Alexander the Great vs. China

[Flying Pig]

Have you seen some of our top officers?

 

[nokmirt]

I think it was worth it - we're so starved for good historical sagas as it is. I realize it had harsh criticism about accuracy, but most of it's sins were by omission - it made no attempt to provide history, or the context of the other Greeks in this war. It wasn't targeted at amateur historians, but was it necessary to make the Ephors a bunch of leprous lechers, Ephialtes a deformed ogre, and the Immortals look like Ninja assassins ? The whole movie had an atmosphere that was unique, as if it was filmed through the mist of ages (color filters ?)



That was the biggest problem, even this 3 hour epic is usually considered too long for movie goers. Oliver Stone made a good attempt though - there was certainly some realism here. The only way to tell the story I think would be a 3 part mini-series like you say.



That's your misfortune, it doesn't translate as well to the small screen.

Yes well a deleted scene from 300 has a giant with a archer on his back, it is an adaptation of a graphic novel, it is really not exactly meant to be historically accurate. They said the giant was a little much, but really the movie was a little over the top, that's a main reason I loved it. Now as far as Alexander, anyone that says, well I am not going to watch it because someone said it sucks, to me is a fool. I do and always will judge things for myself. For instance this new star trek movie, which in some cases I found fault with it, but they did a great job and by god they made it work, sorry about getting off subject. This is my thought for the day, Learn from book, but reward your strained eyes with eye candy, yes yes.

 

[nokmirt]

It's god-awful. The noticably fake foam-snow was the last straw. My ex and I broke out into laughter.



I hate 300. It doesn't have the artistic license of the comic, so it only comes off overdone. The comic had some ambiguity to me. The movie didn't.



I may watch it anyway, since I watch a lot of movies during the summer (if it comes out in summer), and it's still better than half the movies at the cinema at any one time. Doesn't mean I'd like it, though. Just amusing in a stupid way.



Heard it was bad. Didn't bother.



No, that was during the actual battle. Porus saw Alex and challenged him. The two fought and Alex got unhorsed. His bodyguards took him away and captured Porus. As Cheezy said, though, it might well have been made up.

aelf I understand but I loved the fake snow it gave the scene character. As far as laughing my girl laughed at my favorite were-wolf on the movie bad moon. Of course I know the were-wolf is fake, but ha ha I love that movie, you have to learn to enjoy things. Who loves the movie Army of Darkness with Bruce Campbell? Am I supposed to hate it because of its piss poor special effects. What about the godfather of stop animation Ray Harryhausen, am I supposed to say, "Hey Ray you suck and so do your movies for not having CGI." Not only CGI, but CGI that only aelf thinks is good, as long as he was told by somebody else, it does'nt suck.

 

[Dachs]

Have you seen some of our top officers?

Then clearly you limeys need to get rid of the deadwood.

 

[Flying Pig]

I'm afraid I can't lump him on the limeys - he's a Field Marshal. Still...

 

[Dachs]

"Limey" means more than just British sailors outside of the UK.

 

[Flying Pig]

Stupid yanks...

Surely the odds of a Greek invasion of China succeeding would depend on the part he attacked? He would have had an easier time in the weaker regions, possibly the North, but a far harder time around the cities.

 

[nokmirt]

"Limey" means more than just British sailors outside of the UK.

Limey your killing me

 

[nokmirt]

Stupid yanks...

Surely the odds of a Greek invasion of China succeeding would depend on the part he attacked? He would have had an easier time in the weaker regions, possibly the North, but a far harder time around the cities.

Yes I agree, but try this on for size, what if our greatest western general sided with the Chinese and invaded Japan?

 

[Dachs]

Yes I agree, but try this on for size, what if our greatest western general sided with the Chinese and invaded Japan?

Related speculation: Napoleon toyed with entering the service of both the Ottoman Sultan and the Russian Empire. Either his rise to power in Russia (possibly capitalizing on the whole Pavel I thing) or perhaps his toppling of the Ottoman dynasty either as a Muslim sultan (he toyed with converting to Islam during his career) or as a Byzantine Emperor would be pretty cool.

