Any enjoyable movies set around or during EB's timeframe?

For one of my classes I am to analyze a movie and discuss its historical accuracy and or inaccuracy. The movie doesn't need be a 'historical' movie in that it strives for accuracy, it just needs to be set during the time period.

I'm expecting a lot of people in the class to do popular movies such as Gladiator or 300.. I'd like to do something a little different though.

If at all possible, I would prefer a movie about the "other guys" not just the cliche and overhollywoodized (new word I just made up:laugh4:) Greeks and Romans, but that is just preference, not a need.

Like I said earlier, since it doesn't need to be a movie even attempting to maximize accuracy I would like the movie to at the very least be enjoyable, might as well have some fun out of the assignment.

Also, it is not restricted to EB's timeframe, that is just my preference. It can be from any time period so if there anybody is a fan of any other semi historical movies from other time periods I'm open to those suggestions also, but again I'd rather not do the guys everybody hears about all the time. So if it is a movie in the Middle Ages, hopefully it isn't about England or possibly France. :yes:

-Fierro

If it isn't restricted to movies only then I advise the Rome tv series, it's a quite "enjoyable" show.

From the medieval period I'd recomment El Cid starring Charlton Heston. The legend of El Cid is very interesting and he is an important part of Spanish history. Not sure of any films set during EB's timeframe, except maybe Spartacus or one of the many movies about Julius Caesar. There is a movie about the Indian prince Ashoka the Great who ruled in the 260s BC and was instrumental in spreading Buddhism, but it's in Hindi. There's also Hero starring Jet Li set in the warring states period.

Spartacus

Ben Hur

Mongol

Waterloo

Troy. :smile:

Kingdom of Heaven (Director's Cut) and Braveheart are good movies set in Medieval times. Alexander is a movie about Alexander the Great's life, but if you're as homophobic and intolerant as me, you'll end up disgusted. For civil war movies, try Glory.

Or try the good old sword & sandal movies.

Like Cleopatra, Alexander the Great, Spartacus, Ben Hur, 300 Spartans.

An Old, but really good Movie.... Alexander (1950's), the new one (2000's) portay Alexandros as a freak gay, and it lacks the deep, philosophical meaning of the original film.

I've recently enjoyed A Man for All Seasons (which I watched in a history class) and The Robe. Each movies won several Oscars, due to their superb actors and plots.

But if you want a more recent movie then I would advise Mongol.

Spartucus. Ben-hur. Weird early 2000's anime like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/index.html?curid=931311

You can try Monty Python's Life of Brian....a comedy always throws people off.

*runs*

Edit: huh, if you're talking about anime/manga, you can always try this one

Well there are a lot of enjoyable movies at least if one can surpress the inner hisrian or stratege who screems "NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" on this matter I would like to ad that monty phytons Life of brian(and the holy grale) sometimes are much more close to history than most hollywood productions^^

as not THE CLiche movie I would suggest Attila the hun, most people may find it not violent enough but hey, for what do we have 300?
It's in the timeline of IB :>

What exactly is you're project?

Is it to discuss the accuracy of a movie re-history and does it have to be in the Ancient period?

If not then U627 is an exciting film but total bullshit when it comes to history, you could contrast it with the accuracy portrayed in "Das Boot", also an excellent film.

King Athur is entertaining too. It´s also near the eb timeframe (but still a movie).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Grby3KIEwCw

- Fall of the Roman empire :2thumbsup:

I deal here only with some more modern movies. The most accurate (which unfortunately means not so much, but better than nothing) historical one in the EB timeframe is Stone's "Alexander". That some modern people have their preconceptions and don't like some content may be a fact as seen here, but it is a bit ridiculous to use this as an argument against the movie as a whole. If you think your class cannot stand it, try the special directors cut of "Alexander" where you have less homoerotic szenes but more bloody fighting - as violence seems often to be no problem for many.

"Gladiator" is of course nonsense, but if you like an even worse movie (in the historical sense) use "Braveheart". "Braveheart" solves the problem of time itself (costumes from centuries later, even if wrong, a child from a death man and some other miracles), so it can surely also be used as a movie for the EB timeframe. BTW, even "300" is much much better than "Braveheart" because it is at least honest in it's historical clownery. "King Arthur" is also a very good candidate, no wonder the Roman empire which -that was new to me- was ruled by the pope in the 5th AD (I wrote this immediately to Peter Heather and asked for a revision of his incomplete last book, togehter with the fact that the Romans didn't leave Britain in 410) crashed because they allowed their only true (Sarmatian) cavalry to retire, pfff.......

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Originally Posted by geala

"King Arthur" is also a very good candidate, no wonder the Roman empire which -that was new to me- was ruled by the pope in the 5th AD (I wrote this immediately to Peter Heather and asked for a revision of his incomplete last book, togehter with the fact that the Romans didn't leave Britain in 410) crashed because they allowed their only true (Sarmatian) cavalry to retire, pfff.......

