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erik-kruger
Reviews
The Borgias (2011)
Beautiful Cinematography, Great Acting BUT Historically Inaccurate!
A great cast with strong performances. This is really an excellent show. However, why the producers had to invent so much gore and evil I don't know. If the real Borgia's were still around they would probably sue for defamation of character.
OK, I'll admit that much of the Borgias' history is cloaked in legend and "urban myths" but even so, the series does take this to extremes. Take episode three, for example (spoiler alert), where Sultan Bayezid II's brother Cem is transferred to the custody of Pope Alexander and then murdered by the Borgia's. This never happened. In fact Cem was transferred in March 1489 to the custody of Pope Innocent VIII, Alexander's predecessor. He died in Capua on February 25, 1495, while on a military expedition to conquer Naples under the command of King Charles VIII of France.
Episode one (spoiler alert) shows Cardinal Orsini being poisoned at a banquet, ostensibly by Cesare Borgia. It didn't happen this way - He was arrested by order of the pope and taken to Castel San Angelo where he fell ill and died after twelve days on 22 February 1503. He may have been executed, nobody knows for sure.
Granted, historical accuracy may not be a big thing for everybody. Personally I prefer accurate historical dramas.
Centurion (2010)
Light Escapism and Good for a Laugh or Two
I read the reviews beforehand so I wasn't expecting anything absolutely historically accurate. After all, we're unlikely to ever know what happened to the Ninth Legion anyway apart from the fact that it never returned (if it was actually the Ninth that disappeared north of the border), however, what irks me are the things that, at a very minimum, the movie makers can afford to get right such as Roman weapons and tactics.
Firstly, the Gladius was a stabbing sword. Legionaries did not line up and slog it out with their enemies like Gladiators in the Circus, They stood three or four deep, shields raised and stabbed at their opponents' genitalia or femoral arteries or tried to slice through their Achilles tendons. The whole effect was much like a buzz saw as their swords stabbed and withdrew, stabbed and withdrew, etc. trying to find their mark. When the front rank tired, was injured or killed, the man behind took his place, or was issued an order to that effect.
Secondly, I am sure I am not the only one who is sick and tired of seeing a spear of some unknown era with a blunt tip in the hand of a Roman soldier. The armourer for this movie should be ashamed! Where is the Pilum with the slender shaft and the small sharp tip? (no jokes please). It doesn't look at all like the spears in this movie.
In summary, it was some fun for 90 minutes but that's all folks!