HERCULES: EXTENDED CUT (R13)

Directed by Brett Ratner. Starring Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell. Movie: ✪✪✪ Extras: ✪✪✪✪

At first glance Hercules reeks of ungodly revisionism, with the casting of a former prowrestler as a Greek mercenary who exploits the legend of his great labours to bolster his reputation (and earnings) as a fearsome troubleshooter for hire. But once you get into the groove of its post-modern machismo, and accept this Hercules is rooted more in neo-conservatism than neo-classicism, it succeeds (just) as good dumb fun that eschews the graphic violence of 300 for wisecracking action and mythbusting mischief. It also benefits from a top-notch supporting cast – John Hurt, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan – and while the ‘‘extended cut’’ is only a few minutes longer, extras include 15 deleted/extended scenes, a film makers’ commentary and making-of shorts. (Subtitled.)