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  1. #1
    Member Member TWFanatic's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    The music is horrid. Sounds like the cookie monster from Sesame Street singing. But I suppose that's part of the fun.

    I wonder how many people got seriously injured there...and how many died.
    It would be a violation of my code as a gentleman to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person.-Veeblefester
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    Savaran Commander Member Hound of Ulster's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    The combat bits in HBO Rome are really good as are the battle scenes in Spartacus. Troy isn't half bad.

    Braveheart and Henry V (1988 Kenneth Branagh version) are both really good at depicting the basics of medieval warfare, if not the tactical details of the historic battles they depict.
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    Member Member TWFanatic's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Braveheart. I hate that man.
    It would be a violation of my code as a gentleman to engage in a battle of wits with an unarmed person.-Veeblefester
    Ego is the anesthetic for the pain of stupidity.-me
    It is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought of as a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.-Sir Winston Churchill
    ΔΟΣ ΜΟΙ ΠΑ ΣΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΤΑΝ ΓΑΝ ΚΙΝΑΣΩ--Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth.-Archimedes on his work with levers
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    Villiage Idiot Member antisocialmunky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Quote Originally Posted by TWFanatic
    Braveheart. I hate that man.
    SPAAAARTTA!!!!
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  5. #5

    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Has anyone seen the original film about Thermopylae from 1960 "The 300 Spartans"? It's been a while since I last saw it, but IIRC, the battle scenes were fairly good.

    I've not seen 300. Nor will I. I caught a trailer on TV and thought: "Ooh, this could be...WAR RHINOS!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WAR RHINOS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!" I never expect too many great things from Hollywood when it comes to historical battles, but that just went a tad too far.
    I don't necessarily agree with everything I think.

  6. #6

    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Quote Originally Posted by Spvrrina Vestricivs
    Has anyone seen the original film about Thermopylae from 1960 "The 300 Spartans"? It's been a while since I last saw it, but IIRC, the battle scenes were fairly good.

    I've not seen 300. Nor will I. I caught a trailer on TV and thought: "Ooh, this could be...WAR RHINOS!?!?!?!?!?!?!? WAR RHINOS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!!" I never expect too many great things from Hollywood when it comes to historical battles, but that just went a tad too far.
    Yeah? Then what about ele... mumakils and monsters?

    Or simply... Leonidas and his friends...
    :D
    Last edited by Cybvep; 01-04-2008 at 10:59.

  7. #7
    Amanuensis Member pezhetairoi's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Gaugamela from Alexander, undoubtedly. Though the rest of the movie, you don't have to bother watching.

    Rome was decent, but the fighting wasn't that realistic IMHO. At Philippi they didn't even charge to contact, or hurl pila. They just walked into each other, which I found seriously dumb since the pila were their best chance to disrupt the enemy. Far better was Spartacus, the second as I saw it.

    Spartacus was gritty, and the only example of the checkerboard formation ever dared/postulated on any film I have seen/known/heard of. Very impressive, but a little messy. You didn't see much of the checkerboard thereafter, just a whole lot of confused hacking which detracted greatly from it. But to be fair, the film was meant to glorify the ex-slaves not the Romans, so to show organised Roman legions showing their efficiency would be somewhat inappropriate, yes.

    The 1961 300 Spartans was very impressively done, though I was disappointed since the Spartans didn't fight in much of a phalanx (most of the time it was a single line), and we didn't see much of the other Greek allies. There was an elan about the whole film which I found quite pleasant as a touch given the Spartan view on fighting and dying, and how that might have influenced the other troops with them such as the Thespians. (Eagle inspires nearby troops, or something) Definite second after Alexander.


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    Thread killer Member Rodion Romanovich's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Quote Originally Posted by Cybvep
    Yeah? Then what about ele... mumakils and monsters?

    Or simply... Leonidas and his friends...
    :D
    Ah... my eyes!!!!!!!!
    Under construction...

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  9. #9

    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Quote Originally Posted by Cybvep
    Yeah? Then what about ele... mumakils and monsters?

    Or simply... Leonidas and his friends...
    :D
    I only saw one trailer and that was enough. As it is, I don't watch much TV anyway.

    And that still from 300 Ahhhh, can I have my medication now please?

    If movie makers want to do historical fantasy, I have no problem with it. There's plenty of legends to choose from afterall. But please, don't turn actual historical events into fantasy.
    I don't necessarily agree with everything I think.

  10. #10
    Member Member McAds's Avatar
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    Default Re: Depictions of Classical Period Battles in Film

    Quote Originally Posted by Hound of Ulster
    The combat bits in HBO Rome are really good as are the battle scenes in Spartacus. Troy isn't half bad.

    Braveheart and Henry V (1988 Kenneth Branagh version) are both really good at depicting the basics of medieval warfare, if not the tactical details of the historic battles they depict.
    Ergh Braveheart. The single biggest shower of shite I have ever had the misfortune to witness. There are so many things about that film and its many, pointless inaccuracies I hate!

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