Author Topic: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies  (Read 3149 times)

DarkeningHumour

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Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« on: March 28, 2017, 05:08:34 AM »
I love ancient Rome but virtually all the movies about that period that I've seen range from mediocre to terrible. I'd love to find out about some good ones.
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MartinTeller

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2017, 09:43:56 AM »
1. The Last Temptation of Christ
2. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
3. Life of Brain Brian
4. Intolerance

That's all I would recommend
« Last Edit: March 28, 2017, 02:37:01 PM by MartinTeller »

1SO

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #2 on: March 28, 2017, 12:42:08 PM »
1. Life of Brian
2. Spartacus
3. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
4. Gladiator
5. Ben Hur

Jesus Christ Superstar ?

colonel_mexico

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2017, 12:54:28 PM »
GLADIATOR (2000)- It ain't accurate, but it will blow your f-in mind (lol)

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS (1932)- One of the few Demille's I've seen, and quite good

QUO VADIS (1951)- Deborah Kerr is good, Robert Taylor too, but this does not hold up compared to the power of the book. A thematically similar version of THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.

SPARTACUS (1960)- This is really good, one of my favorites with Kirk Douglas.

BEN HUR (1959)- I really enjoy this version, the chariot scene is a classic, done in part by Yakima Canutt stuntman of Ford film fame.
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oldkid

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2017, 01:04:48 PM »
Wordy Rome:
Titus (1999)
Caesar and Cleopatra (mostly because I love George Bernard Shaw)

Action Rome:
Gladiator
Ben Hur

Jews in Rome:
The Last Temptation of Christ
Life of Brian
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DarkeningHumour

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #5 on: March 28, 2017, 01:38:20 PM »
1. The Last Temptation of Christ
2. Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
3. Life of Brain
4. Intolerance

That's all I would recommend

So all the good ones are about Jeepers?

(Is it me or have you made that Brain typo before? It looks familiar.)

I assume everyone means the original Ben-Hur and are not raging fans of horse violence? Well, on second thought, I know how much 1SO likes AL: Vampire Hunter...
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Teproc

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #6 on: March 28, 2017, 01:46:11 PM »
How has there not been a good Julius Caesar biopic ? There's the HBO TV show (which is good and more accurate that I thought it'd be, though very condensed), and I'm sure it's been attempted, but it's strange... there are so many potentially great cinematic moments there. The crossing of the Rubicon alone...

Come to think of it, how aren't there dozens of emperor biopics ? Aside from Caligula, the only one I can think of is TV again (I, Claudius). What about Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian, Augustus... or freaking Nero, that one practically writes itself !

I guess they must exist but not be very good ? A shame.
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DarkeningHumour

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #7 on: March 28, 2017, 01:50:05 PM »
Come to think of it, how aren't there dozens of emperor biopics ?

I ask myself this question once a day every day, and three times per page whenever I'm ready Roman history. It baffles me that there should be seven Transformers movies and not a single decent film rendering of any of Caesar's battles. The story is literally already written, it's brilliant and has the added advantage of being true.
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oldkid

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #8 on: March 28, 2017, 02:22:40 PM »
The best you have of emperor bios would be I, Claudius.   Movies tend to focus more on Roman generals or the conflict between Romans and Jews.

I'd love to see a full bio of Julius.
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MartinTeller

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Re: Top 5 Ancient Rome Movies
« Reply #9 on: March 28, 2017, 02:36:39 PM »
(Is it me or have you made that Brain typo before? It looks familiar.)

Probably, I do it almost every time.

I assume everyone means the original Ben-Hur and are not raging fans of horse violence?

Mine is the 1925 film.

 

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