03-17-2004, 07:33 AM
Hi to all,<br>
<br>
First let me state I'm a roman military fan, what I have learnt comes from school (Not much) and books. I have been for more than a decade.<br>
<br>
Second, I know the considerations that film makers have to face, cost, mass appeal, easy recognition etc. when it comes to historical costume.<br>
<br>
The film itself is well made and I give credit to all the actors speaking in Aramaic and Latin, certainly to learn another language and the act like its native to you is a challenge, and they pulled it off.<br>
<br>
Only after reading what has been posted here and some other online reseach did I get a good understanding of the unit types that would have been involved in the events of the film.<br>
<br>
The portrayal of those roman soldiers was pure farce. Even if they are Samatian Auxilia, they act with such over the top sadisim, and with most blatant display of disrespect for a senior officer I've seen on film for any era.<br>
<br>
SPOILER WARNING<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
When one of these 6 foot anglo bald thugs decides to use a new type of flail device for the torture of Jesu's back, he first brings down it onto the desk of an officer whose hands are narrowly missed, he gets an untranslated rebuke of no consequence, and the rest of these "Roman Soldiers" stand around and laugh!<br>
<br>
These actors were cast purely for their resemblance to a stereotyped "British Soccer Hooligan" and thats how they act, even when what I presume is a Centurion rides in on horseback, their disrespect is still evident.<br>
<br>
Their escort duty of Christ with the cross, highlights the absurd "WE are bad guys" stereotyping complete with openly drinking, maintaining no formation, further reluctance to follow the Centurions repeated miserable attempts to restore discipline, highlighting the two sympathetic "Roman Soldiers" who stand out painfully.<br>
<br>
We even see Pontius Pilate watching them! The whole part of the film depicting the Roman rank and file undid the previous scenes of the film.I was taken from any involvement in the story. I heard an interesting comment from a fellow cinema goer:<br>
<br>
Why is it the Jewish Soldiers are (In the film) afraid of the Roman soldiers when throughout the film they are more disciplined? How is it that Rome has control in the first place?<br>
<br>
This "Historically accurate" film and that is my contention here, NOT a religious one, is inaccurate.<br>
<br>
I will gladly submit to any evidence that would convince me that even the most harshly stereotyped Auxilia would function this way. Let alone any military unit as part of an occupation force.<br>
<br>
AS to the costumes, the leather Braccae (sp?) are they not for winter conditions? THe Shields I saw bore a large resemblance to those horrible "Sword and Sandal" cheapies made bulk in 60's Italian cinema. The brown leather armour looked very cheap and "The Armourer" was Italian, I would assume he would at least have made some effort-but it does not look like it.<br>
<br>
Now I restate it is the historical accuracy I have issue with here, not religious.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
<br>
First let me state I'm a roman military fan, what I have learnt comes from school (Not much) and books. I have been for more than a decade.<br>
<br>
Second, I know the considerations that film makers have to face, cost, mass appeal, easy recognition etc. when it comes to historical costume.<br>
<br>
The film itself is well made and I give credit to all the actors speaking in Aramaic and Latin, certainly to learn another language and the act like its native to you is a challenge, and they pulled it off.<br>
<br>
Only after reading what has been posted here and some other online reseach did I get a good understanding of the unit types that would have been involved in the events of the film.<br>
<br>
The portrayal of those roman soldiers was pure farce. Even if they are Samatian Auxilia, they act with such over the top sadisim, and with most blatant display of disrespect for a senior officer I've seen on film for any era.<br>
<br>
SPOILER WARNING<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
When one of these 6 foot anglo bald thugs decides to use a new type of flail device for the torture of Jesu's back, he first brings down it onto the desk of an officer whose hands are narrowly missed, he gets an untranslated rebuke of no consequence, and the rest of these "Roman Soldiers" stand around and laugh!<br>
<br>
These actors were cast purely for their resemblance to a stereotyped "British Soccer Hooligan" and thats how they act, even when what I presume is a Centurion rides in on horseback, their disrespect is still evident.<br>
<br>
Their escort duty of Christ with the cross, highlights the absurd "WE are bad guys" stereotyping complete with openly drinking, maintaining no formation, further reluctance to follow the Centurions repeated miserable attempts to restore discipline, highlighting the two sympathetic "Roman Soldiers" who stand out painfully.<br>
<br>
We even see Pontius Pilate watching them! The whole part of the film depicting the Roman rank and file undid the previous scenes of the film.I was taken from any involvement in the story. I heard an interesting comment from a fellow cinema goer:<br>
<br>
Why is it the Jewish Soldiers are (In the film) afraid of the Roman soldiers when throughout the film they are more disciplined? How is it that Rome has control in the first place?<br>
<br>
This "Historically accurate" film and that is my contention here, NOT a religious one, is inaccurate.<br>
<br>
I will gladly submit to any evidence that would convince me that even the most harshly stereotyped Auxilia would function this way. Let alone any military unit as part of an occupation force.<br>
<br>
AS to the costumes, the leather Braccae (sp?) are they not for winter conditions? THe Shields I saw bore a large resemblance to those horrible "Sword and Sandal" cheapies made bulk in 60's Italian cinema. The brown leather armour looked very cheap and "The Armourer" was Italian, I would assume he would at least have made some effort-but it does not look like it.<br>
<br>
Now I restate it is the historical accuracy I have issue with here, not religious.<br>
<br>
<br>
<p></p><i></i>
