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'Terrifying' war film hailed 'masterpiece' streaming for free on BBC - The Mirror


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Daily Mirror

'Terrifying' war film hailed 'masterpiece' streaming for free on BBC

The BBC iPlayer is home to a hidden gem of a war film, featuring an all-star cast and directed by an award-winning actor, that is available to stream for free

Streaming platforms can prove quite expensive, whether it's Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime or the entire trio together, you may rapidly spot a considerable amount vanishing from your bank account simply to find something to view on a Friday night.


Yet, whilst they all provide some brilliant movies, BBC iPlayer holds a secret gem of a war picture, boasting an all-star cast that's ready to watch completely free.


In a modern take on a Shakespeare classic, the acclaimed Ralph Fiennes both helms and appears in 2012's Coriolanus.


The story tracks General Caius Martius, a ruthless and battle-hardened soldier who earns the title "Coriolanus" after a brutal victory over Rome's enemies.

After the conquest, he finds himself thrust into political power, but when his true feelings surface, he confronts exile, where he joins forces with his former rival to obliterate Rome completely, reports the Express.


The movie's modern setting, showcasing guns and contemporary warfare, merges to create something totally unique.

The cast is loaded with serious star power, with Fiennes taking the lead backed by a superb performance from Gerard Butler, plus exceptional work from Succession's Brian Cox and Jessica Chastain.

Since its release more than a decade ago, the picture received rave reviews, achieving a "certified fresh" score of 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. A critic awarding it five stars saying: " I would say it is a masterpiece. I wasn't expecting Shakespeare dialogue. I was taken aback, then delighted. Butler absolutely terrified me with one of his warrior speeches.


"They say war is hell, which I've understood in terms of carnage, injury and death; even seeing one's friends perish. But Butler then personified the statement 'war is hell' in his terrifying rage and desire for vengeance in his speech."

Yet it's important to highlight that the film garnered a much more lukewarm response from audiences, who awarded it a significantly lower rating of 58% on the site.


The main gripe from punters focuses on its use of original Shakespearean dialogue, which naturally proves difficult to follow in places.

In some other adaptations, such as Leonardo DiCaprio's Romeo + Juliet, this becomes easier to navigate as viewers generally already know the plot.

One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer pinpointed this problem, writing: "The reason audience scores are lower is that most cannot understand the content and its relevance to modernity.

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"This is a great adaptation of Coriolanus. A play by Shakespeare that is not as widely known to the public at large but is still relevant. There is no denying that this film brings the story to a modern era unflinchingly and with powerful performances."

The movie is available to watch online free of charge through BBC iPlayer.

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