While the battle scenes with Gaul and Caesar's triumphant return to Rome are filmed with pomp and circumstance, the overall scope defeats what is essential as the epic wraps up Julius's time as the great one of Rome. The characters simply fade into small mists where they are overshadowed by style, not allowing the many characters involved to be fully fleshed out. Pompey gets his in the end in Egypt, the Cleopatra legend pails in comparison to other versions, including the 1999 mini-series. Still Jeremy Sisto remains strong in the title role, sustaining the conflictions of his ideals and the lust for power that Ultima does him in.
This being about the second part of his life (and thus more familiar with its historical references), the viewer doesn't really learn anything new about him, with so many characters and events thrust in and out of the drama that the scope becomes the main reason to watch. There are a few touching moments, including Caesar's reaction to Pompey's death, Gaul chief Vercingetorix (Heino Ferch) reacting to defeat and the build-up to the Ides of March predicted earlier in this part as Caesar becomes more beloved and powerful, a dangerous combination to further control the power lusts of an increasingly narcissistic man. That is never more apparent than when he humiliates his last wife Calpurnia (Valeria Golino) by presenting Cleopatra and their newly born infant son. Watchable for certain, but never anything more than serviceable.
This being about the second part of his life (and thus more familiar with its historical references), the viewer doesn't really learn anything new about him, with so many characters and events thrust in and out of the drama that the scope becomes the main reason to watch. There are a few touching moments, including Caesar's reaction to Pompey's death, Gaul chief Vercingetorix (Heino Ferch) reacting to defeat and the build-up to the Ides of March predicted earlier in this part as Caesar becomes more beloved and powerful, a dangerous combination to further control the power lusts of an increasingly narcissistic man. That is never more apparent than when he humiliates his last wife Calpurnia (Valeria Golino) by presenting Cleopatra and their newly born infant son. Watchable for certain, but never anything more than serviceable.
