#Gladiator thumbs down free

By using the term, “based on a true story,” the filmmakers have free rein to make up as much crap for the sake of entertainment as they see fit. I even saw a documentary on the topic which added events which never occurred. Donnie Brasco, another “true story,” should be considered to be fiction as much as Gladiator is. Like Vicky said, “the problem is that so many of these ‘purely entertaining’ films transmute, in the common consciousness, as ‘the truth.'”Īnd that is indeed the problem, because people start believing - both intentionally and unintentionally - that this is history as it happened.

#Gladiator thumbs down movie

Every movie has some form of creative liberty applied. Margaret, your husband will have to accept sooner or later that no movie is without its historical inaccuracies. Thanks for the spirited discussion and the link to the Google … Fascinating. Sometimes you just have to let art flow over you.”

#Gladiator thumbs down tv

When asked repeated questions about the film he was watching on late night TV Hurt responded, “You’re so analytical. Sometimes it is best not to look too deeply into a movie, but rather take the attitude as expressed by William Hurt’s character in the film The Big Chill. That’s me and I may be in the minority on this point. (There has been some talk of this same comparison to Iraq with regards to the films Centurion and the soon to be released Eagle Of The ninth.) I find such comparisons to be both over reaching and over ripe, to say nothing about being poor history. Victor Hanson (and others) as a prime example of the struggle between the noble West and the decadent East, and then relating the film to the then current struggle in Iraq. What bothered me about 300 was its use by Dr. Thus we have a film based upon a graphic novel based upon a film based loosely on history. In fact, his early drawings had the Spartans dressed in the correct armor, but it did not look right to Miller’s artistic eye and he instead rendered them in the now infamous “leather speedos.” Of course, those familiar with the book know that Frank Miller based his book, in large part, on the 1964 film The 300 Spartans. As history it is almost completely worthless.

You are quite right Hasan (if I may) that these films can serve as an inspiration to further study and indeed the Roman Army web site always enjoys a spike in new members after these films are released.Īs a piece of cinematic art, 300 is an amazing achievement in its fidelity to the original graphic novel. Too bad though, I could use the work.Īs we have often discussed on the Roman Army Talk web site, even bad films about ancient Rome are better than no films about ancient Rome (although the film Last Legion stretched that concept to the breaking point). Perhaps it is a good thing the studios don’t. Every studio would have two or three historians.” Of course, I am reminded of director John Sayles and his most cogent remarks: “If historical accuracy were the thing people went to the movies for, historians would be the vice presidents of studios. Many find Gladiator great entertainment - no argument there, but as history, or even a fair depiction of the Roman Empire, it is practically worthless. There is a fascinating comparison of costs between Gladiator and Ben-Hur on page 324 of the book George Lucas’s Blockbusting. Gladiator was a hit, and is credited with reviving the Ancient Epic as a viable film genre, this despite the fact that Gladiator lost $20 million.

In both films Commodus dies fighting as a gladiator (when actually he was poisoned by his concubine Marcia and, when that failed to kill the Emperor, a young athlete named Narcissus, strangled him to death). In both films he favors a loyal general over his “playboy” son (in fact he made his son, Commodus, his heir-apparent, and they ruled jointly for several years. In both films Marcus Aurelius is murdered (he died of a long suffered illness, possibly cancer). (In the same way Mel Gibson’s film Apocalypto is a remake of Cornel Wilde’s film The Naked Prey) If he turned his thumb sideways, it meant 'run him through' or kill as death wounds are generally given with the sword in a stabbing or straight position.Perhaps the term “direct re-make” is a bit strong, but re-make it is and I will stand by that. If the editor of the games turned his thumb up, it meant 'put up your sword' or don't fight. To explain, the thumb was a symbol for the sword. Hollywood would have you believe that thumbs down meant death but historians believe that it was a turning of the thumb that signaled the death blow. Remember that there is controversy about the 'thumbs' business. We have no record of Julius Caesar ever ordering a gladiator's death, although it could have been possible as he sponsored gladiatorial combats.