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What modern historical epic has the best battle scenes?
- Thread starter JB1981
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I'd really think the best story dying to be made into a historical epic is something about Hannibal, Rome, Carthage, and the 2nd Punic War.
Crossing the Alps with the elephants, The Battle of Trebia, The Battle of Lake Trasimene, The Battle of Cannae, etc.
So epic if someone wanted to make it.
Wasn't Vin Diesel supposed to be making a film about Hannibal?
Edmond Dantès;34247200 said:
Thankfully the direction and supporting cast is strong enough to elevate the movie despite his performance. This is one of my favorite tracks from KOH - very sad - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEZwmuzukHQ
I heard something about that, but i'm glad that nothings ever came of that. VD is a hack and shouldn't be in anything other than Fast and the Furious movies which are my favorite guilty pleasure of dumb cinema.
And at some point i heard denzel washington was attached to a Hannibal movie which would have been incredibly stupid too, but that's another topic all together.
The Librarian
Banned
Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven.
Especially Kingdom of Heaven. It has more of what I consider "battles" while Gladiator focuses more on "duels."
Especially Kingdom of Heaven. It has more of what I consider "battles" while Gladiator focuses more on "duels."
bengraven
Member
Yeah, that's the tragedy of it all. Troy, Braveheart and especially KoH are rife with inaccuracies. "Oh who cares about a little thing" one may say, but look up the story of William Wallace and you'll see there's very few similarities with what we see on screen - hell, Wallace was a nobleman not a commoner. And every character is wrong in KoH - Bloom's character was middle aged and a well known knight before he went to Jerusalem. He was actually best friends with Guy, not mortal enemies.
Blah, I could go on, but I'm not really feeling very intiuitive right now.
This is one of the things I liked about Gladiator: it's not accurate but it's purposefully playing a fictional version of the character within the real history. But don't get me started on those accuracies also.
I've wanted to see this for a very long time. I read about half the first novel during the BotM thread and loved it, though I had to put it to the side. I don't know why I haven't bought the DVD, but it seems like whenever the DVD is in front of me I have other things I want to buy.
Ah, the Aubrey-Maturin stories: I just can't find time for any of you.
Edmond Dantès
Dantès the White
I think Agora deserves a mention in this thread, it has some very well choreographed battles and what they lack in size, they make up for with gritty realism. The film itself is something very different to the usual historical epics produced in this day and age. More of the same please.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHvYiC6GdYk&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHvYiC6GdYk&feature=player_embedded
Alexander is probably the most historically accurate of them all
Even if it counted, I wouldn't rank it very highly. Battles all felt too "PG" to get the blood pumping (pun not intended).
If I remember correctly, Musa and The Warlords had some really good battle scenes. Would like to see more "historical epic" style movies from Asia that didn't incorporate silly humour.
The Patriot had some pretty awesome action scenes, even if you just count the ones that focus on axes/swords.
Overall, I'd say Braveheart takes top prize.
Historical epics are my favourite genre :3 So sad when Mel's viking movie got canned after his latest outburst
The Librarian
Banned
Pffft. Braveheart.
Motherfucking KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Motherfucking KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
Edmond Dantès
Dantès the White
One of the aspects of KOH that I really liked was the omission of the Battle of Hattin, the rout (more like a massacre) is left to the viewers imagination. Then rejoining the scene at the aftermath and seeing the rather gruesome result. Shame about the Hospitaler (David Thewlis) though, he added such an ethereal quality to the film.
If I had a shit ton of cash and was a producer, these are the four historical conflicts/events that I would put on film.
1. Hannibal and the Second Punic War
2. 1453, The Fall of Constantinople
3. Battle of Vienna, 1683
4. Warsaw Uprising
1. Hannibal and the Second Punic War
2. 1453, The Fall of Constantinople
3. Battle of Vienna, 1683
4. Warsaw Uprising
bengraven
Member
I was actually thinking that, but I dared not utter it.
I think maybe because Oliver Stone is such a history nerd. That said, there are still inaccuracies so that his "vision" can be obtained.
Edmond Dantès
Dantès the White
From what I've gathered, there's going to be a shift to Biblical epics in the near future. There are three in the pipeline;Speaking of historical epics, does anyone have a good source that gives us an idea of what's in the pipeline? It's been a sorely under-represented genre for quite some time now
The Spielberg directed project,
Goliath (taken from David's view),
Paradise Lost.
In terms of swords and Sandals; Xerxes (prequel/follow-up to 300).
There was also talk of a Brad Pitt project that would be an adaptation of The Odyssey, but set in space.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
So I'm the only one trying to give Kurosawa some love?
You guys are monsters.
You guys are monsters.
So I'm the only one trying to give Kurosawa some love?
