'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Aaron has reviewed 'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena.' He didn't enjoy this season as much as he did Spartacus: Blood and Sand,' but he says this Blu-ray set features dynamite video, audio, and extras. Fans should be very happy with a purchase.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/4780...cus_arena.html

[Kobeskillz]

I completely disagree with the review. The show was still great and even though I miss Andy they delivered a great season. A must have!

[agentalbert]

I completely disagree with the review. The show was still great and even though I miss Andy they delivered a great season. A must have!

I'm with you. "Blood And Sand" surprised me in how much I found I cared for the characters by the end of the series. "Gods Of The Arena" didn't have as long to develop, but I still really cared about Gannicus and Doctore and his wife and what happened to them. And I loved the Gaia character. Given that the producers had to come up with something on short order due to Whitfield's situation, I think they did an excellent job. And it was great to get to spend a few more episodes with Lucretia and Batiatus.

[Kobeskillz]

Yeah i'm with you man. Sure the show had a lot of sex, violence and other things but hey so did the 1st season. Plus I mean when did we get so sensitive that we are actually knocking a show for sex, violence and other things!! Gesh not everything needs to be a work of art. If a guy brings out his dick and pisses on another guy and they show it on camera it just means that the show isn't holding our hand and it has no limits which I love because that means anything can happen no matter how shocking it is.

Also, like you said the characters had real depth to them and I ended up caring about the main one more than I thought and that's all in just 6 episodes! Pretty darn good.

[XL83]

I completely disagree with the review. The show was still great and even though I miss Andy they delivered a great season. A must have!

Exactly.

To each their own, but I have a bone to pick with you on this one, Peck!

Glad to hear the PQ and AQ are top notch since I already know I liked the season.

[Kobeskillz]

Exactly.

To each their own, but I have a bone to pick with you on this one, Peck!

Glad to hear the PQ and AQ are top notch since I already know I liked the season.

Yeah regardless of the review of the actual show which we all know it was kick ass i'm glad the PQ and AQ are top notch too! Can't wait to see this man. The last episode was epic!

[paaron46]

Yeah i'm with you man. Sure the show had a lot of sex, violence and other things but hey so did the 1st season. Plus I mean when did we get so sensitive that we are actually knocking a show for sex, violence and other things!! Gesh not everything needs to be a work of art. If a guy brings out his dick and pisses on another guy and they show it on camera it just means that the show isn't holding our hand and it has no limits which I love because that means anything can happen no matter how shocking it is.

Also, like you said the characters had real depth to them and I ended up caring about the main one more than I thought and that's all in just 6 episodes! Pretty darn good.

Just to be clear, I didn't "knock" the show for just having sex and violence. I knocked it because that's ALL it has. It uses it as a crutch to string people along. "Oh, man! I sure hope there's another Lucy Lawless lesbian scene coming up."

'Blood and Sand' had just as much sex and violence, and I liked it because I cared what was happening with the characters. The problem with this season is, the sex and violence took over and became pedestrian in the process. It didn't accentuate the show, it instead made it feel like warmed over soft porn.

And believe what you will, but showing a guy peeing full on doesn't mean the "show isn't holding anything back." There's a reason why they don't show full penetration during the sex scenes, or that the sex scenes are almost always flurries of sexy images intercut with violence (which happens almost every time). The show fell back on what would titillate people because it lost its star. A guy who made the show watchable and likable.

[nmcmahan52]

i agree there, i didn't really care about the characters except for the doctore, i already knew what was going to happen with crixius/batiatus from season 1

[Kobeskillz]

Just to be clear, I didn't "knock" the show for just having sex and violence. I knocked it because that's ALL it has. It uses it as a crutch to string people along. "Oh, man! I sure hope there's another Lucy Lawless lesbian scene coming up."

'Blood and Sand' had just as much sex and violence, and I liked it because I cared what was happening with the characters. The problem with this season is, the sex and violence took over and became pedestrian in the process. It didn't accentuate the show, it instead made it feel like warmed over soft porn.

And believe what you will, but showing a guy peeing full on doesn't mean the "show isn't holding anything back." There's a reason why they don't show full penetration during the sex scenes, or that the sex scenes are almost always flurries of sexy images intercut with violence (which happens almost every time). The show fell back on what would titillate people because it lost its star. A guy who made the show watchable and likable.

Sure the sex and violence is there to get people to watch it but so what? Yeah it's not gone with the wind but who cares and people for the most part aren't stupid. If the show has good characters and story then those people who watched it for the violence and sex will stay and invest in the characters. Did the sex and violence increase? Sure it did but I tend to think that most shows go up a notch as the seasons go along and honestly if the story and characters are good then I honestly don't see the problem about more SEX AND VIOLENCE! Also season one had 12 episodes I believe so they probably tried to give us more in less time.

Andy will be missed but the new characters were very good and had my completely invested in them by the final episode.

