Rome: The Complete Series (2005) [Blu-ray] Rated:  R  Starring: Kevin McKidd, Indira Varma, Lindsay Duncan, Polly Walker, Ciaran Hinds, James Purefoy, Ray Stevenson, Kenneth Cranham, David Bamber. Director: [Various] Genre: Action | Drama | History DVD Release Date: 11/17/2009 Four hundred years after the founding of the Republic, Rome is the wealthiest city in the world, a cosmopolitan metropolis of one million people, epicenter of a sprawling empire. The Republic was founded on principles of shared power and fierce personal competition, never allowing one man to seize absolute control. But now, those foundations are crumbling, eaten away by corruption and excess. After eight years of war, soldiers Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo unwittingly become entwined in the historical events of ancient Rome. A serialized drama of love and betrayal, masters and slaves, husbands and wives, Rome chronicles a turbulent era that saw the death of a republic and the birth of an empire. Storyline: In this British historical drama, the turbulent transition from Roman republic to autocratic empire, which changed world history through civil war and wars of conquest, is sketched both from the aristocratic viewpoint of Julius Caesar, his family, his adopted successor Octavian Augustus, and their political allies and adversaries, and from the politically naive viewpoint of a few ordinary Romans, notably the soldiers Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo and their families. Written by KGF Vissers Cast Notes: Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus [22 episodes, 2005-2007]), Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo [22 episodes, 2005-2007]), Polly Walker (Atia of the Julii [22 episodes, 2005-2007]), Kerry Condon (Octavia of the Julii [22 episodes, 2005-2007]), James Purefoy (Mark Antony [22 episodes, 2005-2007]), Ian McNeice (Newsreader [20 episodes, 2005-2007]), Coral Amiga (Vorena the Elder [19 episodes, 2005-2007]), Lindsay Duncan (Servilia of the Junii [18 episodes, 2005-2007]), Lidia Biondi (Merula [18 episodes, 2005-2007]), Tobias Menzies (Marcus Junius Brutus [17 episodes, 2005-2007]), Nicholas Woodeson (Posca [17 episodes, 2005-2007]), Indira Varma (Niobe [15 episodes, 2005-2007]), David Bamber (Marcus Tullius Cicero [15 episodes, 2005-2007]), Chiara Mastalli (Eirene [15 episodes, 2005-2007]), Manfredi Aliquo (Castor [15 episodes, 2005-2007]), Suzanne Bertish (Eleni [14 episodes, 2005-2007]), Max Pirkis (Gaius Octavian [13 episodes, 2005-2007]), Lee Boardman (Timon [13 episodes, 2005-2007]), Esther Hall (Lyde [13 episodes, 2005-2007]), Ciarán Hinds (Gaius Julius Caesar [13 episodes, 2005-2007]), Anna Fausta Primiano (Vorena the Younger [12 episodes, 2005-2007]), Michael Nardone (Mascius [10 episodes, 2005-2007]). User Comment: jacksflicks from Hollywood, 28 September 2005 • I Claudius was maybe the best miniseries ever. Now, there's Rome, and it's even better. I agree with another reviewer, that quibbles about historical inaccuracies, such as accents or how old so-and-so should be, are silly pedantry. I've been a Roman history buff ever since my own high school triumvirate of Caesar, Cicero and Virgil, and I say that this historical fiction is both exciting AND quite accurate with the important stuff. So far, every player has been terrific, in particular Ciarán Hinds as Caesar and Max Pirkis as Octavian. Julius Caesar was perhaps the most complex "great" figure in history. Was he a great populist, trying to champion the people against the Optimates, or was he an ambitious demagogue, who was using the Roman mobs to attain the imperium? Hinds depicts this complexity perfectly, while projecting a steely will that is shared by Caesar's emerging protégé, Octavian. Thanks to Max Pirkis's brilliant portrayal, we can already see the no-nonsense pragmatism, ruthlessness and brilliance that will propel this boy into becoming the greatest despot in history. And what about that dissolute Mark Anthony? We can already see Actium in his face. And with Atia, I think Livia (as depicted in I Claudius) and Messalina have met their match. And midst the struggle for mastery of Rome, we see the struggle of more common folk just to make a living. Rome makes the parallel stories of the Optimates and Centurian, now Prefect, Vorenus and Legionnaire Pullo a perfect vehicle for comparing the travails of different classes — their love lives, social lives, how they treated the servants, how they practiced their faiths, how they fought. Seen from these different perspectives (which we did not get with I Claudius), we get a three-dimensional view and, for me, the closest to feeling like one is actually there of any historical fiction ever produced. And look at the production values. Is it any wonder, when we see who's behind the camera — Michael Apted and John Milius — that we have an immaculately crafted work? By their commitment to quality of production and integrity of story, HBO and BBC are demonstrating what television can be. This is a wonderful, wonderful series. Anyone with a love of