The Augusta Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 Anyway, I hate to complain about this series because I'd really like there to be more of them, and I hope they inspire people to buy books on ancient Rome--but it would be nice if some more of those books were read by the film producers themselves. This is the sad state we all find ourselves in, Cato. We love the history of the Roman world, therefore we greedily tune into whatever is on offer. And I fully agree with you, that 'anything Rome' is better than nothing. But I also share your disappointment in how poorly some of these programmes are researched. And if only the producers would stop this spurious representation of goodies and baddies! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 This is the sad state we all find ourselves in, Cato. We love the history of the Roman world, therefore we greedily tune into whatever is on offer. And I fully agree with you, that 'anything Rome' is better than nothing. But I also share your disappointment in how poorly some of these programmes are researched. And if only the producers would stop this spurious representation of goodies and baddies! I will have to agree with you on this one. As I have stated on the BBC thread the show does not do a very good job at getting the events or characters across properly, but in terms of sets and costumes the show is well ahead of others in trying to portray an ancient Rome that is constantly changing, with different fashions, architecture etc (even if it's not completly accurate - Carthaginians dressed as Iberians and so on). Like I said before the show is probably much more accurate than your average History/Discovery Channel documentary on the Romans but it still lacks accuracy. Still, it is not that bad a starting point for those who are only just becoming interested in Rome - if it gets people to read factual, accurate books on the Romans then it has done some good. For most Romanophiles though the show is a dissapointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 It would be nice if a real Romanophile would do one of these specials. What I wouldn't pay to see a proper treatment of the Punic Wars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaius Octavius Posted November 7, 2006 Report Share Posted November 7, 2006 Tim O'Neil, an Aussie Romanophile, is (was) producing a movie about the Varrian Disaster. He was on roman-empire.net and had his own site. He encouraged others to participate with their insights. He knew his stuff. If it ever comes out, I am sure that it will be a worthy product. Lost track of him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antiochus of Seleucia Posted November 13, 2006 Report Share Posted November 13, 2006 (edited) I saw the last two shows yesterday. I thought they were pretty good, and really make me want to obtain some primary sourcebooks now to confirm that whole mess leading to Alaric sacking Rome. Poor Honorius. Edited November 13, 2006 by Antiochus of Seleucia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted November 27, 2006 Report Share Posted November 27, 2006 I saw the last two shows yesterday. I thought they were pretty good, and really make me want to obtain some primary sourcebooks now to confirm that whole mess leading to Alaric sacking Rome. There seems to be a lack of good primary sources for the Later Roman Empire. I was looking to buy a copy of the letters of Symmachus ( a late Roman noble man) and Amazon does sell some copies but they all seem to be priced between 150-200. That's far too much. Either way, if you purchase some books about the Fall of Rome (Peter Heather's book the Fall of the Roman Empire, for instance) you will find some excerpts from primary sources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewLC Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 They need to re show this, I only saw Caesar, Nero, and Constanine The 3 that I saw were excellent though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Neil Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 You know, I didn't get to see a single one of these programmes. I was in the middle of a house move at the time... I suppose I will have to get the DVDs. I saw the last two shows yesterday. I thought they were pretty good, and really make me want to obtain some primary sourcebooks now to confirm that whole mess leading to Alaric sacking Rome.Poor Honorius. Hmmm... didn't he have Stilicho murdered? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bripus Klmunus Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 I'm frustrated that we didn't get them here in Denmark - apparently the "Discovery Channel Europe" is a very seperate monster than the UK version. I'll have to keep checking the TV guide to see when and if they'll be showing them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewLC Posted April 2, 2007 Report Share Posted April 2, 2007 (edited) Gah, I looked on Youtube and all they have is half a episode If anyone can find this somewhere on the internet, I'll love you forever :wub: Edited April 2, 2007 by AndrewLC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 If anyone can find this somewhere on the internet, I'll love you forever Google Video Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewLC Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 If anyone can find this somewhere on the internet, I'll love you forever Google Video I looked already, as I said, only half a episode. Thats all I found on Youtube too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DecimusCaesar Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Thanks for posting the links Cato! You can also see the original BBC version of the Caesar episode if you type 'Ancient Rome BBC' into the Youtube search engine. By the way, there's a small segment from the episode about Tiberius Gracchus. Unfortunately it has no dialouge, considering that's it a music video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndrewLC Posted April 3, 2007 Report Share Posted April 3, 2007 Thats what I found, but the Original shows on T.V. are 1 hour long, those two put together are only 20 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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