Friday, January 28, 2005
Further Adventures of Philotas
Alexander IS great - or - Movies to see this year
PreSrcipt :) I feel it only fair to warn you that there will be a deep serious type post coming up in the next few days. :P argh. damn INTP
Ok,Of all the things to blog about I chose this after reading comments on Nato's blog, saying that some found Alexander the Great a little disappointing.
Yesterday I went along to see it with a fellow History buff, Aaron. (we do Ancient History and History at Uni together). I went along much the same way I went to see Troy, planning to mock the heck out of it when it turns out to be a huge romantisisation with lots of creative interpretations. To my amazement, I loved the movie. It was awesome. In fact, it was pretty much historically accurate.
Favorite scene? The Battle of Gaugamela. I spent HOURS studying troop movements battle plans, before and after actions and every minute detail of this battle for an essay a year ago, and lo and behold, this movie represented it in great detail and just as it would have been! AWESOME
There were some creative liberties taken, but what makes them ok, is that it is also very plausible that these things did happen. Philip being at times a drunken fool, isnt the way i imagined him from the historical sources, but if you think about it he very well could have been, it would explain a lot of Alexander's issues as well, his love for his mother despite her being a homicidal maniac.
The Idea that Olympias arranged the murder of Philip, is also plausible. we still dont know the full extent of the assasination, and the sources we have dont tell us much. Olympias was very capable of doing it (she had Cleopatra and her infant son roasted alive).
At the end. Ptolemy suggests that the commanders had a hand in the death of Alexander by poisoning him. Again, we dont know. because Ptolemy's manuscripts (the stuff he is writing) is lost. probably destroyed when the Christian armies destroyed the library in Alexandria (damn Christians! they did the same in Spain! so much knowledge lost! :P) If only we had Ptolemy's and Nearchus' actual writings. would be very helpful in a lot of it!
I liked how they handled the Philotas/Parmenion conspiracy. very well done indeed!
Gripes:
Im not sure if Hephaestion actually died of disease. must check that. also I thought Alexander's Horse Beucephalas died of old age. Two minor inconsistencies.
One big gripe here is how the gay thing was represented in the movie. For the most part the homosexuality of Al was very subtle. there was never actually any hint of a kiss between him and Hephaestion. more like they were very close mates (aside from the fact he said he loved him) Which is not the case. Al does kiss a Persian dancer (Bagoas?) but that is the extent of it. Whereas, compared to Roxanna, his first wife, as soon as they were married it was WhOOM off with the clothes and unnecessary sex scene time. It seems as though the producers were trying to play down his gayness. i mean come on.
ALEXANDER LIKED BOYS. HEPHAESTION WAS HIS LOVER. is that so hard for people today to accept? apparently yes. just like in Troy (which was a terrible terrible mockery of Homer) THe producers must think the public isnt ready for a gay hero. jeez. get the prejudices out people. we dont approve of the lifestyle sure, but they are still people. their sexual preferences shouldnt take away from their legend.
Anyhoo, out of 10, I give Alexander an 8. From a student of history who has done several subjects directly on this theme, i loved it. which is rare for me. THis movie was far better than troy and i recommend it to everyone! go see it! now! ^_^
SAM
Other entertainment news
The other night I was watching TV at around 1am. :P you do strange things when you are stuck home alone with no one to talk to for hours. ^_^ (im lovin it!)
It was The Nanny. But it wasnt the Nanny. we all know the loveable sitcom starring Fran Drescher. with Niles the wisecracking butler, CC, Mr Sheffield and the kids and so on. But try it TURKISH STYLE
The Nanny (Dadi) - Schlepped Away (30 mins , Rated: G)
12:35 am
Genre: Sitcom
A Turkish version of the popular US sitcom The Nanny with a warm and likeable nanny played by Gulben Ergen. It's Melek's turn to receive care and affection.
It was a turkish sitcom EXACTLY the same as the nanny. all the same characters, except different actors and different names, and in TURKISH. It was one of those surreal experiences you have early in the morning where you wonder if youre actually awake or just dreaming this.
it was trippy but i checked the guide and here it is! its the Turkish Nanny! If you can get it where you are i really reccomend it! its hilarious! watching turkish people act with a british accent (for the guy playing Niles) but speaking Turkish heh heh heh. the house and set are exactly the same as the American sitcom.. freaky!
ok toodles!
SAM
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