|
Rome
Jan 10, 2007 14:43:37 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Jan 10, 2007 14:43:37 GMT -5
Has anybody seen any of this HBO series? Is it worth checking out?
Scott
|
|
|
Rome
Jan 11, 2007 10:03:15 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Jan 11, 2007 10:03:15 GMT -5
Yeah, its pretty good drama and full of interesting tidbits. Although technically its trying to play up the strangeness of the era which I believe is a "history class mnemonic" and they've melded specific historical personages into more sensational ones. That said, its still interesting.
|
|
|
Rome
Jan 11, 2007 20:54:17 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Jan 11, 2007 20:54:17 GMT -5
I'll add it to my blockbuster Online queue and give it a try.
Scott
|
|
|
Rome
Feb 3, 2007 13:57:33 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Feb 3, 2007 13:57:33 GMT -5
Watched the first five episodes. It's definately worth checking out if you are into the topic.
Scott
|
|
|
Rome
Feb 3, 2007 23:45:34 GMT -5
Post by grodog on Feb 3, 2007 23:45:34 GMT -5
I saw previews for the new season while I was in CA at the beginning of January, and it definitely caught my eye. We don't have HBO, though, so I haven't seen any of the eps. After our trip to Italy this past summer, though, my interest is definitely piqued in the show
|
|
|
Rome
Feb 4, 2007 6:56:32 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Feb 4, 2007 6:56:32 GMT -5
I've always had an interest in Rome. I was just worried that it would be cheesy. It's not though.
Scott
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Rome
Feb 15, 2007 20:48:44 GMT -5
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2007 20:48:44 GMT -5
I know what you're saying. I think that in this case having HBO (which has more freedom content- wise) do a Rome series actually works out quite well. Just as hedonistic,strange and cruel as I imagined Rome to be (as well as "modern").
|
|
|
Rome
Feb 15, 2007 21:22:36 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Feb 15, 2007 21:22:36 GMT -5
I agree. The characters seem right on for the most part.
Scott
|
|
GT
Wizard
Duke of Indiana, Knight Commander
Posts: 2,032
|
Rome
Feb 18, 2007 10:28:16 GMT -5
Post by GT on Feb 18, 2007 10:28:16 GMT -5
I remember a series from the 80s called "A.D.", but I'm sure it had to be a bit less graphic given the era...
|
|
|
Rome
Feb 18, 2007 11:15:47 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Feb 18, 2007 11:15:47 GMT -5
The name rings a bell, but I remember no details.
Scott
|
|
|
Rome
Jan 11, 2008 8:52:31 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Jan 11, 2008 8:52:31 GMT -5
I finally started watching season 2. Episode one was brutal, poor Lucius Vorenus. It's great inspiration for scheming noble families/factions.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 12, 2008 23:43:54 GMT -5
Post by Shalaban on Oct 12, 2008 23:43:54 GMT -5
I have both seasons and I loved them!
When I watched them with my friends some of them wanted the story to continue for more than a two season run. But the next “good” Roman story that would take at least a season to unfold would constitute a movement in time somewhat I think.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 10:38:56 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Oct 13, 2008 10:38:56 GMT -5
They could have stretched it even farther than it was presented but I think they may have had problems and just wanted to get it out before it disappeared "off key" like other HBO shows did. I was kind of expecting the Teutoberg Forest and was interested in how they would present it onscreen. I was also interested in more religious presentation (temple interaction, the various rites, etc.) but that was kind of low key (as always in movies.). Somebody should do a series that shows more ancient religions in a positive light they always get that "look how weird it was" feel or they just rabidly make it seem like "thank goodness Christianity came along"! I think its time for the cult of Hercules to make a comeback, dammit! Hmmm... Why is that big guy carrying that guy around by his shirt while ordering take out? HERCULES!!!Why are those guys overturning that car? HERCULES!!!Why did they knock down all the trees in the city park? HERCULES!!!Uh...mebbe not...
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 10:51:12 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Oct 13, 2008 10:51:12 GMT -5
You could always just watch I, Claudius after the second season. It's what the third season would have been.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 12:27:00 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Oct 13, 2008 12:27:00 GMT -5
I checked it out and it 740 minutes (12 hours 20 minutes).