You guys are monsters.
It says modern right in the title.
Edmond Dantès
Dantès the White
Look forward to you thoughts on the film once you've finished.
*shudders* I cannot stand watching battle scenes in most older films. So bad.So I'm the only one trying to give Kurosawa some love?
You guys are monsters.
SpacePirate Ridley
Member
I'd really think the best story dying to be made into a historical epic is something about Hannibal, Rome, Carthage, and the 2nd Punic War.
Crossing the Alps with the elephants, The Battle of Trebia, The Battle of Lake Trasimene, The Battle of Cannae, etc.
So epic if someone wanted to make it.
The probblem with this? An anticlimatic ending or no ending resolution at all if it ends at the epic battle of canae.
Poor Hannibal had an humilating defeat after that.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
He didn't define what it meant though! And he didn't say I was wrong.
I like Kurosawa's battle scenes because they weren't gratuitous or... like, sadistic.
If you look at the way some people are describing these scenes in this thread it is a little creepy if you think too much about it. -_-
Kurosawa's battles are more beautifully filmed than most recent movies where you can barely tell what is going on and it's basically all in your face brutality. Yawn.
Besides, Kurosawa was always way ahead of his time.
Guerrillas in the Mist
Member
Was gonna post this. The battle scenes make the naval battles in the POTC movies look laughable. Apparently super-authentic as well, you can almost feel the smoke and grime, and the wood splintering. I would love to see this in the cinema again, it's one for the big screen, more so than a lot of 3D "spectacles" we see today.
Oooo i love this genre. Probably my favorite.
just watched it again recently, awesome. But is it considered a epic? doesn't seem big enough.
BobsRevenge
I do not avoid women, GAF, but I do deny them my essence.
I'm aware. But I feel like there is some desire to see the brutality recreated in this weird way. I dunno, maybe it's a guy thing. I get it too. The atrocities I committed in Soldier of Fortune are without peer.
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
How old does the battle have to be for it to be historical?
Starfish_Oxide
Member
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
Better then Saving Private Ryan in my opinion and probably the best war film of all time.
The battle starts at 9.30ish in that vid and continues into the next one but I highly recommend you to watch the entire film.
Better then Saving Private Ryan in my opinion and probably the best war film of all time.
The battle starts at 9.30ish in that vid and continues into the next one but I highly recommend you to watch the entire film.
DC version
I thought the battle of El Gubat scene of The Four Feathers remake was very well done even though it was revisionist and showed the winning side lose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5b6hmL2cUg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5b6hmL2cUg
SCULLIBUNDO
Banned
Sorry, Starfish, but nope.
Master of them all right here:
SPR Beach landing Part 1
SPR Beach landing part 2
SPR Beach landing Part 3
Master of them all right here:
SPR Beach landing Part 1
SPR Beach landing part 2
SPR Beach landing Part 3
callmedave
Member
Love KOH and Gladiator. I really hope Ridley gets to make his Tripoli film.
I wanted to limit it to sword and sandal movies. Thought about that after posting the thread title heh
He was in middle of pre-production on that right before KOH and things fell apart. I doubt he'll ever get to make it. The DVD version of KOH DC has a good documentary on the making of ... Don't believe this was included on the blu ray version, unfortunately
I completely forgot that this movie even existed. I saw this one in theaters and can't remember a thing about it!! It does not count though
Snowman Prophet of Doom
Member
I think the battle scenes in The Thin Red Line are every bit the equal of Omaha Beach. It's not as "visceral," but it serves its movie just as well.
The most epic of all historic war movies, and the most expensive movie ever made is the Soviet 'Vojna i Mir' (War and Peace) from the 70's. It has scenes where 20.000 figurants in Napoleonic Era costumes play out battles like Borodino. They simply used the Soviet army to get that amount of people together.
The movie is no Hollywood action flick though. It was an effort to put one of the high points of Russian literature into film, where the budget was almost infinite.
The movie is no Hollywood action flick though. It was an effort to put one of the high points of Russian literature into film, where the budget was almost infinite.
elrechazado
Banned
Last
of
the
MOHICANS
of
the
MOHICANS
cheststrongwell
my cake, fuck off
Braveheart all the way! I really hope Mel makes that Viking movie someday.
god damn it you had to go and remind me of this movie and now i am going to rage for an hour over how stupid hollywood is because there is no sequel.
Also I'm not sure if 1970 fits OP's definition of modern but Tora! Tora! Tora! has a pretty gripping recreation of the attack on Pearl Harbor, including some pretty hair raising stunts.
This ain't no CGI.
br0ken_shad0w
Member
Kingdom of Heaven (DC) was art in motion. Such a beautiful film. He better make that The Forever War movie before he retires.
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