“You think you know the truth about him? You know nothing!” – These words begin the live-action adaptation of one of the most famous heroes of Greek mythology: Hercules. And it couldn’t be expressed better. Because Dwayne Johnson’s interpretation of Hercules has almost nothing to do with the popular Disney film from 1997.
Instead of a typical Disney hero story in which Hercules finds his true destiny, the 2014 remake is a brutal battle epic full of bloody fights and merciless actionYou can stream it on Magenta TV, among others.
When legends meet the harsh reality of war: That’s what Hercules is about
Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) is the son of Zeus. He is the legendary demigod who mastered the twelve tasks and defeated the wildest beasts. At least that is what his nephew Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) says, who spreads the stories of his famous uncle throughout Greece. But behind these legends lies a completely different truth: Hercules leads a close-knit troop of mercenarieswho offer their services in battle for gold.
When the desperate Ergenia (Rebecca Ferguson), daughter of the King of Thrace, hires him and his group to protect her people from the ruthless warlord Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann), Hercules is drawn into a conflict that puts his legends to the test.
Huge battles instead of Disney magic – with an ideally cast Dwayne Johnson
The film makes no secret of knowing exactly what audiences would normally expect from a story about Hercules. In fact, it plays with this and presents it in a comedic way. This even leads to a running joke where the mystical creatures of legends appear, only to turn out to be something completely different at the end.
Instead of the Disney magic from the cartoon classic, there is brutal battles in which no expense is spared on bloody detailsDespite a relatively small budget of just $100 million, the film can easily keep up visually with more expensive blockbusters in the category. It even impresses with its daring effects and visual power. But it’s not just the surprisingly great images that make Hercules so worth seeing, it also contains clever twists and unexpected turns that keep you captivated until the end.
And then of course there is Dwayne Johnson, who once again impresses as Mr. Charisma. He is the perfect leading actor for this cinematic experimentThe former wrestler combines muscle power, charisma and comedic timing. He is a serious action star, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. His iconic eyebrow raise alone gives the role an incomparable charm and an unmistakable presence. Dwayne Johnson plays with the myths of ancient Greece in a refreshing way without being slapstick.
If you like films like Troy and later action comedies by Dwayne Johnson, you will also enjoy Hercules. You can now stream the new interpretation of Hercules with Dwayne Johnson on MagentaTV with a subscription or on the Amazon channel MGM+.