[Rictor]

http://www.apple.com/trailers/wb/alexander/

I'm not saying Collin Farrel can't act, but well...judge for yourselves.

I don't see the necesseity in perverting history to suit the great unwashed masses. But then again, I don't think Britney Speers is the greatest thing to ever happen to music, so what do I know?

Especially since someone like Oliver Stone ought to have some outdated and unpopular notions like integrity or vision or somesuch...

[Corsair]

Looks cool...

[jdjtcagle]

Well, your definately right about Britney Spears.  I think this will be a great movie

[diamondgeezer]

So with the recent 'sucesses' of Gladiator and Troy, and the forthcomming King Arthur and AtG movies (shudder), what's next? I'm thinking Queen Boadicea, as a movie with tits and arse-kicking sells more than the sum of its parts

[Rictor]

how can you say that? didn't you spot the bad acting, the cliched premise "warrior, lover, seeker blablabla", the wig that really sticks out and doesn't look natural in the least?

c'mon guys, I refuse to believe that I am the only one who isn't being fooled.

dg: don't forget the last samurai and how tom cruise saved civilization.

its only a matter of time before they get all the great conflicts of our past, and 1000 years from now, after the great nuclear war, someone will uncover a stash of DVDs and write their history accordingly.

[jdjtcagle]

Originally posted by diamondgeezer
So with the recent 'sucesses' of Gladiator and Troy, and the forthcomming King Arthur and AtG movies (shudder), what's next? I'm thinking Queen Boadicea, as a movie with tits and arse-kicking sells more than the sum of its parts

Nothing will compare to Gladiator and BraveHeart

[Flipside]

Why does Big Al' look mildly constipated throughout that trailer?

[Stunaep]

Well, can't be worse than the rest of the epic junk that has been thrown in my general direction.

[neo_hermes]

it will and can get worse stu

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Rictor
I don't see the necesseity in perverting history to suit the great unwashed masses.

When has Hollywood not perverted history in order to tell a story?

Besides what perversions of history did you see in that trailer?

[Rictor]

the need to romanticize Alexander to be something he's not. The guy was a conqueror, plain and simple. C'mon now..."The greatest legend ever told...is true"

Isn't the life of one of the greatest generals and conquerors in history enough...or have we gotten to the point where invading half of Europe and Asia is not entertaining enough in and of itself, now we have to make up some crap about how he also invented the Internet and was single-handedly resonsibe for every philosophical accomplishment of the ancient Greeks.

[Flipside]

Alexander conquered most of Europe by using war Elephants. He won most of his battles because European armies relied heavily on Horses, and Horses are terrified of Elephants. He was the guy with the WMD's

Oddly enough, he struggled further east due to the fact the Elephants don't like the smell of camels, but then, let's face, I'd be surprised if camels liked the smell of camels

He was a butcher who died leaving 2 sons, who fought over the remains of his Empire and tore it clean apart again 40 years after it was created. Hardly the greatest legend ever.....

[karajorma]

If you don't want romantacizing watch a documentary. Historical films are always about romantacizing the character. They always have been.

 It didn't start with film either. Or are you going to tell me that there wasn't a whole bunch or romatacizing going on in Julius Ceasar, Machbeth and all the other historical Shakespear plays.

Flip : I'm taking that as sarcasm. Just not very good sarcasm

[Flipside]

Heh, Yes, they are already romanticised, of course people say great things about large cauliflower eared thugs with big swords, it's the best way to carry on living, especially since in those times history was written largely by people in the employ of those very thugs

It doesn't bother me in the slightest, I haven't watched any of these over-romanticised stories, from Pearl Harbor to Braveheart,

It's strange that Oliver Stone should do a film romanticising this sort of thing, since Platoon was excellent, still, the 'image' Hollywood are trying to project about War HAS to be glorious at the moment. If people were watching Platoon and figuring out that this is more like real life in the Army than Pearl Harbor, they might start asking some difficult questions about Iraq.

And Kara, which bit did you think was sarcasm?

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Flipside
And Kara, which bit did you think was sarcasm?

The whole elephants bit not to mention the conquering Europe bit.

http://www.pothos.org/alexander.asp?paraID=78&keyword_id=8&title=Army

http://monolith.dnsalias.org/~marsares/history/hellen/journey.html

http://ancienthistory.about.com/library/prm/blalexandersfirstgreatvictory.htm

I see no signs of either.

Add to that the fact that Alexander was a legend. He conquered the largest land empire ever (until Gengis Khan beat him). If that doesn't qualify you what does?

[Flipside]

No, that wasn't sarcasm, that was a downright joke, hey, i laughed

As for the 'Legend' thing, it all depends on your point of view. He also beheaded several of his closest friends, performed several atrocities and raped several countries. Legendary? Perhaps, Great? That's in the eye of the beholder

Edit : Oddly enough, it is true that Horses don't like Elephants much, and Elephants, having 4-5 foot long noses, don't really like being round camels

[karajorma]

Originally posted by Flipside
As for the 'Legend' thing, it all depends on your point of view. He also beheaded several of his closest friends, performed several atrocities and raped several countries. Legendary? Perhaps, Great? That's in the eye of the beholder

If you're going to use that as a basis then there is next to no one in history that can be called great. Almost every leader killed a few people in his court at one time or another. In those days if you didn't you tended to get it yourself.

[Flipside]

Kara, you are right, but I'm not saying he did not achieve a great deal, nor am I saying that he could have done it any other way, that can't even be done today, I'm just saying that over-romanticizing him in film serves only to continue the circle.

Make an Alexander the Great film, yes, he was, at times, a tactical genius, he was excellent at administration and logistics, but also point out the fact he had an enormously inflated view of himself, thought he was related to the Gods, and, on more than a few occasions made charges into battle that were so rash and poorly thought out that his own troops and friends had to come and save him. Make it about how thousands of men died as he drove them through the deserts, fighting mutiny most of the way, and beheading anyone who complained too much, and include the nervous breakdown he had on his return to his home. Make him human, I guess that's all I'm trying to say

Edit : Hmmmm.... looking at Al's empire, noting the nationality of the actor playing Al, wondering how the 'baddies' are going to be portrayed......

[Tiara]

ARGH!? Why do they **** up all those stories!? As a history teacher I find these stories offensive. Completely inaccurate and so overromanticised it isn't even funny anymore.

At least Gladiator had 'some' historical reference. But Troy and this piece of crap they call a movie is just a big ol' fantasy story to **** up young people's mind. I'll bet that if you ask anyone who has seen this movie about the real history they'll still reference to these movies...

[Jetmech Jr.]

Originally posted by Tiara
ARGH!? Why do they **** up all those stories!?

For as simple a reason as the almighty $$$

I've completely given up on watching hollywood 'Historic' movies, as I could actually feel myself becoming dumber watching them