history, drama and spectacle should be devouring it with delight. Summary: The Best Yet? [CSW] -4.5- The critically acclaimed but short-lived HBO and BBC television series has such resonance and power but is probably more significant and substantial than the normal so-called historical accounts. It is a compelling glimpse into an empire destined for dissolution and destruction. It's a psychological character study of the men and women who shaped world history as we know it. Roman sexuality is examined at gratuitous and at-times distracting lengths. The series' main female characters tend to be unscrupulous shrews. I rented it and although well-presented and though-provoking in its honesty, I felt I only needed to watch it once. But after a while I wanted to see it again and that coupled with a low price caused me to add it to my library. I can now enjoy it at will. IMDb Rating (10/28/12): 9.0/10 from 44,470 users Additional information Copyright:  2005,  HBO Home Video Features:  The Blu-ray edition of Rome: The Complete Series is housed within an attractive package. Nestled neatly within a sturdy outer sleeve, the set's case has been meticulously designed to resemble a leather-bound tome, complete with fourteen heavy cardboard "pages" that feature production photos, episode synopses, and a list of exactly what content fans will find on each disc. But while the discs themselves are housed comfortably in separate sleeves, one to a page, therein lies the set's biggest design flaw. To remove a disc, you have to pull it outwards, sliding the bottom surface of the disc across its accompanying cardboard page. Granted, the recessed slots are lined with glossy paper, but each disc still has to brush across the set's peripheral material when being removed. Thank the gods for scratch-resistant Blu-ray discs. It certainly isn't a deal breaker, but owners should take extra care when handling their set lest they crease one of the case's pages or, worse yet, scuff up one of the discs. • Audio Commentaries (Discs 1-6, 9-10): Writer/co-creator/executive producer Bruno Heller and co-producer/historical consultant Jonathan Stamp deliver the majority of the set's audio commentaries, digging their way through episodes like "The Stolen Eagle," "How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic," "Pharsalus," "Kalends of February," "Passover," and "About Your Father." Alas, their discussions are often so restrained and clinical that I quickly lost interest in what they had to offer. Heller spits out some interesting anecdotes about casting, script-writing, and production design, and the pair do manage to thoughtfully compare ancient Rome to its on-screen incarnation, but I continually found my attention drifting elsewhere. Stamp occasionally saves the day, sweeping in with passionate lectures about Roman history and the constant state of flux the empire faced, but Heller tends to drag things back down. While Diehard Rome fans will certainly get more out of their tracks than casual viewers, I have a feeling most listeners will be a bit dissatisfied with the bulk of their commentaries. • The set's other tracks are far more successful. Actor Ray Stevenson sits down to watch "The Ram Has Touched the Wall," but ends up dissecting the entire first season, describing Heller's on-set atmosphere, and discussing the series' lighting, locations, production design, characters, cast members, creative team and... well, everything. He even serves up a lively helping of historical facts. His is arguably the best commentary in the set, and the one I would suggest everyone begin with. Director Steve Shill dives into "Caesarion," touching on the actors' performances, his directorial sensibilities, and the techniques he employed to get the most out of every shot. His track is dotted with silence, but he's engaging whenever he speaks. For "Utica," director Jeremy Podeswa hones in on the tone, historical relevance, and impact of the series. While his is the chattiest and most complimentary track, it's also the most analytical and descriptive. Actor Kevin McKidd tackles "The Spoils," breaking down key sequences, character motivations, and plot points. Though he's more matter-of-fact that his fellow commentators, his track gains momentum as it rattles along, granting him ample opportunity to talk about the various dialects he and his castmates had to learn, the conflicts brewing between the characters, the challenge of shooting certain scenes, and the differences between the scripts and the final episodes. Were it not for his frequent and annoying lapses into silence, his commentary would be a fine match for Stevenson's. • Director John Maybury and actress Lindsay Duncan are a breezy, soft-spoken duo, unspooling "Death Mask," the process behind filming an episode, the subtleties of the storylines and characters, and other season-centric topics. Likewise, executive producer John Melfi and director Carl Franklin produce a spirited track for "A Necessary Fiction" in which they chat about historical Egypt, its incorporation into the series, Franklin's staging of