MovieChat Forums > Centurion (2010) Discussion > Wasn't sure who to cheer for

Wasn't sure who to cheer for

posted 8 years ago by Tyler-A-Arse
7 replies | jump to latest

The Romans?
The movie favored Quintus and his fellow brothers caught behind enemy line trying to get home. Easy to be sympathetic for them and forget that they were the invading army.

The Picts?
Portrayed as barbaric and crazy. But they had their lands encroached upon by the Romans who would assimilate their culture. And I could understand Gorlacon wanting retribution for his son. I would like to see this movie from the Picts point of view.

A few things weren't clear to me. Maybe I missed something:

--How did Agricola come across Etain. Where did he originally find her.

--How did Quintas escape from the Picts. One second he's in a cell, and the next he's on the run.

--Regarding the note Quintus read at the camp: Who exactly was that note left for.

[–] ronfirv 8 years ago

Good questions.
Your first - I too was unclear. Second - ditto.
I believe the note was left for whomsoever arrived in the abandoned fort,presumably Romans or allies thereof.
Interestingly, the outlines of said fort can be seen easily enough in eastern central Scotland today.

[–] Tyler-A-Arse 8 years ago

I believe the note was left for whomsoever arrived in the abandoned fort,presumably Romans or allies thereof.

I would go with that answer cause I have nothing plausible to contribute. Thanks.

[–] ronfirv 8 years ago

The fort was known as Pennata Castra, now the area is known as Inchtuthil, near the R. Tay.
Interestingly, it is one of the largest Roman forts found in Scotland. A box of Roman nails was found during archaeology, in remarkably good condition, given the centuries they were left buried. I believe these are in a museum in Edinburgh.

[–] MrRazorz 8 years ago

The movie favored Quintus and his fellow brothers caught behind enemy line trying to get home. Easy to be sympathetic for them

That's pretty much the point. You're not supposed to pick sides between the Romans or Picts, because both sides are basically a-holes (even if Gorlacon had a legitimate grudge). The focal point of the film is this small group of soldiers who are caught up between the two sides - used as pawns by their own commanders, and bearing the brunt of the Pict's anger for past grievances by the empire.

Look at the ending. Quintus returns to his own lines only to be betrayed by his commanders, who want him out of the way because he's an inconvenience in their political games. He escapes and returns to Arianne, who was cast out by her own people just as unfairly. At that point they basically say "screw the Romans and the Picts" and live happily ever after.

How did Agricola come across Etain. Where did he originally find her.

Gorlacon says she was sent to the Romans as a mole. Presumably they were in the habit of using locals as guides and trackers.

How did Quintas escape from the Picts. One second he's in a cell, and the next he's on the run.

If I'm remembering right, after he's thrown into the cell (actually a hut) he starts to dig a hole through the flimsy back wall.

Regarding the note Quintus read at the camp: Who exactly was that note left for.

The milkman?

[–] signlady 8 years ago

Y'all, the movie STRONGLY hints at a prequel and a sequel . . .!

Twice in this movie Quintas says:
'This is not the beginning of my story, nor the end of it...'

He says it at the beginning and end of the movie.

I was hoping they would make a prequel to show how he learned their language so well and how he knew so much personal detail about their hunting & tracking. For just one example, he knew minute details about the blue war paint & specifically why they wore it.

Then, it might be nice to havea sequel to show what happens next -
but I think maybe they ruined the chance for a good sequel by killing off the 2 or 3 best soldiers & most interesting pict warrioress ???

Anyway, Quintas was apparently not in captivity long enough to speak & understand their language so fluently . . . or maybe he was . . . so I wish they would make a prequel to show this past.

[–] spookyrat1 7 years ago

Y'all, the movie STRONGLY hints at a prequel and a sequel . . .!

Not really., The first time is the set up for the story we see, which begins in the middle before flashing back. The second time is when he moves into a new stage of his life beyond the Roman legions. The fact that Quintas spoke the language (which is established at the start) is not that unusual. Even if indeed he was "a soldier of Rome (literally), he may have been in Britain for many years, enabling him to learn more about his enemies.🐭

[–] signlady 8 years ago

Oh also -
The escape:
right after Quintas is thrown in the 'cell' about 10 seconds later, something is thrown in there - and the next minute we see he's out and running.

For some reason, I think it's the boy of the Pict leader who throws something in the cell Quintas can use to escape with.

I think this because the boy grimaced when they cut quintas . . .
Yet the boy participated in cutting the general . . . it seems like Quintas had possible developed a relationship with the boy ...

When Quintas was told that one of his men killed the boy, he was visibly upset.

Anyway - there is enough backstory going on with Quintas that we need a prequel!!!