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Alternating between cosmic splendor and human squalor, Agora is a movie of unusual ambition. In the last days of the Roman Empire, the Egyptian city of Alexandria is torn between the aristocratic pagan society and the emerging, rough-and-tumble Christians. As this broad cultural conflict teeters violently back and forth, the scientist-philosopher Hypatia (Rachel Weisz, The Brothers Bloom, The Fountain) struggles to resolve the motion of the planets with her belief in celestial perfection. Tangled in her life are three men: a Roman prefect (Oscar Isaac, Body of Lies), a Christian bishop (Rupert Evans, Hellboy), and a slave (Max Minghella, The Social Network) who turns to Christianity to escape his unrequited love for Hypatia. Some viewers will be uncomfortable with Agora's depiction of early Christianity and others will quibble about the movie's historical accuracy, but the movie's themes--of faith vs. zealotry, of religion vs. the spirituality of science--and its vivid depiction of one culture being brutally supplanted by another demonstrate a scope seldom found in contemporary film. Writer-director Alejandro Amenábar previously made popular ghost story The Others, mind-bender Open Your Eyes, and heartbreaker The Sea Inside; clearly, this is a career to watch. Don't overlook the deleted scenes--the gorgeous original opening shot accentuates the twin pulls of science and spirituality. --Bret Fetzer
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Most helpful customer reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best film of the year,
By
This review is from: Agora (DVD)
This movie is pure art and should be nominated for Oscar.It shows us how religion is a cancer of society and without it the world would be a better place.It is a shame that even in the 21st century people still believe in these outdated primitive dogmas.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing movie,
By
This review is from: Agora (DVD)
Great movie showing the real events that occurred between the Christians and the Pagans and the one woman who believed in science and astronomy. It is heartbreaking watching the plot unfold, knowing so many were slaughtered in the name of God (or Gods) but is an amazing movie for giving a real insight to the true story of Hypatia and the major controversies between the two religions. Rachel Weisz is spectacular in this movie!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Spanish/English collaboration,
By
This review is from: Agora (DVD)
I watched this last evening and was quite taken back by the scale of the production. There has been much analysis elsewhere so I will cut to the chase. Whilst essentially a love story, albeit unrequited set against the backdrop of inter religious strife taking place at the end of the Roman Empire in 4th Century Alexandria, it is so much more. A visual feast and great entertainment are examples of what that 'more' is.Hypatia is the very real philosopher, astronomer and teacher at Alexandria's famous library. She is a beacon of light and reason in a world leaning increasingly toward religious fanaticism. Her star (and rich) leading pupil is in love with her as is her trusty slave. This all takes place as the Pagans turn on the Christians who fight back and then the Christians turn on the Jews, who fight back and then pretty much everyone turns on Hypatia. The film is sumptuously decked and presented; you really do feel that no expense has been spared and that probably quite a lot of excellent footage ended up on the cutting room floor. However, the film does not suffer for that, the CGI is top rate and the recreation of 4th Century Alexandria must have been a labour of love, the acting is engrossing which always means that all the elements of a good yarn have come together to get you hooked. And I admit I was hooked very early on. This film is a rollicking rollercoaster from start to finish and definitely deserved more attention that it got on being first released. So why 4 stars and not 5, well it does deserve 5 stars but I have to agree with historical criticisms that can genuinely upset some people. The portrayal of all religion as destructive, even deceitful comes across fairly strong almost from the start and apart from the violence is the only constant thread running through out this work - whilst I tend to agree with this it once again can put some people off and hence I can see why some have given unduly low ratings. That said if you approach this as film using a story from history to enlighten and entertain then I am sure you will find this a deserving and rewarding film that has been woefully neglected.
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