Macdonald’s film boasts impressive production value and an eye for historical detail, but the film suffers from a leading man who emotes less than a marble bust.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Jul 31, 2023

It starts off as a poor man’s “Gladiator” which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But then it loses it’s identity and heads off into a different direction becoming a very mediocre action picture.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 20, 2022

The film manages to revive the incandescent prose of the book as much as possible. [Full review in Spanish]

| Aug 9, 2022

...this would be a real guilty delight if only, IF ONLY, the two leads were not so wooden. Channing Tatum as Marcus does less acting than most of the trees in this movie.

| Oct 23, 2020

You can feel where the filmmakers reigned themselves in and pulled back, and the result is that "The Eagle" feels castrated. In trying to make a movie for everyone, they made a movie for no one.

| Original Score: C- | Jul 13, 2020

[Jamie] Bell, bless him, truly saves this film from being an awkward, miscast, Hollywood cringe-fest.

| Apr 22, 2019

With its visceral action and simple but powerful points about how good and evil are largely in the eye of the observer, The Eagle is a superior representative of the historical adventure genre.

| Original Score: B+ | Feb 16, 2019

Its the relationship between these men -- and not some anvilicious symbol -- that drives the story and makes you want to ride alongside them.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Nov 4, 2018

The ever-shifting balance of power between master and slave is smartly acted by the two leads and the story itself, simple as it is, exerts a power as old as cowboys and Indians.

| Aug 25, 2017

Basically, this is a buddy-cop comedy about imperialism and mud.

| Aug 25, 2017

like many modern war films, it gets too introspective on the horrors of war and the uncertain righteousness of any one side

| Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 4, 2013

Despite its bleak atmosphere and sparse storyline, period drama The Eagle is a pleasant surprise. It entertains with some great sword play, and the themes of honor and bravery overcome the simplicity of the story.

| Original Score: 7/10 | Jul 24, 2013

It's a video game, after all: Dull sensation, easily recognizable and comforting images and a total lack of recollection of what it is you were just doing within seconds of it being over.

| Original Score: B- | Jun 22, 2013

It really all comes down to the story. Just like Tatum wasn't up to the task of bringing the character to life, the filmmakers weren't up to the task of bringing the story to life, and that makes all the difference.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Sep 21, 2012

| Original Score: C | Feb 18, 2012

'The Eagle' will likely find a future life on the video shelves of high school history teachers looking for a semi-educational way to kill a couple of days worth of classes.

| Feb 9, 2012

Fighting isn't big and it isn't clever. But, in the case of "The Eagle," it's the most interesting part of the movie.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Dec 13, 2011

In the end The Eagle's flight is often striking, but a little erratic.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 16, 2011

Sadly not a movie about the big-chinned ski jumper Eddie Edwards, this underwhelming feature instead revolves around the 'Ted and Ralph' style bromance between a master and servant during the Roman occupation of England.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Jul 14, 2011

...a distressingly uneven actioner that's rarely as entertaining as one might've hoped...

| Original Score: 2/4 | Jun 25, 2011