History reflects that there was a man named Spartacus who led a slave revolt against the Roman Empire that was eventually put down. Most of what we know about Spartacus comes from often conflicting reports from antiquity. What we do know is that he gave the Romans a heck of a fight for a couple years until falling in combat at the Battle of the Siler River with the bulk of his troops.
Over the years Hollywood has crafted stories about the man, including Stanley Kubrick’s oeuvre Spartacus. Cable television station Starz has crafted a new version of the legend. Over three seasons, so far we’ve just seen the first two parts of the man’s life. Blood and Sand focused on his life as a slave, concluding with the beginnings of the rebellion that would define his life. Vengeance focused on the beginnings of the Third Servile War, culminating in his win (and personal revenge) on Mt. Vesuvius. War of the Damned is the conclusion, as Spartacus wages the war (and dies) fighting the Roman army.
In between it all we get a 300 style envisioning of ancient Roman life back then.
As it pertains to history, War of the Damned and the two seasons that preceded it follow the same basic pattern. It follows a guy named Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) who led a failed revolt against Rome. Some of the purported events in historical record of dubious origin are presented, of course, but this is Starz taking the basic historical record and modifying everything between Spartacus becoming a slave and Spartacus dying in combat in rebellion against the Roman Empire.
It’s the same formula that 300 worked to perfection: take the general historical record and follow it just enough to be accurate but not enough to be boring. Spice it with enough sex and violence to make it interesting, put everyone you cast on the Dolce Diet and make it dirty with some beautiful green screen work and you’ve got the basics of the three seasons that have made up Spartacus.
This is a more visceral version of what HBO’s Rome did a bit more effectively; showcase a historical record of which we know just enough to get the big picture (but miss out on a lot of the details) and try to fill in the details with some accuracy (but mainly fudge it for dramatic effect). What you’re left with is a historical fiction that bends when it needs to, breaks with the historical narrative to advance the story and gives a fairly innocuous version of Spartacus’s life (and death).
There are a handful of EPK pieces, a farewell to the series piece and a brief piece on the creative minds behind the show. Nothing significant, I’m afraid.
Anchor Bay presents Spartacus: War of the Damned . Created by Steve S. DeKnight. Starring Liam McIntyre, Manu Bennett, Dustin Clare, Dan Feuerriegel, Simon Merells, Todd Lasance. Running time: 553 minutes. Not Rated. Released: September 3, 2013.
