Movie industry bombarding us with historic epics

[Ned]

I think diCaprio as Alexander the Great is woefully miscast. Still I don't know of anyone else in their mid-20's who would be better. Alexander was more than a general, he was a fighter who lead his cavalry into the thick of the battle. Leo is an "unimpressive" soldier.

[GePap]

Originally posted by Ned
GePap, Inaccurate? It is my understanding that Commodus did in fact die in the Colliseum.

The one point I thought it got a little innacurate was when Commodus returned to Rome and road into a forum where a large number of "legions" were arrayed in large square formations. If they were legions, each of the squares of men would be arround 5000 in strength. There were about 30 of these arrayed in the forum for a total strength of 150,000.

Now that would have been half the Roman Army. I think that such an event never happened in the whole history of the Empire.

Still, the display of military strength was quite impressive.

He id die in the Colusseum, but he was not killed by ane x-General seeking to restore the Republic. That was dramatic license on the part of the director, and if he i gpoing to take dramatic license, at least have a story with few gaping plot points.

Actually, the use of the Roman military is one of the biggest weak points. They show a battle, in a forest of all things, were the Roman Cavalry plays the part of the central striking arm. Wrong, wrong, and wrong. The legions were still infantry centered, and the Romans would not be picvking fights against Germans in forests, as they had bad experiences with that. Oh, and all the pretty fireworks? I can understand why it was done (to make the battle resemble a modern one. One problem, it shouldn't resemble a modern one, it wasn;t a modern one.

It's like saying Saving Private Ryan wasn't that good because it was a terrible depiction of WW2

But it was a good depiction of WW2, so the comparison is bad. You are the one carping of the color of the skin of the guy who's going to play Hannibal, aren't you? I did not find Gadiator fun (the gross problems with script did it for me), so the incorrect depiction of Roman times simply adds to it.

plot holes! who would imagined that! Matrix is still a great movie, despite the plot holes.

Last time I checked, the Matrix ins;t trying to claim any semblence of historical accuracy, now is it?

[Ned]

GePap, of course, all we know it that Commodus was killed in the arena by a gladiator. However, to condemn the movie because the producer added some ficticious history to gladiator is ridiculous.

I particularly enjoined the recreation of the Colliseum. It must have been very much like it appeared in the movie. Really something.

[Az]

Last time I checked, the Matrix ins;t trying to claim any semblence of historical accuracy, now is it?

plot holes are plot holes.

[st_swithin]

Funny thing is, the original script named Crowe's character 'Narcissus.' Sort of fitting, eh?

Russell Crowe in "Beautiful Mind" - he got EXACTLY what he deserved. It was supposed to be about a man from El Salvador. Narcissus indeed.

[Imran Siddiqui]

You are the one carping of the color of the skin of the guy who's going to play Hannibal, aren't you?

Yeah, because it'd be like the general in Gladiator being played by Samuel Jackson . Historical fiction should have some semblance of history behind it; enough to be plausible.

Also Gladiator was NOT supposed to be a 'true story'. It was total fiction. Hannibal, however, is obviously supposed to be a true story with some fictionalized dialogue and accounts.

But it was a good depiction of WW2

You should ask MtG if he thinks it was a good depiction of the war .

[Bereta_Eder]

Hey ho Albert Speer! Not all Ancient Greeks were gay. Some were and they were tolerated in contrast with some other cultures of that time and that not in every city state.

About the plethora of hollywood movies about hitorical themes I think they're just desperate as awlays for something to fill their coffers and people tend to like these sort of movies these years.

[Japher]

You are the one carping of the color of the skin of the guy who's going to play Hannibal, aren't you?

I hear they aren't using elephants too

Honestly, they should get Stephen Segal to play Hannibal since no one really knows what nationality he is... Wait, I can't tell what nationality Vin is either!

Who care, Historical Inaccuracies are everywhere...

Antonio Banderas

[Az]

I always thought it was "Seagull"....////

[Bereta_Eder]

Originally posted by Ned
I think diCaprio as Alexander the Great is woefully miscast. Still I don't know of anyone else in their mid-20's who would be better. Alexander was more than a general, he was a fighter who lead his cavalry into the thick of the battle. Leo is an "unimpressive" soldier.

Agreed. Compare:

[sprucemoose3311]

brad pitt is currently filming, so is colin ferrill, russell crowe, and leo. theres actually a third alexander the great planned but it probably doesnt have a script yet.

[Az]

This looks like a job for "The Rock"

[st_swithin]

Gandalf the Great White Terminator!! HAHAHA!! That's hysterical!

[LTEC!]

Originally posted by paiktis22



Agreed. Compare:

For that face, I'd cast Sean Penn.

[Japher]

I'd cast Owen Wilson... just for the nose and stupid expression