British writer Rosemary Sutcliff wrote dozens of YA historical novels, most of them set during the Roman Empire. Her books are rich with period detail, superb characterizations, and plenty of action--in other words, they're fantastic adventure stories, and they're not just for younger readers. One of Sutcliff's best books, 1954's The Eagle of the Ninth, has been made into a movie directed by Kevin Macdonald, who was responsible for The Last King of Scotland and the harrowing documentary Touching the Void. Why, then, is The Eagle so dour and unpleasant? At least part of it has to do with lead Channing Tatum, who resembles not a person so much as a mound of wet dough. by Ned Lannamann