Product Description

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.Running Time: 600 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS UPC: 026359395628 Manufacturer No: 93956

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #392 in DVD
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 2007-08-07
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.66:1
• Formats: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Dubbed in: Spanish
• Number of discs: 5
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 600 minutes

Amazon.com
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. Season 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. Season 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 subplot 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

Customer Reviews

Simply a Must-Have
Wow! This is real vivid and compelling historical drama. The five discs containing valuable extras and real-time historical background information are packed in a luxurious box set. Simply a must-have for every (adult) person interested in ancient, especially Roman, history. Because of the (sometimes) drastic coverage of sexual aspects the series generally doesn't fit for underaged.

Better than Season 1
I was really distressed to learn there would be no more Rome. In this second season the characters became so much more developed. The development of the supporting characters was particularly enriched and deepened this season. The special features were also well done. HBO had another winner with this one!

Exultate Roma!
If you liked Season One of "Rome" you won't be disappointed in the second. There are some historical discrepancies with the characters, but great care seems to have been taken with other historical elements (Roman customs, religion, etc.). I really liked the casting of Cleopatra, who was supposedly no great beauty, but very charismatic. However, the portrayal of Egypt as a debauched society isn't very accurate and probably came from the bias of Greek historians who tended to be a bit xenophobic in their opinions of other cultures.

My greatest disappointment was hearing that there will be no third season of "Rome." I hear the film set burned down, which doesn't bode well for any future plans.