don't listen to all the people hating on it.… Expand

3 of 7 users found this helpful34

Satiricalewok

Nov 9, 2014

You know what I really enjoyed this film, I went in expecting to see the rock punching stuff and being awesome, and that is exactly what I got. Does the plot have holes? yes. Is it at times predictable? yes. Is it the most fun a blockbuster has been in a while? yes.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Shedegg

Dec 6, 2014

Hercules has a fairly good cast and so the acting doesn't disappoint. There are some problems with this movie though, such as the storyline isn't the best. This is the kind of movie which is just a bit of fun to watch, it'll never be put down as one of the best movies of all time but it'sHercules has a fairly good cast and so the acting doesn't disappoint. There are some problems with this movie though, such as the storyline isn't the best. This is the kind of movie which is just a bit of fun to watch, it'll never be put down as one of the best movies of all time but it's good. It doesn't Appeal to all audiences though, so don't expect to like it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

foxgrove

Jul 25, 2014

It all starts so promisingly with remembered stories of some of the famed labours of our eponymous hero. However, after a quick introduction to the man god's background and a whiplash bout of special effects this settles into a training exercise for two rather un excitingly staged battles.It all starts so promisingly with remembered stories of some of the famed labours of our eponymous hero. However, after a quick introduction to the man god's background and a whiplash bout of special effects this settles into a training exercise for two rather un excitingly staged battles. Further damage is inflicted by a script that insists on having both Rufus Sewell (who is rather bad actually) and Ian McShane spew forth a lot of unnecessarily sardonic humour. Things do liven up somewhat when the villains are unmasked and Hercules gets to perform his last labour. Overall though, aside from having superior visuals, this is not really any better than the year's earlier sword and sandals opus 'The Legend of Hercules'.

At the end of this mercifully short epic Ian McShane proclaims ( In a sly dig?) 'The truth about Hercules, I prefer it to the Legend'. I say on this evidence we don't need either of them. Perhaps the film we are waiting for is the one that presents us with those 12 labours. Now that may be worth contemplating.… Expand

4 of 12 users found this helpful48

quincytheodore

Sep 4, 2014

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson certainly has flair for on-screen presence, he embodies the character with amazing physique and intense commitment, but sadly the script material is drab and uninteresting, one that’s inferior to TV show, the likes of Spartacus or Rome. It attempts to humanizeDwayne "The Rock" Johnson certainly has flair for on-screen presence, he embodies the character with amazing physique and intense commitment, but sadly the script material is drab and uninteresting, one that’s inferior to TV show, the likes of Spartacus or Rome. It attempts to humanize Hercules, presenting the man behind the legend, which is quite admirable compared to other grandiose renditions that share the same title or action movies in general that depict superhuman characters. Unfortunately, the plot is highly predictable and aside a few decent skirmishes, it doesn't offer anything notable.

The story portrays Hercules as a mercenary, although his previous acts and original are usually shrouded by excessive storytelling, which serendipitously benefits him. Along the way it delves deeper on the titular personality, shedding bits of mythical tales to reveal the actual man. This concept is sound, although neither pacing nor screenplay manages to reach that level of accomplishment. In short, it's rather boring. There are far too many similar elements from other adventure movies, even from Johnson's own Scorpion King from last decade, and it's not presented in better fashion. Humor and banter rarely hit the mark, thus making the story build up from first acts stagnant.

Johnson as the star is an imposing figure, often instilling larger than life persona. How he succeeds in pulling off the worthy Hercules look is half the movie already, and to his credit, Johnson has the heart aside from the brawn. The rest of the cast are fine addition, Hercules' ragtag band of mercenary fits the bill, while John Hurt and Ralph Fiennes round up as the kings. Unfortunately, there's little engaging interaction and what transpire is pretty straightforward. Scenes flow with barely any momentum, they are very slow and plagued by average stereotypical situation.

Action does happen, even if some spark of brilliance is only sighted for few brief moments. Although scale isn't as big and choreography is average, the battles are still serviceable. Use of CG, and 3D for that matter, is a bit underwhelming. For the beasts are apparently artificial, and as far as debris go, throwing them into audience's eyes is far too outdated underhanded tactic. The movie does take advantage of the mature rating to deliver more visceral combat, it may not be complex, but it has impacts for most part.

The intention of displaying more human side of Hercules is noble, however with such thin content, the movie is hardly equipped for such profound task. Dwayne Johnson could probably give more to the role, but he is definitely an appealing personality suited to be Hercules. Sadly, there's not much else to the movie.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RoraEst

Mar 10, 2015

The message from the movie story was really good.
People who likes it might really believe myth is not real.
People who hates it might also still accept if myth is never real, like me. The first thought in my head while I finally in the middle of the film was I'm trapped. I watched theThe message from the movie story was really good.
People who likes it might really believe myth is not real.
People who hates it might also still accept if myth is never real, like me.
The first thought in my head while I finally in the middle of the film was I'm trapped.
I watched the movie for my good friend.
I couldn't believe I watch this kind of movie on cinema.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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59	#59 Most Discussed Movie of 2014
70	#70 Most Shared Movie of 2014