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Yeah, so a bit back to topic - "King Arthur" has got great potential for a discussion. I most like the crossbows of the non-mixing saxon (that don´t fight with spears or seax) or the "mystical open gate", but anyway for a disneyfilm its enjoyable and when i first saw the movie i liked some accurate details like the reflexbows and the sarmatian leatherarmour and the fact that arthur was not late medieval like in so many other films.

There's always 'The Last Legion'...:laugh4: Now there's a 'historically sound' film....:dizzy2:

I once saw a film about Vercingetorix, just can't remember the name... I think it was called 'Druids'. Good enough movie, and inside EB's time frame!

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Originally Posted by Vilkku92

I once saw a film about Vercingetorix, just can't remember the name... I think it was called 'Druids'. Good enough movie, and inside EB's time frame!

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Yes I think I saw it and wanted to suggest it too. (Edit: found it on wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Druids_(film))

It really seems accurate - atleast it portrays the romans as defeteable, cruel (atleast more then in other movies - caesars line "I want a bloodbath" is really fitting). The gauls don't appear as unshirted fanatics charging at the roman fortifications. Really made for any fan of celtic culture/history.

From not mentioned

“Dacii” (Romania – France 1967) – Dacii kicking Romans. Sad but true. Also Deceball is there. And no computer FX, epic battles with noncomputer solders, Roman legions, and so on…

“The 13th Warrior”- kewl movie about Vikings, but inaccuracies in such detail as the armor conspicuous. Anyway it is really good movie.

“The Vikings” 1958 – Vikings so Vikings.

“Blood and flesh” – In my humble opinion, the spirit of Medieval was referred.

“Beowulf & Grendel” - Gerard Butler (Leonid 300 :yes:, Attila the Hun)- fantasy, but history-related. BI period.

And that French comedy “Les Visiteurs” 1-2 with Jean Reno and Christian Clavier. Even it is comedy, the characters were really natural, with their own medieval stereotypes and the way of thinking.

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Originally Posted by Teucer

There's always 'The Last Legion'...:laugh4: Now there's a 'historically sound' film....:dizzy2:

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I saw the first half hour... Ranks pretty high amon the worst movies I've ever seen. :laugh4:

Was it just me who hated Angelina Jolie in Alexander?

Anyway, thanks for some good tips (Druids :2thumbsup:).
Anybody saw Hannibal - Rome's worst nightmare? I didn't, I would just like to read some opinions if it is worth.

Jason and the Argonauts and the Sinbad movies :laugh4:

Not very historical but good fun

Also there was a very good English-made TV series (BBC or ITV I guess) called "I Claudius" more of a drama about Roman politics at time of Claudius but very historical afaik.

Also there was some old hollywood epic called "Quo Vadis" I think

I also remember seeing some freaky movie maybe 10 years ago where some mythical wolf creature or something was preying on a viking-type village, cant remember more but it was pretty dark and atmospheric. Might have been 13th warrior, mentioned above, not sure.

Atlantis, the Lost Continent ... i would say quite possibly how it may of went down ? hmm

ASTERIX AND OBELIX!!!:laugh4::laugh4::laugh4:

Have some go at the Roman tactics or the depiction of Gauls!:yes:

~Fluvius

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. I'll look into all of them.

Fluvius gave me an idea with the Asterix Movie. We are also allowed to analyze a book. So I'm wondering if I can analyze my Asterix comic book series :idea2:

Although they're in French so that might be a problem..

I'll send her an e-mail now:laugh4:

The Romanian movie about Dacia vs Rome which name escapes me.

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Originally Posted by Fierro

Thanks for the suggestions everybody. I'll look into all of them.

Fluvius gave me an idea with the Asterix Movie. We are also allowed to analyze a book. So I'm wondering if I can analyze my Asterix comic book series :idea2:

Although they're in French so that might be a problem..

I'll send her an e-mail now:laugh4:

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Thanks for the interest.:laugh4:

But the comics are also available in dutch, so it wouldnt suprise me there is english as well.:yes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix_and_Obelix

But what about this one? This is a movie with real actors!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asterix...take_on_Caesar

Good luck.

~Fluvius

Augustus - I haven't watched it in a few years, but from what I remember it was pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/Augustus-Peter...3884781&sr=1-1


Julius Caesar - Not sure I've seen this one yet. It is on my netflix queue though....

http://www.amazon.com/Julius-Caesar-...3884781&sr=1-2


Empire - It was a 6 episode tv series. That right there should tell you what to expect.

http://www.amazon.com/Empire-Santiag...3884781&sr=1-4


Nero - Another one I haven't watch in a while. Don't remember a lot about it...

http://www.amazon.com/Nero-Hans-Math...3884781&sr=1-5


The 300 Spartans - http://www.amazon.com/300-Spartans-R...3885649&sr=1-3


Alexander the Great - http://www.amazon.com/Alexander-Grea...3885762&sr=1-1


There is a new series starting up in 2010 on the Starz channel called Spartacus: Blood and Sand.

http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus


Some others (some have already been suggested).....

Rome
Spartacus
Cleopatra
I, Claudius
Ben-Hur
Caligula
Quo Vadis
Fall of the Roman Empire
The Last Days of Pompeii


These are just a few I could think of and/or came across when I ran a search on Amazon to get the other links.....