09-15-2005, 08:04 PM
I have to rank this DVD among the worst Roman films ever made - I'm relieved I didn't buy it first :roll: . I was shocked since the prequel ("Augustus" w/ Peter O'Toole) was as fairly decent as they come.
I've never seen a more ahistorical film on Rome or an emperor's life than "Nero" :
* Caligula somehow finds time to rule for an extra 6 years
* The Romans are already in Britain during Caligula's reign
* Claudius' reign is shortened
* Nero already reaches 17 years of age when Caligula dies :!:
* Nero has a ficticious love interest in a slave woman he's known since his mother's exile (and she's Christian)
* Not a streak of malevolence is depicted in his inner character, his notorious misdeeds seem to be attributed to a sort of nervous breakdown.
* None of his alleged degeneracy is even hinted at
* St. Paul is never far from the action
* Oh yeah, and to top it off : as Nero dies he asks for forgiveness :!: :lol: :lol: :lol:
I could go on, but I think you already get a flavor :roll: .
The best things about this movie are the sets which were previously used in "Augustus" and maybe some of the costumes. No battle scenes.
I think/hope the next one -"Titus"- will be better and more battle oriented.
Then we have "Hadrian", "Marcus Aurelius", "Constantine", and "Justinian" to look forward to. Let's wait and see if the (leather) armor evolves with the passing centuries :wink:
I've never seen a more ahistorical film on Rome or an emperor's life than "Nero" :
* Caligula somehow finds time to rule for an extra 6 years
* The Romans are already in Britain during Caligula's reign
* Claudius' reign is shortened
* Nero already reaches 17 years of age when Caligula dies :!:
* Nero has a ficticious love interest in a slave woman he's known since his mother's exile (and she's Christian)
* Not a streak of malevolence is depicted in his inner character, his notorious misdeeds seem to be attributed to a sort of nervous breakdown.
* None of his alleged degeneracy is even hinted at
* St. Paul is never far from the action
* Oh yeah, and to top it off : as Nero dies he asks for forgiveness :!: :lol: :lol: :lol:
I could go on, but I think you already get a flavor :roll: .
The best things about this movie are the sets which were previously used in "Augustus" and maybe some of the costumes. No battle scenes.
I think/hope the next one -"Titus"- will be better and more battle oriented.
Then we have "Hadrian", "Marcus Aurelius", "Constantine", and "Justinian" to look forward to. Let's wait and see if the (leather) armor evolves with the passing centuries :wink:
Jaime
