Hercules (2014)

Hercules (2014) is a revisionist take on the legendary Greek hero, directed by Brett Ratner and starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in the titular role. The film offers a more grounded and human interpretation of the myth, focusing on Hercules as a mercenary leader rather than a demigod, surrounded by a loyal band of warriors. While it departs from the traditional portrayal of Hercules as the son of Zeus who performed the Twelve Labors, the film retains elements of the myth while adding action-packed sequences and a sense of gritty realism.
The film begins after Hercules (Dwayne Johnson) has completed his legendary Twelve Labors. However, instead of being the all-powerful demigod of myth, Hercules is portrayed as a mortal man whose legendary deeds have been exaggerated by his companions to inspire fear and awe. Haunted by his past, particularly the death of his family, Hercules is now a wandering mercenary, accompanied by a group of fellow warriors.
He is soon hired by Lord Cotys (John Hurt), the ruler of Thrace, to train his army and defeat a ruthless warlord named Rhesus (Tobias Santelmann). As Hercules leads Cotys’ army into battle, he begins to uncover the truth about Cotys’ true intentions and faces his own inner demons, questioning whether he is the hero that people believe him to be. The film culminates in an epic battle, where Hercules must come to terms with his past and reclaim his identity as a hero.