hist movie tips

[hoetje]

It isn't very related to m2tw,but I thought it might be interesting for some of you (as well as me ^^)

Summer holidays... Some of us enjoy a 2 months vacation, others have to do it with one day...

Still,when having some time off, a movie is always a good idea, and even more interesting when related to history ( in my opinion ) .

Thus, I invite all of you to post your favourite has-to-be-seen historical movies in this thread :)

[YAKOBU]

Well the 2 most watched on my list have to be Gladiator and Last Of The Mohicans.

Don't tell anyone but I get the odd tear with Last Of The Mohicans.

[Hoplite7]

I thought Kingdom of Heaven was OK

[Forward Observer]

I thought Kingdom of Heaven was OK

I agree, but I thought it could have been better. I am told that the extended director's cut DVD adds so much cut footage back the film that it comes out as a much better story with better character development.

Unfortunately, I bought the initial release on DVD, and I haven't yet convinced myself to spend another $20 for a movie I already own.

If we are to stay on a historical medieval theme and if you can find them there are two excellent older movies starring Charlton Heston.

The first that is touted to be one of the most accurate portrayals of the early medeival feudal system is the "Warlord"

The other is a big lavish telling of the story of "El Cid". This was made back in days when Hollywood was still making big budget historical epics without the aid of CGA and was filmed in Spain using real medieval castles and authentic locations.

Cheers

[ForgotMyOldNick]

Conan the Barbarian

Conan the Destroyer

Excalibur (My childhood favourite)

Gladiator (My adulthood favourite)

The Valley ( Not sure if that's the actual title, saw it a looong time ago, I think Rutger Hauer or whatever his name is stars in it )

13th Warrior

Highlander

Braveheart

Period documentaries can be fun with a few beers...

Last Samurai

Some of those Japanese B&W films about samurai ( '7 Ronin' I think and a few others)

Some Chinese ancient period films

And a couple of episodes of Black Adder to make sense of it all. ('Your money "and" your life' hilarious stuff!)

As for books 'Dune' is good.

[Kadagar_AV]

300... (well, history and history...)

Shogun, I'm surprised no one mentioned it yet....

[HoreTore]

Band of Brothers.

[Per Ole]

Alexander. Very good film, especially since I read alot about him even before they made the movie :D

[Furious Mental]

Ran

[Grand Duke Vytautas]

Let me add my seen historical themed (of course they are not all ideally historical lol) movie collection:

Ancient/Antiquity
* Troy (2004) - liked it very much, despite it's inaccuracies
* 300 (2007) and The 300 spartans 60s old classic - loved them
* Alexander (2004) - liked battles, but there were too few of them (to show real Alex achievments) and the whole gayness theme set me off
* Spartacus (2004) and Spartacus old 60s classic - both extremely good
* Monty Python's Life of Brian - one of da best ancient themed comedies
* Rome tv series (season 1 and 2) - best history themed series I've seen ever
* Cleopatra tv series were quite cool
* Gladiator - one of the best movies I've seen ever

Dark Ages
* Conan the Barbarian - great
* Monty Python and the Holy Grail - one of the best comedies of all time seriously
* Excalibur - great old movie
* First Knight - hollywoodic Arthur, nevertheless was quite entertaining
* King Arthur Director's cut (2004) - liked it although acting was a bit dull
* The Vikings (old 60s classic) - fascinating, even watched it recently
* Erik the Viking - comedy Monthy Pythons style

Medieval
* Robin Hood Men in Tights - very funny comedy
* Kingdom of Heaven Director's Cut - best movie about crusades imo
* Braveheart - makes me cry everytime, deeply emotional movie, even with it's inaccuracies very awesome
* A Knight's Tale - modern approach to knights tournaments/jousting
* Timeline - 14th century 100yrs war, quite liked it
* Henry V - Shakespear style
* Joan of Arc (one with Mila Jovovic and one was tv series, which I liked more)


Renaissance/Enlightment
* Apocalypto - very lively/natural movie, awesome feeling after watching it
* Flesh and blood (90s cool film) - 15th century in italy somewhere
* Alatriste - Spanish 16th golden age century - whole movie was crap imo, only the battle at the end was cool, watch this before spanish campaign :)
* The Patriot - again emotional

China/Japan
* Hero
* The house of flying daggers
* The Last Samurai - great movie, remembered good old STW while watching it


WW2
* Letters from Iwo Jima
* Flags of our fathers
* Band of Brothers - extremely good series
* Saints and Soldiers
* Enemy at the gates
* Saving Private Ryan

Here's an awesome site about historical movies
Cheers :D

[icek]

i like joan d'arc

[Nikos_Rouvelas]

Alexander(but I'm biased lol)
Gladiator (especially the first half hour)
Kingdom of Heaven extended version(like a new movie)
Braveheart(FREEEEEDOMMM!!!!)
Apocalypto(Almost....)

[Discoman]

I like for ancient history Spartacus, Gladiator, 300 Spartans (The some what low budget 60's movie ), Troy (I really liked the battle scenes), and Benhur (Ok thats mainly fiction). For Medieval period I really liked Excalibur, Braveheart, Robin Hood, and Kingdom of Heaven was good and it put me in the mood to play MTW2. I would try listing WW2 movies that I like but that would take me some time.

[Zasz1234]

Have to agree with Braveheart.
Last Samurai - Just didn't like Tom Cruise in it
Dances With Wolves - always makes me feel sad for what happened on the plains.
Gettysburg - Just darn well done
Kingdom of Heaven - Haven't seen the director's cut but the original was good Orlando Bloom aside.

And as far as WW2 is concerned I liked Midway. Kind of more of docudrama but it showed both sides fairly well which I like in war movies.

As far as historical documentaries I think the Crescent and the Cross about the crusades was awesome, especially with bringing in the Middle Eastern historians for the alternate perspective and Hannibal from either discovery or history channel. two hours long but a great view of Rome's greatest enemy.