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Empire

  • TV Mini Series
  • 20052005
  • TV-14TV-14
  • 6h
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Jonathan Cake, Colm Feore, and Santiago Cabrera in Empire (2005)
CT #1 Post
Play trailer1:03
1 Video
21 Photos
  • Action
  • Drama
  • History

Epic four-hour series about the rise of Octavius who succeeds Julius Caesar and tangles with Marc Anthony for control of the Roman empire and finally went on to become the emperor Augustus.Epic four-hour series about the rise of Octavius who succeeds Julius Caesar and tangles with Marc Anthony for control of the Roman empire and finally went on to become the emperor Augustus.Epic four-hour series about the rise of Octavius who succeeds Julius Caesar and tangles with Marc Anthony for control of the Roman empire and finally went on to become the emperor Augustus.

IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.7K
YOUR RATING
  • Stars
    • Santiago Cabrera
    • Vincent Regan
    • Emily Blunt
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Santiago Cabrera
    • Vincent Regan
    • Emily Blunt
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 34User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 3 nominations

    Episodes6

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated
    1 Season
    2005

    Videos1

    Empire
    Trailer 1:03
    Empire

    Photos21

    Jonathan Cake in Empire (2005)
    Jonathan Cake, James Frain, Vincent Regan, Trudie Styler, Santiago Cabrera, and Emily Blunt in Empire (2005)
    Jonathan Cake, Christopher Egan, and Santiago Cabrera in Empire (2005)
    Santiago Cabrera and Emily Blunt in Empire (2005)
    James Frain, Michael Maloney, and Trudie Styler in Empire (2005)
    Emily Blunt in Empire (2005)
    Vincent Regan and Santiago Cabrera in Empire (2005)
    Anthony Souter, Santiago Cabrera, and Emily Blunt in Empire (2005)
    Anthony Souter and Santiago Cabrera in Empire (2005)
    Vincent Regan, Anthony Souter, and Santiago Cabrera in Empire (2005)
    Anthony Souter in Empire (2005)
    Anthony Souter in Empire (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Santiago Cabrera
    Santiago Cabrera
    • Octaviusas Octavius
    6 episodes6 eps • 2005
    Vincent Regan
    Vincent Regan
    • Marc Antonyas Marc Antony
    6 episodes6 eps • 2005
    Emily Blunt
    Emily Blunt
    • Camaneas Camane
    6 episodes6 eps • 2005
    James Frain
    James Frain
    • Brutusas Brutus
    6 episodes6 eps • 2005
    Jonathan Cake
    Jonathan Cake
    • Tyrannusas Tyrannus
    6 episodes6 eps • 2005
    Graham McTavish
    Graham McTavish
    • General Rapaxas General Rapax
    4 episodes4 eps • 2005
    Clive Riche
    Clive Riche
    • Herteusas Herteus
    4 episodes4 eps • 2005
    Roger Ashton-Griffiths
    Roger Ashton-Griffiths
    • Panzaas Panza
    4 episodes4 eps • 2005
    Alan David
    Alan David
    • Quinitiliusas Quinitilius
    4 episodes4 eps • 2005
    Christopher Egan
    Christopher Egan
    • Agrippaas Agrippa
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Michael Maloney
    Michael Maloney
    • Cassiusas Cassius
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Fiona Shaw
    Fiona Shaw
    • Fulviaas Fulvia
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Michael Byrne
    Michael Byrne
    • Ciceroas Cicero
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Trudie Styler
    Trudie Styler
    • Serviliaas Servilia
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Amanda Root
    Amanda Root
    • Noellaas Noella
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Ian Bartholomew
    • Cimberas Cimber
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Michael Culkin
    Michael Culkin
    • Luciusas Lucius
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    Sylvia De Fanti
    Sylvia De Fanti
    • Moiraas Moira
    3 episodes3 eps • 2005
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    The story is set in Rome around 44 B.C., just after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Octavius, aged 17, who was named heir by Caesar, is challenged by Marc Anthony. A civil war ensues, ending in a showdown between Octavius and Marc Anthony. —Justine Lewis
    • ancient rome
    • year 44 b.c.
    • 40s b.c.
    • julius caesar
    • roman empire
    • 13 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Lust, Power and the Epic Battle for Rome
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Drama
      • History
    • Certificate
      • TV-14
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When shooting started, the series was supposed to be eight hours long. When it was clear, that the show was going to excessively run over budget, it was cut down to six hours.
    • Goofs
      During the final battle between Antony's and Octavius's armies, Tyranus removes two silver emblems from his chest to denounce Antony and fight for Octavius. In the next shot, they are there again. Later, they disappear once more.
    • Quotes

      [Of Caesar]

      Cassius: Who ever thought a God would hold so much blood?

    • Connections
      Version of Augustus: The First Emperor (2003)

    User reviews34

    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Too much crowd pleasing, not enough reality
    Watching and taking EMPIRE seriously after having seen ROME is a near impossibility. EMPIRE is a TV miniseries charting the rise to power of Julius Caesar's nephew, Octavius (isn't it Octavian?), in much the same way that ROME did, except the two productions are totally at odds. ROME was lavish, expensive, expertly made and very well written. EMPIRE is silly, generic and more often than not, derivative.

    The main source of inspiration is Ridley Scott's GLADIATOR, thus we have the presence of a gladiator in the leading role. It's not just that Tyrannus is out of place - what's a gladiator doing having one-to-ones with Caesar, for goodness' sake? - it's that he's so bland. The producers picked a good-looking guy to make the housewives swoon and do zilch with his character for the entire running time. It makes for a highly boring production. His character arc is non-existence and he feels like a male model simply acting as a clothes horse throughout.

    Not that the rest is much good, either. I'm no stickler for historical accuracy, I'd rather a historical series or movie be entertaining rather than realistic and deathly dull. But EMPIRE takes the biscuit, throwing in sub-plot after sub-plot that never happened, and ludicrous situations like a romance with a Vestal Virgin. There's far too much senseless combat featuring the aforementioned gladiator hacking his way through various foes, and of course as this is a TV production there's no real sex or violence to offend anybody.

    Some of the cast members ARE good, it's just that their characters aren't. Vincent Regan was excellent in 300, but his Mark Antony seems a bit impotent, lacking in menace and failing to be larger than life as the role requires. James Frain seems to be doing a dry run for his turn in THE TUDORS but is underutilised, as are Michael Maloney (TRULY MADLY DEEPLY), Michael Byrne and RAMBO's Graham McTavish. The women fare less well: Emily Blunt, on the cusp of THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and stardom, fails to convince and the horrendous Trudie Styler is little more than a walking advert for Botox (who knew the Romans invented it?). The effeminate Santiago Cabrera might as well be listed under the female parts, so weak and weedy is he.

    Lack of a decent budget means that there are no real set-pieces or memorable moments, just a couple of CGI-enhanced backdrops here and there. However, the production does seem to have been made in Italy with an Italian supporting cast and crew, which counts for something, and the episodes are fast paced and have stuff going on. It's just a shame that the stuff that does happen is so familiar, made up, and derivative of what's come before. This TV stuff can be good - I liked the recent version of BEN HUR for instance - but EMPIRE misses the mark by quite a bit.
    helpful•3
    0
    • Leofwine_draca
    • Dec 22, 2012

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 28, 2005 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Rome: Blood & Sand
    • Filming locations
      • Rome, Lazio, Italy
    • Production companies
      • Filmmaster Productions
      • Storyline Entertainment
      • Touchstone Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      6 hours
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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