Greatest historical film? - Historum

JohnnyH · July 6th, 2009, 02:24 PM

What is the greatest historical-themed film ever made, in your opinion?

Indeed, what exactly IS a history film? A period drama? Or a film which at the time of production is understood to reflect an era gone before?

What are the requirements and vital criteria, in your view, needed to make a great history film?

Accuracy?
Production costs?
Script?
Visual/Digital Effects?
Stunts?
Screenplay?
Great cast & acting?
Costumes?
Cinematography?

Which are considered the greatest history films, given such criteria?

Gladiator? Ben Hur?
Paths of Glory?
Munich?
Dangerous Liaisons?
Kingdom of Heaven?
Spaghetti Westerns?
Platoon? Apocalypse Now?
Excalibur? King Arthur?
300?
From Hell?
Rob Roy (1995)? Braveheart?
JFK? Nixon?
Anne of the 1000 Days? Elizabeth?
Saving Private Ryan? Battle of Britain?

**tjadams** · July 6th, 2009, 04:06 PM

Everyone is going to have their favorites that will not necessarily jive with others, but for me I'd have to put down "The Alamo" 2004

JohnnyH · July 6th, 2009, 04:24 PM

True, it's the phsychology behind the choices that interested me!

My own favourite western, on a par with Clint's 60's films, would be The Long Riders (1980) starring four sets of real-life brothers.
It is stylishly told and filmed by Walter Hill, laconic script and a classic, slow-motion action scene near the end!

**Heidi XX** · July 6th, 2009, 04:45 PM

Mine would be the film about the Carpathia torpedoed by German u-boat during ww1.
Can't remember what the name of the film is,but it's about who's at fault with what had happend. First the Germans was accussed as being evil but it turns out in history that Briton was at fault and not the Germans. (Base on real facts)

these are what makes the film true:
Accuracy.
Costums of that period.
Cast and the right nationality.

JohnnyH · July 6th, 2009, 05:41 PM

Heidi

Might it be Das Boot by Wolfgang Petersen, a gritty and claustrophobic German film/series about the U-Boat?

**Heidi XX** · July 6th, 2009, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingtaker

Heidi

Might it be Das Boot by Wolfgang Petersen, a gritty and claustrophobic German film/series about the U-Boat?

I sure it was not called Das boot,i have seen that movie,great movie but not the one.
This was actually during ww1,this attack on the Carpathia.
A great historical movie.

**sturm** · July 7th, 2009, 08:04 AM

I like Kingdom of Heaven.

JohnnyH · July 7th, 2009, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sturm

I like Kingdom of Heaven.

I prefer the extended version, but it was slagged off by many. I can see why,

Liam Neeson and those other Crusaders shouldn't have been killed off so soon in the story.

**sturm** · July 7th, 2009, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kingtaker

I prefer the extended version, but it was slagged off by many. I can see why,

Liam Neeson and those other Crusaders shouldn't have been killed off so soon in the story.

At least it had some nice effects

Sadly the big german died at the beginning

Scourge · July 8th, 2009, 05:54 AM

Personally I think its the Movie Der Untergang or in English The Downfall. Its amazing if your interested in the death throws of the Third Reich and the atmosphere of the city, the Fuhrerbunker, the soldiers. Its an all around amazing movie. It even portrays Hitler in all his last delusions about winning the war. It also shows how pathetic they really became especially the scene they recreated from the famous picture of Hitler greeting the Hitler Youth soldiers who were dying for that guy. See image below for reference. All of the acting is amazingly well done. Bruno Ganz played Hitler amazingly well. It showed him as an actual person instead like they always do as some monster.