BBC Documentary series, Ancient Rome

**bugrit** · 03-22-2007, 13:54

If anyone missed the chance to watch the BBC series about Ancient Rome.

Note that this is not the BBC/HBO collaboration Rome, which could and should have been a whole lot better, considering the money they spent on it.

Edit TosaInu: sorry, have to remove Torrent links.

**Fate** · 03-22-2007, 18:38

Ah, i know the show that you speak of, obviously not as good as the HBO one, but not bad either!

**LuckyDog Trojan** · 03-22-2007, 19:13

Bugrit: I wouldn't be surprised if the documentary doesn't turn up on one of the dish channels such as the History Channel, History International, Discovery, etc. (if it hasn't done so already). Likewise, if it has appeared, I'm reasonably confident that they will run it on more than one occasion again in the future.

Thanks for the heads up - I'll look forward to viewing it.

At the same time, I do agree with 'Fate' in that I have found the HBO Rome series to be quite enjoyable. I realize they have taken some liberties for the sake of drama and mass-appeal. And I certainly wish the battle scenes were more epic in scale (even to the point of using computer assisted imagery). At least my wife watches it with me and gets into it - so I figure that's pretty good in itself.

**bugrit** · 03-22-2007, 20:14

The documentary has plenty of dramatizations and they are all a whole lot better than in the soap version. The principals are mainly Shakespearean stalwarts with hordes of extras all shot on film and it's a really classy production, Auntie Beeb at her very best.

Believe me, Rome really is no more than just a soap by comparison.

**RabbitDynamite** · 03-22-2007, 20:14

I watched most of these and enjoyed them greatly. In particular, I thought Martin Sheen was superb as Nero (make him... a woman(

Thanks for the tip-off.

**bugrit** · 03-22-2007, 22:05

Here are four screenshots from the first episode of Ancient Rome where Nero, far from fiddling while it burned, did his best to save the place. These pics are from after the great fire and they show Nero's rebuilding project.

I leave you to make your own comparisons to Rome.

**LuckyDog Trojan** · 03-23-2007, 19:11

The screenshots you've posted certainly look good. And again, having not seen Ancient Rome, there's no way that I could or would dare to make a comparison with HBO's Rome.

Thanks again for bringing it to my/our attention. Like you, I like this time period and subject matter and look forward to seeing the series someday soon.

**bugrit** · 03-24-2007, 14:08

Actually, I goofed and those shots are from the second episode.
Here is one from the first, showing Caesar's preparations for the assault on Alesia:

Luckydog Trojan, I didn't imply that you had made a comparison, at least I didn't intend to, anyway.

**RabbitDynamite** · 03-24-2007, 17:31

Nope, you were right the first time. Nero episode came first, Ceasar second, the "land reform" episode came third (i think) and after that I'm not sure.

**Omanes Alexandrapolites** · 03-24-2007, 17:39

Hmm, I'm not too sure, yet I think it was Nero, Caesar, Revolution (Tiberius Grachus' Land Reforms), Rebellion (Jewish Revolt 79AD), Constantine, Fall (Alaric's Sacking of Rome). They were all great and enjoyable episodes, both historically accurate, to the greatest of my humble historical knowledge, and dramatic at the same time.