Historical Movies

[Martok]

I'm not sure which one would qualify as the "best", as to be honest, I'm not sure if *any* of the historical movies I've seen were that accurate. Of the ones I've watched, Elizabeth is probably the only one that comes even remotely close to something resembling what actually happened in real life.

EDIT: I take that back. I'd say Patton was pretty good overall (in terms of accuracy), even if some of the props were off.


As to the worst one, though, that's easy: 300.

[Koga No Goshi]

I'm not sure which one would qualify as the "best", as to be honest, I'm not sure if *any* of the historical movies I've seen were that accurate. Of the ones I've watched, Elizabeth is probably the only one that comes even remotely close to something resembling what actually happened in real life.

EDIT: I take that back. I'd say Patton was pretty good overall (in terms of accuracy), even if some of the props were off.


As to the worst one, though, that's easy: 300.

For what it's worth you all seem to have great good taste. Everything someone has named as a good historical movie is something I've heard many other people call the same, and everything someone called a bad movie, same deal.

And for 300... don't even get me started. I want to seriously strangle people who who love 300 and have never even bothered to see "The 300 Spartans." (Not that that movie was 100% historical, but it was still worlds better than a graphic novel version.)

[Aemilius Paulus]

And for 300... don't even get me started. I want to seriously strangle people who who love 300 and have never even bothered to see "The 300 Spartans." (Not that that movie was 100% historical, but it was still worlds better than a graphic novel version.)

Ahhh, finally I have come to meet a person that shares my views. Seemed like I was the only person who despised that video in the world (I am not quite sure if it even qualifies as a movie - I mean no story, no real plot, almost no dialog, just 117 straight minutes of senseless blood and gore). Despite this, everyone who I talked to, both online and in real life liked the movie. Adults, childern, adolescents. Kinda tell you something about today's people.

As a matter of fact, I quit watching TV or movies long time ago (in my sixth grade year). Only books and computer games for me now. I haven't watched TV since that time and the last movie I saw was eight months ago... (I watched the first 30 minutes of 300 just to see what it was)

[El Diablo]

But 300 was based on a graphical novel. Not the battle of Thermopolye or the 300 Spartans.

I actually liked the movie. Good effects and good camera angles and slow motion bits that made it FEEL like I was reading a cartoon to me. Bit like Sin City really.

I don't think it ever meant to represent what happened or real history.

Just entertainment really. Overtly Violent yes, but so are so many other movies these days.

[Martok]

But 300 was based on a graphical novel. Not the battle of Thermopolye or the 300 Spartans.

[...]

I don't think it ever meant to represent what happened or real history.

[...]

The problem, though, is that too many people think that it *does* represent real history (minus the monsters, of course). Not everyone, of course (thankfully) -- probably not even a majority -- but a distressingly large percentage of the people who saw 300 honestly seem to believe that the film was a fairly accurate representation of the not just the battle, but the overall time period & culture as well.

[Koga No Goshi]

The problem, though, is that too many people think that it *does* represent real history (minus the monsters, of course). Not everyone, of course (thankfully) -- probably not even a majority -- but a distressingly large percentage of the people who saw 300 honestly seem to believe that the film was a fairly accurate representation of the not just the battle, but the overall time period & culture as well.

A majority of people in general go into movies about any historical event almost tabula rasa and accept more or less what they see at face value. It's only the history buffs or the people who are a buff about that PARTICULAR time or event who will spot problems or compare it to other movies or dramatizations of the same events. The big majority don't know, don't care. That's why it's so irksome to me. I don't think you should have to be a history professor to make movies, no. But I don't see why if they INSIST on changing things to "sell more theater seats", why not just make a fictional story in the first place. As I've said there are thousands upon thousands of scripts being sat un, unread, unmade into movies. There's never really an excuse for doing a "history" movie and intentionally changing things to be more audience palatable to me.