several scenes, the actors and their performances, and the themes that dominate the show's second season. Their conversation is personable, effortless, and incredibly informative, filling in some of the production gaps left by Heller and Stamp. Last but certainly not least is James Purefoy's "No God Can Stop a Hungry Man" commentary. He describes what's happening on-screen far too often, but he also chews through the episode and series at large, injecting some wry humor and plenty of dense information into the proceedings. • Interactive Bloodlines (All Discs): HBO has created an interactive pop-up interface that provides bios and reveals connections between the men and women of Rome. Unfortunately, it's a rather simplistic, text-based addition that few will use. • All Roads Lead to Rome (All Discs): Each episode also includes a somewhat remedial trivia track peppered with basic historical facts and production tidbits. However, like the discs' "Interactive Bloodlines," they're such barebones bonuses -- especially when compared to the engrossing Picture-in-Picture tracks featured on the Blu-ray edition of Band of Brothers -- that most viewers will skip them altogether. • Friends, Romans, Countrymen (Disc 1, SD, 11 minutes): A clip-heavy EPK that introduces and examines the many characters of Rome. It's heavy on plot synopsis and base analysis, but makes succinct work of the first season's themes, heroes, soldiers, women, and storylines. • The Rise of Rome (Disc 1, SD, 24 minutes): This behind-the-scenes documentary is far more extensive and revealing, yet still occasionally suffers from rampant self-promotion. Regardless, it covers the costumes, sets, props, and design decisions of the series' first season in great length, as well as the countless hours and hard work that produced such elaborate, yet realistic results. Actors, creative heads, and technicians are on hand to provide their thoughts, making this one of the more inclusive and informative features in the set. • Shot X Shot (Disc 4, SD, 23 minutes): Entire documentaries aren't usually devoted to a single scene, but when it involves as much spectacle and psychological nuance as Caesar's turning point, it certainly deserves it. Key members of the cast and crew offer their thoughts on director Alan Taylor's contributions, the tone of the sequence, the framing of several shots, and the planning that went into making it the successful scene it is. • Shot X Shot, Gladiator (Disc 5, SD, 23 minutes): Another thorough "Shot X Shot" documentary focuses on a tricky gladiator battle, the weapons and armor crafted for the sequence, the composition of its shots, the scope of the sets, and the production team's practical and CG effects. • When In Rome (Disc 5, SD, 23 minutes): An in-depth look at the historical accuracy of the series and its portrayal of Rome's religious practices, women, brutality, slaves, citizenry, culture, and political turmoil. • A Tale of Two Romes (Disc 6, HD, 21 minutes): 753 BC, the date historians traditionally assign to the founding of Rome, is at the heart of this historical documentary. Stamp discusses the origin of the city's rivalries, the dangers faced by its citizenry, the empire's revolving-door of power, early clashes between the Jews and the Romans, and the vulgarity, brutality, and graffiti that filled the streets. • The Making of Rome: Season II (Disc 8, HD, 23 minutes): This second season doc focuses on the differences between Rome's seasons, the series' new characters, and the expanding scope of the show. • The Rise of Octavian: Rome's First Emperor (Disc 9, HD, 21 minutes): Stamp helms yet another historical overview, this one focused on Octavian, that mixes fact with production details to create an absorbing documentary. • Antony and Cleopatra (Disc 10, HD, 15 minutes): Ditto on this featurette, a short but satisfying look at history's so-called greatest love story, the series' approach to Antony and Cleopatra's relationship, and the manner in which the creators worked to pay respect to the historical figures. • Episode Previews, Season 1 (Discs 1-5, HD, 10 minutes): Brief ads for all twelve Season 1 episodes are presented in high definition, but each one has simply been upscaled from standard definition. • Episode Previews, Season 2 (Discs 6-10, HD, 7 minutes): Commercials for all ten Season 2 episodes are presented with the same quality. Subtitles:  English SDH, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Greek, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish Video:  Widescreen 1.78:1 Color Screen Resolution: 1080p Original aspect ratio: 1.78:1 Audio:  ENGLISH: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 SPANISH: DTS Stereo FRENCH: DTS Stereo GERMAN: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 CASTILIAN: DTS Stereo POLISH: DTS Stereo Time:  20:29 DVD:  # Discs: 1 -- # Shows: 1 UPC:  883929074617 Coding:  [V3.5-A4.0] MPEG-4 AVC D-Box:  No Other:  Producers: Frank Doelger, Frank Yablans, Creators:, William J MacDonald, John Milius, Bruno Heller; running time of 1229 minutes; Packaging: Custom Case.