It's easy to feel transported back 2100 years to the years of ancient Egypt and Rome just before year one and the birth of Christ. The story of Cleopatra, Julius Caesar and Mark Anthony was not a new one when this TV movie (airing in two parts) was released, and if young Chilean actress Leonor Varela isn't a household name, it's easy to see why she was cast. She gets stronger as the film sagas on, but in early scenes, it's difficult to fully imagine her in the role of the female ruler once called the serpent of the Nile. Better cast in their parts are Timothy Dalton as general Julius Caesar and Rupert Graves as his nephew Octavian, later emperor Augustus. Billy Zane has the looks, if not the charisma, to be fully convincing as Mark Anthony, but manages to make a hot lover in the romantic scenes with Varela.
I have to admit that I'd rather the cast be as is rather than the hot couple of Hollywood in the late 1900's cast as Burton and Taylor would become. Having a fairly obscure Cleopatra works because eyes are on the character rather than the legend of a star overshadowing the project. The producers opted for a lavish production over superstar power, and that makes for a very watchable epic, large in scope in every way, and nearly as memorable as the 19th version. I appreciated changes in certain details, particularly indications of betrayal in Cleopatra's own family, particularly a younger sister, completely manipulating and controlling the much brother. The musical score by Trevor Jones is one of the best new movie scores I've heard in years, and will be the go to detail I'll take in should I watch it again.
I have to admit that I'd rather the cast be as is rather than the hot couple of Hollywood in the late 1900's cast as Burton and Taylor would become. Having a fairly obscure Cleopatra works because eyes are on the character rather than the legend of a star overshadowing the project. The producers opted for a lavish production over superstar power, and that makes for a very watchable epic, large in scope in every way, and nearly as memorable as the 19th version. I appreciated changes in certain details, particularly indications of betrayal in Cleopatra's own family, particularly a younger sister, completely manipulating and controlling the much brother. The musical score by Trevor Jones is one of the best new movie scores I've heard in years, and will be the go to detail I'll take in should I watch it again.