[Fragony]

Not everyone, of course (thankfully) -- probably not even a majority -- but a distressingly large percentage of the people who saw 300 honestly seem to believe that the film was a fairly accurate representation of the not just the battle, but the overall time period & culture as well.

Well, it is kinda.

[Banquo's Ghost]

One of the best historical films for me, was the Ronald F Maxwell directed "Gettysburg". The characterisation was deeply involving - in that one really got to know and care about many of the protagonists as human beings, rather than military pieces - and the battle presented with appropriate awe and terror.

Oddly, I'd propose as one of the worst the prequel, "Gods and Generals" by the same director, which was so mind-blowingly dull and uninspired to the point where I was wishing by the second hour that aliens would fly in on an errand of mercy to force peace with Kirk and Kor so everyone could go home and hug.

[Koga No Goshi]

Well, it is kinda.

No. I'm more worried about someone who would say that than I am about someone who says "eh, I know but it's entertainment."

[Koga No Goshi]

Ahhh, finally I have come to meet a person that shares my views. Seemed like I was the only person who despised that video in the world (I am not quite sure if it even qualifies as a movie - I mean no story, no real plot, almost no dialog, just 117 straight minutes of senseless blood and gore). Despite this, everyone who I talked to, both online and in real life liked the movie. Adults, childern, adolescents. Kinda tell you something about today's people.

As a matter of fact, I quit watching TV or movies long time ago (in my sixth grade year). Only books and computer games for me now. I haven't watched TV since that time and the last movie I saw was eight months ago... (I watched the first 30 minutes of 300 just to see what it was)

It was nothing but an overhyped testosterone infusion for suburban boychildren. Sorry to be so blunt. It was junk.

[El Diablo]

overhyped testosterone infusion for suburban boychildren

Ha ha nice. I am glad that are clear with your thoughts on this...

[Beefy187]

I think the HBO production of Rome got most facts right regarding costumes and settings. But regarding historical accuracy of events...
I also recommend "enemy at the gates" just for that opening scene, and "The Last Samurai" for portraying that era of modernizing in Japan even though both of those movie invented its own character for more entertainment to the plot.

As for the worst ill have join the bandwagon and say 300. Hated how they had to get monsters instead of proper Persian soldiers. But then again its based on graphic novel..

[Louis VI the Fat]

My favourite recent historical movie is 300. I liked it for its innovative and gorgeous cinematography, and for its accurate portrayal of ancient history.

I have not seen a movie that better encapsulates the ancient Greeks' love for heroism, for proto-fascism, and for sodomy. Wait, not the latter, I must be confused with this flick I saw late last night and

What is Thermopylae? It is a minor battle, the account of which can be related in five minutes, written on half a page.
Or, Thermopylae is a legend, a celebration of martial values, of Greek love for heroism, the epitome of Spartan civilization.

300 is the best, and most correct modern account of 'Thermopylae'. Of the latter Thermopylae, the real Thermopylae.

[Fragony]

'Mongol' is quite something, too many gaps though, should have been a miniserie. But the battles, owwwwwww

[Koga No Goshi]

"The Last Samurai" for portraying that era of modernizing in Japan even though both of those movie invented its own character for more entertainment to the plot.

My beef (hehe pun) with "Last Samurai" was that if they wanted to do an all out, drag-out samurai film, they should have chosen an earlier time. But i suppose that would have given them less excuse to make the movie really all about some white guy who out samurai's the samurai. It's been pointed out many times that purporting that samurai were somehow hardcore retro's who used swords and bows INSTEAD of guns in the 1800's, when the samurai unification battles of the late 1500's and early 1600's had been almost entirely gun-fought, was really wildly off mark.

[Aemilius Paulus]

"I also recommend enemy at the gates" by Beefy187

That movie was incredibly screwed up historical accuracy. If the Russians had fought WWII the way that it was shown in the movie, we would have lost in a month.

EDIT: for some reason the quote didn't work so I had to do it the old-fashioned way