tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post1886177080260748332..comments2024-03-28T10:44:41.756-05:00Comments on The War Movie Buff: #41 - SPARTACUS (1960)War Movie Buffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-26570267865198806312021-08-28T11:33:07.357-05:002021-08-28T11:33:07.357-05:00This is one of those movies I can watch again &...This is one of those movies I can watch again & again! I love anything to do with the Roman Army! I remember watching this movie on TV as a kid & cheering whenever the Romans crucified Kirk Douglas! LOL! The Romans looked like (@ least @the end of the movie) like real bad asses that wouldn't put up with any BS! <br />SPOILER ALERT!<br />Next to John Hurt in "Alien", The character "Marcellus'"(Charles McGraw) the gladiator trainer, had to have faced the worst possible death in cinema history! I mean being drown in a pot of boiling soup! Wwwwhhhew!! I read somewhere, can't recall where, that whenever Kirk Douglas plunges McGraws head in the pot, he actually broke Mcgraws jaw! You can here this in the audio whenever McGraw briefly re emerges from the pot & screams! He wasn't just "acting"!<br />Of course your right about the war scenes (or lack there of). There should have been more. Also hard to believe that after smashing @ least 6 Consular armies, Spartacus 'followers wouldn't be wearing more body armor. Of course, we have to be able to tell the good guys from the bad guys. Still, it would have been more historically accurate. You would think an army led by Gladiators would know better! LOL!<br />If ever a film screams out to be remade it is the legend of Spartacus. I think a good vehicle would be a mini series. I did watch & enjoy the Starz version a few years back, & I seem to recall a 2 part movie a few years back, that was OK.<br />One of the things I've never understood about the Gladiator genre of film, is why don't the film makers exploit the utter bad ass look of REAL ROMAN GLADIATOR ARMOR!! If you have ever seen the real deal, it is so much more appealing than the Hollywood version. I loved the film "Gladiator" but thought that Russel Crowe's helmet looked like something out of a cheap 3rd world made snuff flick! The real deal is much more practical, not to mention artistically pleasing.<br />Gladiators are still one of the most misunderstood subjects in history. Contrary to popular belief, the majority of Gladitorial combats did not result in death. Of course, Gladiators most certainly did fight "death matches" but this was mostly on special events/occasions. Not that there wasn't plenty of blood in the arena. Public executions (by the dozen), death fights between criminals, people thrown to wild animals. Gladiators were exceedingly expensive to house, train & maintain. Most lived together in "Famiglias" or Families & fought as such, against other families. Also seldom (if ever) depicted in Hollywood, is the fact that in Gladiator matches a "Doctor" or trainer, much like a boxing referee was nearly always present. We usually think of (and certainly see in film, as well as contemporary Roman art)) Gladiator's depicted as being "muscle men", body builder types). Of course they would obviously have to be in good shape, & young, however bone density tests done on the remains of Gladiator's found belonging to a "family" in Ephesus Turkey show that they were actually more than likely short,guys with at least a small layer of fat on their bodies. The belief at that time was that a layer of fat offered protection from sword or lance penetration. <br />To me truth is almost always stranger than fiction. It would be cool to see someone do a Gladiator, or a "new" Spartacus movie & stick a little closer to the "real history" Of course with the current state of modern movie making in which the attention span of many of the audience is about 15 minutes, not to mention the fact that apparently Hollywood is only interested in making movies geared toward the 16 to 22 year old audience, I'm doubtful. If it ain't "Action adventure" or a comic book their not interested! A real shame. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13514877686277041942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-1687992587939402832012-12-20T16:15:30.793-06:002012-12-20T16:15:30.793-06:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.online casinohttp://casinoonlinex.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-49531802198841793972012-05-18T23:16:59.170-05:002012-05-18T23:16:59.170-05:00Absolutely agree. Of course you could make a case...Absolutely agree. Of course you could make a case that Spartacus is kind of a jerk for not proving that he is Spartacus and thus saving all his men from crucifixion.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-87026897735268835932012-04-22T20:53:52.302-05:002012-04-22T20:53:52.302-05:00I liked the "I am Spartacus" scene so mu...I liked the "I am Spartacus" scene so much, I didn't care if it was historically inaccurate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-88964991753121945772012-04-15T08:34:48.914-05:002012-04-15T08:34:48.914-05:00I'm pretty sure you will like it. You certain...I'm pretty sure you will like it. You certainly should watch it. It is a must see. Make sure you watch a version with the oysters and snails scene. I think it is a good example of how it is tolerable to change history to make a movie more entertaining for the masses (not for me). What enrages me is when an "historical" movie changes facts that are more interesting than the Hollywood bullshit we end up with.War Movie Buffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05999735218343872013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7201660899514011402.post-12854000669108920492012-04-15T06:57:57.984-05:002012-04-15T06:57:57.984-05:00This review really makes me want to watch it. It s...This review really makes me want to watch it. It sounds like one to re-discover/discover. <br />I haven't seen it before so I'm pretty sure I will like it. <br />A little bit or romance isn't a bad thing, especially not when it brings out the characters. <br />I'm not very familiar with the history, so wouldn't be bothered by inaccuracy.allaboutwarmovieshttp://allaboutwarmovies.comnoreply@blogger.com