The last film you watched....

[Graham Sumner]

Just saw the TV adaptation of Spartacus again and i have always liked this version, especially because of the underlying politics, Crassus crazy state, Agrippa's last act and Caesar and Pompeys tricks.... ok it is not the best or most historically accurate depiction, but nontheless very entertaining.

Spoilers ahead

Totally agree with you there Henk. In terms of accuracy of the storyline this version is streets ahead of the famous Kirk Douglas film. However it does not begin well with Pompey's war against the Gauls in Spain but after that it pretty much follows everything we know about Spartacus. I like the fact that their is no brotherhood of Slaves, they fall out, they even murder Roman civilians in cold blood. The Slave army divides under Crixus and is defeated piecemeal. Even the wall of Crassus across the toe of Italy is depicted and the method we are told by how the Slaves get through.

Where the film falls down is in the scenes which replay those from the previous film, such as the dialogues between the Lanista Batiavus and his connection in the Senate this time 'Agrippa' not 'Gracchus'. You simply can not beat Peter Ustinov and Charles Laughton in those. Plus the usual lack of understanding of Roman tactics, woeful armour and some poor sets (Roman cities look like hill forts) and costumes.

For some reason the pronunciation of many of the names is different from what I am used to but I need a Latin scholar to tell me which is correct. :oops:

eg.
Batiatus. = Bat..ee.. at..us, or Bat.. eye.. at.. us ?

Spartacus.= Sparta..coose, or Sparta..cuss?

And yes Paullus, those were some interesting landing craft used by the French in the final battle scene, I am curious, does anyone know of any such craft in use in the 12th century?

Indeed, all that was missing was the machine powered arrow shooter mowing them down!!! I guess they just beached ships in those days and jumped out?
Graham.