They should have cast Will Smith to play Nappy.

up! seven words, seven words, seven words.

I finally gave up on expecting a whole lot of accuracy from "Historical Films" around the time of '300'. Yeah yeah, it's based on a comic book, it's all from the perspective of Faramir (or well, the character played by the actor who previously had played Faramir in the 'Lord of the Rings' movies), blah blah blah. But when Gorgo (Leonidas' wife) hands him his shield and says "With it or on it", I wanted to hurl my soda at the screen. That's not at all the exchange between them went (well, as recorded quite a while later) - she (reportedly) said "How can I help the war, o husband?" (and it's a shame English doesn't have a proper vocative case, by the way) to which Leonidas is supposed to have replied "Marry a good man, and have many strong children" (or was it "soldiers"?, it's been a while since I was studying this. Something along those lines, anyway). I mean, come on. How badass is that? It shows perfectly he knows he won't be coming back from his little "morning walk with 300 of his friends". Anyway... I've since stopped caring too much about "accuracy" in these kinds of films. Still didn't care too much for 'Napoleon', though. As you say, it's so disconnected. Oh, here's a battle. And then Napoleon faffing about in Paris. Oh look, here's another battle. Why is there a battle? Doesn't matter, let's go back to Napoleon pining over Josephine, or maybe let's show him lasting 30 seconds trying to make an heir. Fully dressed, of course - we can show guys getting blown to bits, but ew - some stunt double's penis? Yuck! Or who knows, maybe Phoenix wouldn't mind? Still no, we can't be showing something that looks like what about half the Earth's population gets to see everytime they take a piss... Anyway, more battles! Yay! More death, let's go! Go find a library if you care about context! (Well, that's actually not such a bad idea... and I suppose the education an Englishman of Ridley Scott's generation could have had more education around the Napoleonic Wars than me, an Icelander just a bit too old to be his grandson.) To my shame, though, I must admit I didn't recognize Rupert Everett as Wellington. "Who is that guy? Damn, he looks familiar." I had to wait until the credits rolled to see the name. But it wasn't all bad... it was fun seeing Ben Miles (from a 20-year old BBC sitcom called 'Coupling'... I'm sure he's been working since then, but it's gone past me) show up in a minor role for a minute, as well as Miles Jupp as Emperor Francis II. Always fun to see familiar faces in new situations... Edit to add: Oh yeah, and that guy who was "The Cleaner" on that 'Black Books' episode, you know the one, the one where Bernard and Manny were housesitting for this real wine connoisseur, and accidentally drank the bottle of wine the connoisseur was going to give to the pope, they end up recreating it in a very Frankensteinian manner, and their concoction ends up killing the pope? Yeah, the guy who says "I'm the Cleaner" is also in 'Napoleon' in a very small role. Honestly, I prefer it when he does the 'Hokey-cokey' with Bill Bailey in the style of Kraftwerk. Now that is a masterpiece.

Should Primordial lyrics be historically accurate? I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

@AlanAverillNemtheanga

7 ай бұрын

Not sure that's really a relative comparison, the lyrics aren't a history lesson or did we start the band with that intention or claim? The 'Coffin ships' for example is about a real event of course but it's not my style to mention dates/names/locations. That said 'Heathen Tribes' for example mentions cities/regions/historical characters by name, Primordial is not a fantastical band but not a history lesson either. If I had for example written a song directly about a historical character and then fabricated dates/timelines/details then maybe you could level the same accusations at me, but I haven't. I think they are two different disciplines although broadly 'artistic'. Good question though.

I thought Napoleon looked good but yeah, Phoenix's performance seemed to lack energy. I like him usually but maybe he was wrong for this part. It also seemed to skim through time in a way that have you no sense of character progression. A weird one.

@AlanAverillNemtheanga

7 ай бұрын

Exactly, such low energy and the whole middle the of the movie was a confusing blur, far more focused on the romantic than the historical, no context for the French revolution etc.

I find the forced and fake diversity very annoying, i dont want to see a movie set in parts of european history with forced diversity personally. I think people should tell things appropriately, if youre setting a story in a setting historically where there is diversity like say the Crusades thats one thing but to as your example make a movie about the Norman conquest of Ireland and have fake diversity just doesnt sit right with me as someone for whom historical accuracy is an important part of enjoying these types of movies.