ANCIENT PERIOD MOVIE REVIEWS

[Ghostmojo]

I just finished watching the Spartacus : Gods of the Arena mini-series yesterday. I haven't watched the main series yet - that will be next (so no spoilers please!!!).

I must say I rather enjoyed this six-parter but it is quite an eyeful to say the least! It is very gory, violent and every other word begins with an F; and much of it can only be described as soft porn.

It also quite unashamedly draws upon the styling of the film 300, with its slo-mo pirouetting of warriors flying (Matrix-like) through the air; gushes of blood spatting out in every direction; vivid dissection of various limbs and heads; dream sequences and Frank Milleresque comicbook-like silhouette scenes.

But, all in all a good watch (but not one for the kids!) and I both look forward to the main series and also hope it will encourage others to tackle other ancient history subjects in similar fashion.

[Justin I]

Just watched Stalingrad, the German film from 1993, with English subtitles.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108211/

It was outstanding, maybe the best war movie I've ever seen. Much more grim and realistic than your typical Hollywood war story. Very depressing but also very dramatic and compelling. Has a strong anti-war message that makes you think about the concepts of duty and sacrifice. I'd elaborate but I don't want to spoil it for those who haven't seen it.
A good movie for watching at home on a brutally cold winter night.

[Legionary25]

Just watched a modern mini series of Ben-Hur. I had very low expectations and was trying to think how they were going to compete with the chariot race of the Charlton Heston version. Surprisingly, I found it very enjoyable and didn't lose interest at all throughout the 3.5 hour runtime.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K8-4GYyXzk

The historical accuracy was obvious hollywood stuff, the bracers seem to get bigger as the film went on :-D and the roman kit was obviously taken from the HBO Rome series. Visually the film is great, very nice sets and locations with lots of colour and the acting was better than I anticipated. The film makers obviously knew that they couldn't re-do the chariot race on the same scale as the original, but it was well shot and made for an exciting finale to the film. I think the whole film is on youtube if anyone wants to see it.

[Legionary25]

Just watched a modern mini series of Ben-Hur. I had very low expectations and was trying to think how they were going to compete with the chariot race of the Charlton Heston version. Surprisingly, I found it very enjoyable and didn't lose interest at all throughout the 3.5 hour runtime.

http://]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5K8-4GYyXzk

The historical accuracy was obvious hollywood stuff, the bracers seem to get bigger as the film went on :-D and the roman kit was obviously taken from the HBO Rome series. Visually the film is great, very nice sets and locations with lots of colour and the acting was better than I anticipated. The film makers obviously knew that they couldn't re-do the chariot race on the same scale as the original, but it was well shot and made for an exciting finale to the film. I think the whole film is on youtube if anyone wants to see it.

[Narukami]

Thanks for posting the trailer Lentulus. Indeed, it does look like the production is using the same costumes as the HBO Rome series. In fact, based upon this trailer, one might say that in this production Ben Hur gets the "Rome" treatment.

Thanks again for posting.

:wink:

Narukami

[Vincula]

Just watched a modern mini series of Ben-Hur.

mentioned in my favorite blog: http://antoninuspius.blogspot.com/ :grin:

[joeandmich]

I just saw the 1959 Hercules movie. Cheesy and dubbed in English but nice looking women

[Robert Vermaat]

Just watched Fall of the Roman Empire. Still very nice to look at, although the story went a bit dull after the first part.

[Ghostmojo]

Just watched Fall of the Roman Empire. Still very nice to look at, although the story went a bit dull after the first part.

Yes indeed Robert. Sophia Loren and Stephen Boyd both quite passable.

When Gladiator came out I thought "I've seen this story before somewhere!" :lol:

Incidentally, it was watching that film as a youth when I learnt what 'decimate' actually means - or rather where it originated ... :-|

[Kallithrix]

Just watched a modern mini series of Ben-Hur. I had very low expectations and was trying to think how they were going to compete with the chariot race of the Charlton Heston version. Surprisingly, I found it very enjoyable and didn't lose interest at all throughout the 3.5 hour runtime.

Ditto. When I switched it on the other day I thought it was the original 1959 version (there was naff all else on to watch, as I'm not particularly a fan of Charlton Heston chewing up the scenery and scowling for 3 hours). I was pleasantly surprised when it turnd out to be a modern TV remake, and a very watchable one at that. There were some flaws, but in general the writing and production was thoroughly decent. I found the story much more engaging than the original film as well - the character relationships were more developed and there was less emphasis on the Jesus stuff, which made it less cringeworthy to an atheist like me. I'm definitely going to add it to my dvd collection when it comes out :-)

[D B Campbell]

... and there was less emphasis on the Jesus stuff, which made it less cringeworthy to an atheist like me.

No disrespect intended, but the story is subtitled "A Tale of The Christ"! (Maybe the TV mini-series omitted the whole "Christian redemption" sub-plot?)

[Kallithrix]

Yep, it pretty much did, which I preferred. He still met Jesus on two occasions, and he did have a couple of moments where he talked about his faith, but that's all it was; faith. There was no 'yes, this is the son of God and he works miracles' message rammed down the viewer's neck. It was 'this is what these people believe, this is what happened, interpret that as you will.' IMO, that's the best way to handle religion in historical epics without undermining the historical authenticity/impartiality. It's the way I handle religion and the gods in my ancient Egyptian novel - this is what my characters believe, but whether it's true or not is subject to your own interpretation.

And this version of Ben Hur was NOT subtitled 'A Tale of Christ' so no, it was not meant to be a biblical/christian epic. It was a tale of one man's revenge against the friend who betrayed him and (so he thought) killed his mother, sister and friend.

[Vindex]

My local supermarket had a cheapo copy of the double disk Cleopatra (1963) so I have ploughed my way through it mainly so I could admire Martin Landau's knees again :wink:

But it has certainly made me appreciate Carry on Cleo a LOT more :mrgreen:

[Ghostmojo]

My local supermarket had a cheapo copy of the double disk Cleopatra (1963) so I have ploughed my way through it mainly so I could admire Martin Landau's knees again :wink:

But it has certainly made me appreciate Carry on Cleo a LOT more :mrgreen:

Infamy! Infamy! They've all got it in for me! :lol: :lol: :oops: :wink:

[Narukami]

Cleopatra on film -- no doubt the Queen would be pleased that so many remember her, even if somewhat "imaginatively."

http://www.ancient-warfare.com/cms/magaz...omans.html

:wink:

Narukami