A very good fictional story leading up to the destruction of Pompeii. A fine collection of Actors and Actrices portraying the class distinction in the city. The politics and of course the discrimination towards the Christians. What really impressed me was there were no computer effects. Real people were used as extras and the eruption itself is very good. I traveled myself to Pompeii and was surprised at how big it was. If you want to see a true non fiction account of Pompeii, buy the DVD 'The Last Day Of Pompeii, with Tim Piggot Smith. This documentary drama shows how people stood and watched the eruption and then went to their homes to save their valuables and also knelt to pray. Do not bother to watch this latest 3d film Pompeii, as it is just complete rubbish. Excellent entertainment.

This film - my favorite for almost 18 years, since as it showed on the first channel. The remarkable love stories of several couples - wealthy Athenian Glaucus and Iona (priestesses of Isis, celibate), a poor nobleman Clodius and daughter of a wealthy merchant of Julia, a blind slave girl Nydia and slave - Gladiator Lydon. The only downside of this movie, I think "a clearly defined line Christianity ", making some note of tediousness in a rather dynamic and vivid story, as too idealized image of Glaucus. Well not ancient Roman citizen could do what he could not! This behavior His friend, Clodius - are spelled out fully in accordance with worldview of the ordinary Roman - without unnecessary cruelty, but without much pity for the losers. But everything else - clothes, scenery, the game actors - all at the highest level! It remains only unfortunate that the film so more and did not show on the central television, and many - many viewers are not even aware of it!

I've read the novel written by Bulwer Lytton, I visited Pompeii about 5 times and have read scores of books on the city and its dramatic destruction. This is the best screen adaptation of the book so far. It sticks quite well to Bulwer's novel and adds quite a few pleasant characters and events. Of course this mini-series is not perfect, even has countless flaws : the Temple of Isis, the houses of Glaucus and Diomedes come directly out of the set-designers' imagination, sending Christians to the lions is a bit too cliché, some aspects of the novel have been changed to make it all more dynamic (the novel is very slow-paced actually). But all in all, the plot is interesting, changes and additions good. Nead Beatty's portrayal of Diomedes is just brilliant!! Lesley-Ann Down is gorgeous as Chloe... The day this mini-series comes out on DVD, I'll buy it right away!

I´ve first seen in 1985, and was the first time that a movie touch my heart, then I read the book and I think that the traslation to the movie is very difficult, but Peter Hunt give us a masterpiece. The adaptation is amazing, and the cast is excellent specially by the beauty from Argentinian actress Olivia Hussey as Ione and Franco Nero as the the cruel Arbaces the Obscure.I recommend as one of the best mini-series of all time.