Posted on 06/02/2004 5:04:07 PM PDT by Paul Atreides
Mel Gibson's forthcoming film about Britain's warrior queen Boudicca is guaranteed to cause fury amongst feminists and historians, experts predict. Folklorists believe Gibson - whose controversial The Passion Of The Christ movie sparked uproar among Jewish groups this year - faces widespread criticism in his efforts to bring Boudicca to the big screen, because she remains an enigma to historians. Scholars are also convinced feminists will attack Gibson if he fails to portray Boudicca as the icon they have turned her into. Folklorist Dr Juliette Wood, "Take any figure where there's been emotional investment and you're going to annoy someone. We know so little about her and yet she has been turned into a meta-historical icon."
Funny! Surely she must have, unless she was pregnant all the time!
I don't go for all the violence in Mel Gibson's movies, but I do enjoy a well-done historical battle, especially with chariots.
I'm always game to see historical action on the screen, esp. from the beginning period of the British Isles.
I nominate Angelina Jolie to play Boudicca.
Yessssssssssssssssssssssss!
This just souunds like Braveheart in a dress. Oh wait...
From your lips to God's and Mel's ears.
Boudicca did defeat the Ninth Legion, though it was not at full strength. Still, to defeat a legion was impressive.
Arminius' victory was very impressive as well, though I don't believe the common refrain one hears about how that defeat convinced the Romans that the rest of Germany and Central Europe was beyond their reach. Tiberius led successful campaigns east of the Rhine after the disaster, and Germanicus led several successful expeditions including one where he defeated Arminius. I don't know which is true; that after becoming Emperor Tiberius halted the war because he deemed it to be unwinable, or because he feared a triumphant general pulling a Caesar on him. I prefer to believe that the Romans could have completed the conquest of Germany had the will to do so been there. I wonder why Trajan and Septimus Severus in particular didn't try.
As to the movie, what I'd fear would be that Gibson would come up with some far-fetched reason for Boudicca's eventual crushing defeat to Paulinus. Her army was simply no match for two seasoned, experienced Roman Legions, and that should be reflected in the film. There should be no excuses. That's what I fear about the upcoming Hannibal movie; that it will downplay Scipio's generalship in defeating Hannibal at Zama.
Yes, a movie about Martel would be great so long as it wasn't bastardized by PC-Multicultural concerns. So in other words it would probably take someone like Gibson to do it right. I can't imagine Hollywood doing justice to any historical drama centered around the Christian West against the Muslim threat.
Another good idea would be to dramatize the Jewish revolt put down by Vespasian and Titus, culminating in the epic siege of Massada. I mean you could show the beginning of the construction of the Colosseum which was financed by the looting of Jerusalem.
Or how about a well-made big budget movie about Caesar himself? Or Trajan, or Aurelian or Constantine.
Who will Mel cast in the role?
Molly Ringwald;)
If she was really serious, Mel would make her work . Wonder if she has the depth for such a role
Or maybe I just like redheads.
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