![Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena - The Complete Collection [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91LrY6ebw5L.jpg)
Product Description The House of Batiatus has towered above the city of Capua for many years. Spartacus: Gods of the Arena will explore its deadly history before the arrival of Spartacus, and the death he carried with him. Loyalties will be tested, lives shattered, and battles waged in this thrilling prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand. .com The title is misleading--there is no Spartacus to be found here--but little matter, as Gods of the Arena is a prime example of making lemonade from lemons. Faced with the unavailability of Andy Whitfield, star of Spartacus: Blood and Sand, due to a recurrence of cancer, the folks at Starz chose to go ahead without him and create a prequel, a resourceful way of buying some time until a new Spartacus could be found while employing several actors already under contract. The focus throughout these six episodes is on the house of Batiatus. It is there that gladiators hone their skills as they prepare for glory and/or death in the arena under the evil eye of Quintus Batiatus (John Hannah), whom Blood and Sand viewers will recognize as the principal villain of that series. The younger Batiatus, already blindly ambitious, wants to make his mark in the gladiator biz, aided by his sexy, scheming wife, Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), and her licentious friend Gaia (Jaime Murray)--and they have just the warrior to do it with in Gannicus (Dustin Clare), a preening stud described by one show exec as "Han Solo meets Achilles." There are, of course, numerous obstacles, ranging from Batiatus's own father to various rival gladiatorial operations. But really, who cares about plotting when a show has as much sex and violence, usually directly juxtaposed, as this one? True to the Blood and Sand precedent, every episode offers a steady parade of gratuitous, risibly over-the-top beheadings and other mayhem, much of it lovingly shot in slow motion, along with ample nudity (some of it full-frontal) and sex (all of it soft-core). With drugs, torture, and constant profanity also in the mix (who knew the ancient Romans dropped so many F-bombs?), this is definitely not a program for the young and impressionable. Nor is it one that's big on nuance; almost without exception, Batiatus and his ilk are depicted as frivolous, depraved, and conniving, while the gladiators and slaves are lowly but noble (not to mention as gloriously muscled and sweaty as your average Chippendales dancer). But this isn't a documentary--it's entertainment, and on that level, Gods of the Arena totally works. --Sam Graham
N**B
Great Prequel to STARZ Spartacus series
Spartacus Gods of the Arena is a great Prequel tie-in to the series. This was done in the middle of the main series, while it was on hold for the original Spartacus main actor was going through medical treatments for cancer. Unfortunately he ended up passing away around when this aired. He was a fantastic actor. This prequel mini series was done well, and told the story of the one warrior who survived the fights and won his freedom. You see him as a side character in the main series, but now the focus is on him. Well worth watching.
A**D
Fantastic mini series, tho Andy Whitfield is sorely missed.
First off, Spartacus - Blood & Sand will go on! HOWEVER, sadly it will not be with Andy Whitfield. I will definitely miss him. He was a great actor, and he is Spartacus. Starz plans to replace him with 29 year old Liam McIntyre, an Austrailian actor who does have an impressive likeness to Whitefield... but will it work? With how people are hesitant when it comes to change, especially when fans adore Whitfield as they do, well it may be hard to swallow this pill. But this new leading man can act at least, and with his likeness (and for many who may be worried, his 'yummieness') is close to Andy Whitfield's... so maybe after a few episodes air, Blood & Sand will be highly accepted once more. At least for me, I personally hope that comes to pass, because the show was magnificent. However, I'll admit that I'm just as skeptic as most of you will be, mainly because Andy was amazing in the role, but only time will tell. TO ANDY: You're a remarkable man... he said that he wanted the show to go on with out him... that the story needed to be told. GOD BLESS YOU MAN, I, as well as all your fans, wish you well in the future and to win your fight with cancer.Now on to the Gods of the Arena... well honestly, I LOVE IT! It lacks the original gravity of the show, however when it truly comes down it, this is a different show. Perhaps a better title would have been SPARTACUS: Batiatus & Lucretia's Reign, or something of the like... because this show is more focused thus far on how the lanista becomes noteworthy for the games, as well as the rise of Crixus and how Oenomaus becomes doctore. And I'm also assuming how his wife must die later, (possibly at the hands of the increasingly evil Batiatus in a later episode???... maybe not... this review is only 2 episodes in after all).Enough speculation though. We already know the houses' fate. However, it is intersting to see how that fate truly is justice, not just through the wrongs the couple commit via Blood & Sand, but their prior crimes as well. Plus, it adds to their development, and gives more insight on Crixus's character. I for one liked the Lucretica and Batiatus, they were awful, yet very entertaining, so this is a bonus for me, and I'm sure a number of other fans of the show feel the same way. Plus, it is a great filler until Blood & Sand season 2 premiers in early 2012, yes very long wait =(I'll watch it though. You can't opiniate a premier without viewing it... I may not want to view the rest, but I'll at least give the season opening a shot. (Think the new American Idol, I've never watched more than 1 episode, if that, per season, and still dont by the way. But what, 20ish other million americans have, and continue to do so. Most were skeptical of Jennifer Lopez & Steven Tyler coming in, but from what I've read online and heard on the radio, they're starting to change their tunes... maybe the new Blood & Sand will surprise us all).
H**N
Must watch
One of the greatest series ever.
E**N
And what happens brave Gannicus when presented with circumstance you cannot laugh or fight your way clear of?
This series is easily one of my favorite television shows of all time, and even though this prequel is a small piece of the puzzle I don't think it would have been the same without it. I'd even go as far as to say it is the best season of this show in my book. Even through this is a prequel I strongly advise first time viewers to watch this after they have seen Blood and Sand. There is a major spoiler in the first few minutes of the first episode that ties up the final episode of the first season.There are plenty of reasons to love Spartacus but here is a few that make Gods of the Arena special to me. First of all we get to see more of John Hannah as Batiatus who will go down as one of my favorite villains of all time. Secondly we get to return to the ludus which is almost a character in and of itself with all of the events that happen inside of it's walls.Possibly one of the best things this prequel brings to the table is the introduction to my personal favorite character Gannicus. Gannicus is a Celtic gladiator who makes up for his lack of discipline and training by being a warrior with pure talent inside of the arena. We also get to see Crixus bring brought into the fold and shaped into the champion of Capua we see him as in Blood and Sand. Believe it or not there is a lot of story crammed into this 6 episode season and it will definitely give you better understanding when you see just how brothers and bitter enemies are formed amongst several different characters in the later seasons.I might be a huge Spartacus fanboy but I cannot give any of these seasons less than 5 stars. I will recommend this show to anyone who loves drama, action, and amazing violence that depicts the brutality of ancient Rome. If this sounds good to you then you absolutely must watch this show from the beginning till it's fantastic and bloody end.
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