In season one they show a penis cut off completely. Arms, legs, and gets get cut off as well with blood gushing everywhere. All that and a guy peeing on someone is where they crossed the line for you?

[paaron46]

Sure the sex and violence is there to get people to watch it but so what? Yeah it's not gone with the wind but who cares and people for the most part aren't stupid. If the show has good characters and story then those people who watched it for the violence and sex will stay and invest in the characters. Did the sex and violence increase? Sure it did but I tend to think that most shows go up a notch as the seasons go along and honestly if the story and characters are good then I honestly don't see the problem about more SEX AND VIOLENCE! Also season one had 12 episodes I believe so they probably tried to give us more in less time.

Andy will be missed but the new characters were very good and had my completely invested in them by the final episode.

In season one they show a penis cut off completely. Arms, legs, and gets get cut off as well with blood gushing everywhere. All that and a guy peeing on someone is where they crossed the line for you?

Yes. Because it perfectly encapsulates the desperation of the show to be oh-so-edgy.

[XL83]

Just to be clear, I didn't "knock" the show for just having sex and violence. I knocked it because that's ALL it has. It uses it as a crutch to string people along. "Oh, man! I sure hope there's another Lucy Lawless lesbian scene coming up."

'Blood and Sand' had just as much sex and violence, and I liked it because I cared what was happening with the characters. The problem with this season is, the sex and violence took over and became pedestrian in the process. It didn't accentuate the show, it instead made it feel like warmed over soft porn.

And believe what you will, but showing a guy peeing full on doesn't mean the "show isn't holding anything back." There's a reason why they don't show full penetration during the sex scenes, or that the sex scenes are almost always flurries of sexy images intercut with violence (which happens almost every time). The show fell back on what would titillate people because it lost its star. A guy who made the show watchable and likable.

I see where you're coming from, but if that's the case then they are doing a disservice to the other actors, because I feel that John Hanna, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah and Manu Bennett can easily carry the show in the absence of Andy Whitfield.

The problem is that they called the show 'Spartacus'. If it wasn't ostensibly focused on only one guy, they would have much more wiggle room to just make a wicked Roman-era R-Rated drama.

I don't think season 2 was on par with season 1, but given the limitations I am glad they put it out and kept the ball rolling. It kept the other actors employed and did manage to expand the characterization of the other characters like Doctore/Oenemaus, Crixus, Batiatus, etc.

[XL83]

Yes. Because it perfectly encapsulates the desperation of the show to be oh-so-edgy.

Christopher Meloni aka "Chris Keller" in Oz broke that barrier in like 1999 and I didn't feel like it was just desperate to be edgy. I don't think it's inherent, at least.

[Kobeskillz]

Yes. Because it perfectly encapsulates the desperation of the show to be oh-so-edgy.

Season one had a ton of those moments. The penis being cut off? The guy wearing someone elses face? The comic like violence and soft porn? Yet again this one scene stood out to you?

I don't feel this season was as strong as season 1 but again considering it could have been awful due to the main actor not being involved, only 6 episodes and done really just to give Andy more time to recover I think it was a great season. It introduced us to some new great characters, brought back some favorites from season one and fleshed out their stories to the point that season one has even more impact now on repeat viewings. All this while delivering better fights, more violence and the sex that the fans of this great show expect. How can you say you enjoyed season one and pick at this season for delivering more of what made season one so great minus Andy.

[paaron46]

Season one had a ton of those moments. The penis being cut off? The guy wearing someone elses face? The comic like violence and soft porn? Yet again this one scene stood out to you?

I don't feel this season was as strong as season 1 but again considering it could have been awful due to the main actor not being involved, only 6 episodes and done really just to give Andy more time to recover I think it was a great season. It introduced us to some new great characters, brought back some favorites from season one and fleshed out their stories to the point that season one has even more impact now on repeat viewings. All this while delivering better fights, more violence and the sex that the fans of this great show expect. How can you say you enjoyed season one and pick at this season for delivering more of what made season one so great minus Andy.

Because, like I said in my review 'Blood and Sand' had a point and a staunchly moral one at that. The slave revolt is what the season builds towards and it's easy to forget the show's penchant for over-the-top violence and silly Cinemax sex scenes, when there's something to care about. I found nothing to care about in 'Gods of the Arena' which in essence made it a pointless six episodes of blood, carnage, and boobs. Some may like stuff like that, and more power to them, but for my time to be invested in a show, it has to offer something more than just blood and boobs.

[cheez avenger]

Because, like I said in my review 'Blood and Sand' had a point and a staunchly moral one at that. The slave revolt is what the season builds towards and it's easy to forget the show's penchant for over-the-top violence and silly Cinemax sex scenes, when there's something to care about. I found nothing to care about in 'Gods of the Arena' which in essence made it a pointless six episodes of blood, carnage, and boobs. Some may like stuff like that, and more power to them, but for my time to be invested in a show, it has to offer something more than just blood and boobs.

Boobs make the world go 'round.