This mini-series certainly lacks much of the pomp and splendour of the more acclaimed 1951 version but it isn't at all bad. Klaus Maria Brandauer portrays the Emperor Nero as more of a disillusioned actor than a tyrannical maniac with Frederic Forrest dominating as his artistic mentor trying to keep the wayward emperor from losing the plot completely. It hadn't the budget, so ends up as a much more theatrical style production than the Ustinov/Genn film; less brash and more subtle and nuanced as we set off to send the Christians to the lions. It's too long at 6 x 1 hour; and by the end you might be tempted to join the Christians - but give it a go; the two leads offer compelling performances.
