One moment we see Roman soldiers in traditional 15th century garb then suddenly we see microphones, cars, motorcycles, Alan Cumming (wildly miscasted) wearing 1940's leather coat and gloves, then we're treated to 1980's punk hairstyles and arcade games. What is the purpose with this? Stick to a single era.
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The original play was similar. When was it supposed to be set? There are important scenes in which traditions of populism and decentralization from the Republic limit the Emperor's power. Others where he is like a god-king.
Christian and Pagan references overlap in an impossible way. Everyone is pagan, but the Pope and monasteries are mentioned. There was also no extensive Roman invasion of the lands of the Goths.
The Goths later invaded Roman territory and many troops were sent to defend the borders. It would have been slightly more realistic to make Tamora a British Celtic ruler, as the Romans did annex most of Britain.
My point isn't to criticize either. It's historical fantasy. The story is entertaining and the writing is good. Don't do your history homework on ancient Rome by reading/watch anything by Shakespeare, but especially this.
Stick to a single era? Why? Shakespeare didn't. His 'Titus' freely borrows from Republican and Imperial Roman history because he didn't want to follow a strictly historical subject. Who was the Emperor Saturninus? Which general was Titus Andronicus? None of these people ever existed, nor did a Rome simultaneously following Republican political institutions while fending off barbarian hordes at its very gates. It's all just window-dressing, designed to evoke a bygone era rather than try to faithfully represent it. Mussolini wanted to blend his fascist state of the 1930s with the grandeur of Ancient Rome. Why can't Julie Taymor?
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