Recently, I watched the premiere episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. If you enjoy senseless highly stylized violence, mixed with copious amounts of tits and ass, you will definitely want to catch this new series!

BTW – Season One of Spartacus: Blood and Sand is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.

A Blatant Copy of Past Works?

After watching a few minutes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand you will immediately see its similarity to such movies as The Gladiator and 300. In fact, it wouldn’t be an overstatement to call this mini-series a blatant rip off of past works.

More specifically, the show mirrors The Gladiator’s plot and largely copies 300’s art direction and fight choreography. What the show evidently boils down to is graphic scenes of hand-to-hand combat interrupted by graphic scenes of sex and random nudity.

But I’m not going to harp on the presentation and substance of Spartacus — it offers exactly the kind of mindless testosterone fueled action that certain demographics enjoy. And that’s what this show is all about – simple R-rated entertainment.

Believe me, you already know the setup, the polarized cast good and evil characters and the much romanticized time period of the Roman era. So really, what you’re experiencing is a massive rehash of something many people can’t seem to get enough of – the brave hero who bangs an impossibly hot wife, who has his town destroyed and his woman kidnapped/killed, who then must battle in the arena of death for revenge and justice!

An Adolescent Boy’s Wet Dream

Filled with a cast of hot models, chiseled warriors and teeth gnashing villains, Spartacus is as superficial and contrived as it sounds. There is nothing innovative in its presentation or plot (thus far), but that’s fine if you just want to catch some blood-letting action on a Sunday night — and see the entire female cast nude. Indeed, there are some very hot women on the show, including Viva Bianca and Erin Cummings.

Review Wrap-up

I could barely sit through the first half of the premiere episode knowing exactly what would happen and the premise that was being set. But I did watch the entire episode, due largely to a shameful habit of finishing anything that I’ve started watching. (I need help for that.)

And I’ll probably tune in again next week.

To its credit, the production values are noticeably high and the action isn’t half-bad; I just wish they’d invest in an original plot and use less slow-motion in the action scenes. I also feel that they’ve got a few plot twists up their sleeve that I’m sure we’ll see if the series continues.

I’m cautiously optimistic about Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

Have you seen the show yet? Share us your thoughts.

*UPDATE*

Season One of Spartacus: Blood and Sand is now available on DVD and Blu-ray.