Comments on: Getting It Right — and Wrong — on Film

By: NewGuyDave

NewGuyDave — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:44:23 +0000

I’ll admit that I’ve enjoyed a few of those movies in the 10 worst list, Braveheart and Gladiator in particular, without knowing beforehand the histories of the specific characters.

I certainly didn’t realize that the Battle of Sterling Bridge was actually on a bridge, at least not from the grassy fields trampled by Scots in Gibson’s movie.

BTW, I thought the morion in the 13th Warrior looked rather dashing with the breastplate. In fact, the Norsemen were reminiscent of SCA warriors hanging out after a war. Quite touching.

By: Links and Things « Enter the Octopus

Links and Things « Enter the Octopus — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:48:05 +0000

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By: Bill Ward

Bill Ward — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 06:01:02 +0000

Good point, old Will wasn’t above some artistic license to suit his Shake-scene.

By: Soyka

Soyka — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:24:22 +0000

Is the reason The Knight’s Tale didn’t make this list (knights in shining armor battle to a sound track of classic rock, while Geoffrey Chaucer shills as a joust announcer) is that it isn’t attempting to be historically accurate, just fun?

Speaking of art, or, let’s not be so high-faulitin’, mere entertainment, anybody ever hear of this Shakespeare fellow and his so-called histories?

By: Bill Ward

Bill Ward — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:10:13 +0000

Well, he meant both his grandfathers, surely?

And critiquing a myth as myth is definitely in the cards — notice I barely mentioned King Arthur(2004), I’ll save a look at that one until someone wants to pay me by the word for it.

By: James Enge

James Enge — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:43:00 +0000

Very nice, thoughtful piece. Many films set in the past are obviously crafting a myth (or making use of a precrafted one), and different standards of accuracy apply. Though I think one can critique the myth as a myth. (The myth that the USA defeated the Axis powers with minimal help certainly needs to be stomped on until it stops moving.)

The Times article itself has some inaccuracies, which shows how tricky this process can be. My favorite bit was the “U-571″ screenwriter saying (if he was quoted accurately), “Both my grandparents were officers in World War II…” Either his biology is weaker than his history, or there’s a shocking revelation buried in there…

By: Bill Ward

Bill Ward — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:51:45 +0000

The History Channel is a whole ‘nother subject . . . the programs they show (which aren’t always in the strictest sense ‘theirs’) range from the excellent and well-researched, to the comically bad.

Plus, when it comes to a lot of these hastily assembled docs, you have to consider some of the ‘inaccuracy’ comes from the montage of stock footage underlying exposition that it doesn’t reinforce — so it’s often less about being inaccurate then it is about being lazy.

But yea, I’ve seen a lot of dumb mistakes on there, and I certainly don’t think the issue has any of the nuances of historical films — historical documentaries purport to be about history, and therefore have a duty to be as accurate as possible.

By: pmcnamee67

pmcnamee67 — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:39:32 +0000

I don’t mind some anomalies, but the further out of time an anachronistic piece, the more noticeable and bothersome.

But, it’s not just Hollywood. This year I’ve seen two blatant mistakes on History Channel programs. ( 1.) American Civil War soldiers at Gettysburg all armed with flintlocks 2.) Scandinavia map including Finland and not including Denmark)

So, who can we trust?

By: Morions On Vikings — BillWardWriter.com

Morions On Vikings — BillWardWriter.com — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 14:05:48 +0000

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