Pompeii (2014)

History buffs, flesh fans, moviegoers and couch potatoes all agree that Pompeii is a place to be when it comes to experiencing passion, action and adventure — vicariously. How else can one explain the plentiful productions on the topic from The Last Days of Pompeii (1959) to Pompeii: The New Dig (2024). In between, we’ve seen Up Pompeii (1971), Further Up Pompeii! (1975), The Last Days of Pompeii (1984), Pompeii: The Last Day (2003), Pompei, ieri, oggi, domani (2007), Apocalypse Pompeii (2014), and Pompeii (2014). Under the direction of Paul W. S. Anderson (not to be confused with esteemed filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson), the latter epic takes place in 79 A.D. when a slave named Milo (Kit Harington) transforms himself into a mighty gladiator. With the famed Mount Vesuvius about to erupt, Milo’s fate is set in motion. As such, he must save his true love Cassia (Emily Browning), the daughter of the governor Marcus Cassius Severus (Jared Harris) and his wife Aurelia (Carrie-Anne Moss). Alas, she is betrothed to the corrupt Senator Corvus (Kiefer Sutherland). With the help of fellow slave Atticus (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Milo just make it out of the battle arena to rescue Cassia in time to escape the raging river of lava. Speaking of raging rivers, your pants may be holding back one when you get a gander at the gorgeous gladiators in this flick. And perhaps none are hotter than Mr. Harington. When Kit touts his sweaty and sexy pecs, he’ll cause an eruption in your loins!