 

[aelf]

aelf I understand but I loved the fake snow it gave the scene character. As far as laughing my girl laughed at my favorite were-wolf on the movie bad moon. Of course I know the were-wolf is fake, but ha ha I love that movie, you have to learn to enjoy things. Who loves the movie Army of Darkness with Bruce Campbell? Am I supposed to hate it because of its piss poor special effects. What about the godfather of stop animation Ray Harryhausen, am I supposed to say, "Hey Ray you suck and so do your movies for not having CGI." Not only CGI, but CGI that only aelf thinks is good, as long as he was told by somebody else, it does'nt suck.

I don't understand what point you're trying to make. If they give you bad effects for a movie that is supposed to be visually spectacular, then they are playing with you. You don't roll over and accept it just like that. Everyone knows House of Flying Daggers had serious budget issues. I certainly didn't make it up. You can call low quality 'character' all you want. That just makes you kind of undiscerning.

I didn't say I don't enjoy movies. Heck, I watch stuff like Kingdom of Heaven too. Doesn't mean I'll be impressed by it. If it sucks, it sucks, but it may be worth the few hours of amusement when you just want to go out. Some, though, are beyond redemption.

 

[aelf]

I think it was worth it - we're so starved for good historical sagas as it is. I realize it had harsh criticism about accuracy, but most of it's sins were by omission - it made no attempt to provide history, or the context of the other Greeks in this war. It wasn't targeted at amateur historians, but was it necessary to make the Ephors a bunch of leprous lechers, Ephialtes a deformed ogre, and the Immortals look like Ninja assassins ? The whole movie had an atmosphere that was unique, as if it was filmed through the mist of ages (color filters ?)

Accuracy is one thing. The movie was unambiguously Hollywood on steroids. Nyet.

That's your misfortune, it doesn't translate as well to the small screen.

Well, I don't care. You can have the feeling that you had the fortune of watching the movie and keep it. I hate it when people tell me I'm losing out when I don't like or don't care for something. Heck, I can probably be a movie critic if I want, given the background and training I have. I promise you I can write a better piece than a lot of the stuff floating out there.

 

[Flying Pig]

Limey your killing me

In the days before refrigeration, the Royal Navy put lime in the rum to avoid giving the men scurvy.

 

[vogtmurr]

Well, I don't care. You can have the feeling that you had the fortune of watching the movie and keep it. I hate it when people tell me I'm losing out when I don't like or don't care for something. Heck, I can probably be a movie critic if I want, given the background and training I have. I promise you I can write a better piece than a lot of the stuff floating out there.

Well just make sure you watch the movie before you critique it

 

[nokmirt]

Accuracy is one thing. The movie was unambiguously Hollywood on steroids. Nyet.



Well, I don't care. You can have the feeling that you had the fortune of watching the movie and keep it. I hate it when people tell me I'm losing out when I don't like or don't care for something. Heck, I can probably be a movie critic if I want, given the background and training I have. I promise you I can write a better piece than a lot of the stuff floating out there.

What do you do drive the short bus...Ha!

 

[aelf]

Well just make sure you watch the movie before you critique it

Did I say anything about Alexander myself? Strange, I kind of missed that bit.

What do you do drive the short bus...Ha!

Lo siento. No comprendo.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Sure it is. "Cut off the head" - in Herakleios' case literally - and the body just kind of flops around uselessly. Admittedly, it didn't work out too well for Eumenes, but that was Perdikas' fault for being a fool, not Eumenes' own.

Or Antiochus (or was it Antigonus?), for that matter. Poor old bastard.

 

[vogtmurr]

Or Antiochus (or was it Antigonus?), for that matter. Poor old bastard.

Lysimachus was killed by Seleucus Nicator, when these old comrades in arms were both over 80 yrs. old, but Seleucus dies within the year.

 

[Dachs]

Or Antiochus (or was it Antigonus?), for that matter. Poor old bastard.

Antigonos I Monophthalmos.

Lysimachus was killed by Seleucus Nicator, when these old comrades in arms were both over 80 yrs. old, but Seleucus dies within the year.

Seleukos I was assassinated by Ptolemaios Keraunos.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

Antigonos I Monophthalmos.

Ah, thought so. Good old One-Eyed.

Seleukos I was assassinated by Ptolemaios Keraunos.

Yes, as they landed on the Hellespont and made a sacrifice after having beat the balls out of Lysimachus.