Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #997 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-09-10
• Rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 572 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Unlike another certain celebrated HBO series, Rome's end will satisfy those swept up in its lavishly mounted spectacle and invested in the human dramas of the historical figures and fictional characters. Series 2 begins in the wake of Julius Caesar's assassination, and charts the power struggle to fill his sandals between "vulgar beast" Mark Antony (James Purefoy) and "clever boy" Octavian (Simon Woods), who is surprisingly named Caesar's sole heir. The series' most compelling relationship is between fellow soldiers and unlikely friends, the honorable Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus "Violence is the only trade I know" Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who somewhat reverse roles when Vorenus is overcome with grief in the wake of his wife's suicide. Series 2 considerably ups the ante in the rivalry between Atia (an Emmy-worthy Polly Walker), who is Antony's mistress, and Servilia (Lindsay Duncan) with attempted poisonings and sickening torture. Another gripping sub plot is Vorenus's estrangement from his children, who, at the climax of the season opener are presumed slaughtered, but whose true fate may be even more devastating to the father who cursed them.

Rome's second season does not scrimp on the series' sex and violence, in both cases exceedingly brutal. But in this cauldron of treachery and betrayal, words, too, are vicious, as when a defiant Atia ominously tells Octavian's new wife, Livia, "Far better women that you have sworn to [destroy me]. Go look for them now." In writing Rome's epitaph, we come to praise this series, not to bury it. Although two seasons was not enough to establish a Rome empire, it stands as one of HBO's crowning achievements. --Donald Liebenson

Synopsis
The second series of HBO/BBC drama ROME takes place in 44 B.C., eight years after the period covered in the first series. The show continues to revolve around the plight of two Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who find themselves caught up in a civil war after Caesar is assassinated. As powerful leadership battles play out between historic figures such as Octavian and Marc Antony, Lucius's life is marred by personal misfortune. The complete second series of the Emmy award-winning show is included here.

Synopsis
The year is 44 B.C. Julius Caesar has been assassinated and civil war threatens to destroy the Republic. In the void left by Caesar's demise, egos clash and numerous players jockey for position. The brutally ambitious Mark Antony attempts to solidify his power, aligning himself with Atia, but coming to blows with her cunning son Octavian, who has been anointed in Caesar's will as his only son and heir. Meanwhile Titus Pullo attempts to pull his friend Lucius Vorenus out of the darkness that has engulfed his soul in the wake of personal tragedy. For once again, the fates of these two mismatched soldiers seem inexorably tied to the fate of Rome itself.

Customer Reviews

"Watch closely... This is how history is made!"
I caught up with the first series of "Rome" via DVD, enjoyed it and impatiently awaited the next chapter. Thankfully, its second outing did not disappoint! In fact, I found this series much more satisfying that its predecessor. The acting is once again first rate, as are the sets, costumes and the writing. And whilst Rome most definitely has its share of horrific moments (a man getting his tongue bitten out being just one), there is always great humour to bring light to the darkness.

The only thing this series suffers from is almost too much action. Originally the show was meant to run for multiple seasons, but a dwindling budget put paid to that and thus years' worth of stories had to be squeezed into just 10 episodes. As a result, the programme moves at breakneck speed, often spanning years per episode; skip just one installment and you could be left very confused indeed. The love affair between Mark Antony and Cleopatra for example, would have benefited from a lot more screentime than the handful of episodes that were devoted to it.

The beginning of the season also suffers a mild post-Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) hangover in parts. He was the man (it seems strange to label Caesar a 'character') who so much of the action revolved last series and so the show feels a little fragmented this time around. In his place, the programme-makers have divided our attention, focusing on the power struggle between Mark Antony (a show-stealing James Purefoy) and Octavian Caesar (first played by Max Pirkis and later Simon Woods). Unlike last series' tussle between Caesar and Pompey, where I believe the audience was naturally bound to take the former's side, the battle between Antony and Octavian is not so clear cut. We are both repelled by each of them and their actions but can also feel pity for them, at different points. For the record, I was always in Antony's camp but that might have something to do with Purefoy's charismatic performance.

I feel like I have written an essay instead of a review, my apologies! And I haven't even mentioned Pullo (Ray Stevenson) or Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), Rome's pleb princes. They're both back too and as fantastically portrayed as ever. My advice is to do yourself a favour and buy these DVDs. TV this compelling is hard to find.

what have the romans ever done for us? well...
i have only seen a few episodes from the new series, and by god they haven't lost direction! far from it, the new series has taken a much moodier turn, with a turn around for many of the characters, pullo and vorenus in particular swapping roles to some degree, with the latter becoming more violent and unpredictable as he comes to terms with his new career in "politics". with the of caesar, a power vacuum is left in his wake, resulting in the growing collapse of his household, promising some uncomfortable rivalries between antony, octavian and the senators. with many of the original cast returning, along with new situations and conflicts, this season promises to deliver, perhaps even more so than the original, if only because of the uncertain period of history in which the action transpires.

If ever there was a follow up that topped the original- this is it.
As the title says and more. The second season is simply superb. Yes, it's graphic and there's a lot of swearing, but if you like reading about ancient history, you will find that although the Romans were creators of the advanced sewer systems and masters of running water systems, for example, they were also crude, extremely violent and often lacking in basic morals.

As in the first series, the actors do an excellent job of bringing Rome to life. Polly Walker as Atia is particualarly brilliant as is James Puefoy as Mark Anthoney. The costumes asnd set designs are a visual delight.

You will also appreciate the fantastic packaging in a wonderfully illustrated box set with some worth watching extras, such as the story of Anthoney and Cleopatra.

Yes, this is shocking but it does make you realise that the Roman way of life is not something to aspire to and makes the antics of Big Brother contestents look relatively tame.

Simply wonderful- I have nothing bad to say about this series at all. Well worth buying as you will want to watch it more then once. It is just a shame that HBO and the BBC have no intentions to make another series.