10-19-2006, 09:07 PM
As indicated last week, I'm going to leave commentary on the equipment to the experts, though I must say I did like the cameo performance by the mattiobarbulus at the Milvian Bridge, though I thought that that battle was a little bit small and low-key.
I liked the 'in hoc signo' scene - that and other scenes of religious observance showed very well the power of religion and belief in antiquity and how it could affect whole armies. And the cutting of the final major scene, when Constantine was reciting the Nicene Creed whilst Licinianus was being slaughtered was very effective. I didn't think the programme got across Constantine's apparently very ambivalent attitude towards Christianity, especially in his earlier years, and his continuing involvement in things like the imperial cult, or the schismatic nature of Christianity. Basically, that was a bit simplistic, which certainly wasn't what Averil Cameron, today's historical consultant, taught me when I was an undergrad! (And she was a damned good teacher).
I also thought the imperial costumes were very effective, though don't know precisely how accurate they were - but in terms of colour and flashiness they certainly tied in with the literary descriptions.
Pity they used 'stock footage' from some of the earlier programmes, but I guess they blew the budget on the late military equipment and Constantine's clothes!
So, middling I feel, in terms of quality and content, but in terms of presenting Roman history to a wide audience, I still think the BBC are doing an excellent job. Next week - the sack of Rome.
I liked the 'in hoc signo' scene - that and other scenes of religious observance showed very well the power of religion and belief in antiquity and how it could affect whole armies. And the cutting of the final major scene, when Constantine was reciting the Nicene Creed whilst Licinianus was being slaughtered was very effective. I didn't think the programme got across Constantine's apparently very ambivalent attitude towards Christianity, especially in his earlier years, and his continuing involvement in things like the imperial cult, or the schismatic nature of Christianity. Basically, that was a bit simplistic, which certainly wasn't what Averil Cameron, today's historical consultant, taught me when I was an undergrad! (And she was a damned good teacher).
I also thought the imperial costumes were very effective, though don't know precisely how accurate they were - but in terms of colour and flashiness they certainly tied in with the literary descriptions.
Pity they used 'stock footage' from some of the earlier programmes, but I guess they blew the budget on the late military equipment and Constantine's clothes!
So, middling I feel, in terms of quality and content, but in terms of presenting Roman history to a wide audience, I still think the BBC are doing an excellent job. Next week - the sack of Rome.