I see it on Netflix but I wonder how that comes in disc form?
I watched Caligula a few months ago and it was pretty entertaining well at least as much as it was back when I first saw it in 1983 or 1984 on tape. Although, make sure all the kids are fast asleep for this one! I have to admit that McDowell is one of my all time favorite actors even when he's in shit movies.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 12:31:26 GMT -5
Post by Scott on Oct 13, 2008 12:31:26 GMT -5
Caligula was, ehhh. Caligula, but it was better than the two sequels, Nero and Hitler.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 12:58:48 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Oct 13, 2008 12:58:48 GMT -5
Definitely good enough in a McDowell-centric way but lets face it. Its a dressed up porno. But good for McDowell fans!
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 14:26:44 GMT -5
Post by Shalaban on Oct 13, 2008 14:26:44 GMT -5
I have just finished reading A History of Rome Vol. 1 by Cyril Robinson and Caesar’s Legion: The Epic Saga of Julius Caesar’s Elite Tenth Legion and the Armies of Rome by Stephen Dando-Collins. And I can with certainty that HBO did not show how weird religion in Rome actually was at that time period. (At least compared to how it was depicted in those books and others.) I think the trouble comes in when HBO (or whoever) only has time to show just a snipped of religions life. They try to cram all the oddness of whatever ancient religion is in question into two or three scenes. That is why it seems so odd. And to be clear when I say weird/odd I mean weird/odd to most people in modern times in America. And I sure do not mean weird/odd as in “thank goodness Christianity came along.” To the people of the time it was business as usual and to the Romans it was defiantly not as bizarre as what the Etruscans were doing before them. As far as portraying cretin personas of the time, they got the main characters spot on (IMHO) and the side characters were somewhat enlivened. Caesar was played with some conservative writing. (As opposed to acting.) Caesar was more than what they portrayed him as. Again compared to what I have read in his memoirs when he was on conquest. What I don’t understand is why they started the show with the surrender of Vercingetorix at the END of the battle at Alesis! Vercingetorix had led his army to Alesia. Caesar followed, killing those he could. When they reached Alesia, the Romans surrounded the hilltop city. Vercingetorix sent out mounted troops to go to their tribes to round up all those old enough to bear arms. They were able to ride through the places where the Romans hadn't yet completed their fortification. The fortifications were not just a means to contain those within. The Romans put torturous devices on the outside that could injure an army pressing against it. (Such as trenches, pig feathers, and dead falls.) The Romans needed some troops to gather timber and food. Others worked on building the fortifications, which meant Caesar's troop strength was diminished. Because of this there were skirmishes, although Vercingetorix was waiting for Gallic allies to join him before a full-fledged fight against Caesar's army. The Arvernian allies sent fewer than asked, but still, a great number of troops, to Alesia where they believed the Romans would easily be defeated by the Gallic troops on two fronts, from within Alesia and from those newly arriving. The Romans and Germans stationed themselves both inside their fortifications to fight those in the city and outside to fight the newly arriving army. The Gauls from outside attacked at night by throwing things from a distance, and alerting Vercingetorix to their presence. The next day the allies came closer and many were injured on the Roman fortifications, so they withdrew. The next day, the Gauls attacked from both sides. A few Roman cohorts left the fortifications and circled round to the rear of the outer enemy whom they surprised and slaughtered when they tried to flee. Vercingetorix saw what had happened and gave up, surrendering himself and his weapons. Later Vercingetorix would be displayed as a prize in Caesar's triumph of 46 B.C. Caesar, generous to the Aedui and Arverni, distributed Gallic captives so that every soldier throughout the army received one as plunder. Now would that not have been a great opening? Open with the start of a battle and not the closing of one. Sorry my posts are so long. I have too much to say I guess…
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 16:06:16 GMT -5
Post by geneweigel on Oct 13, 2008 16:06:16 GMT -5
That would've good.
|
|
|
Rome
Oct 13, 2008 17:04:18 GMT -5
Post by amalric on Oct 13, 2008 17:04:18 GMT -5
I never watched it, sadly.
I did go to Rome five years ago, and took in the Colosseum, which was simply stunning.
|
|