This is topic Anyone see Rome? in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
 
Did anyone see the new HBO series Rome last night. I thoguht it was great. It's about the period of time just before Ceasar became emporer, and all of the political scandal involved with his crowning. It's very cool. There is nudity and violence though, so I wouldn't recommend it for youngsters.

Heres a link to its homepage:

Rome
 

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Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
 
There is a summary of the episode on that site I posted.
 

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Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
Dude! That looks awesome!
Shame I don't have HBO.
 

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Posted by TheHumanTarget (Member # 7129) on :
 
I was only mildly impressed. It looks like it could be good, but the characters roles and relationships are not easily defined for the audience or are not easily recognizable (i.e. too many similar names and costumes).
 

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Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
 
I have it sitting waiting for me to watch - hopefully I'll get around to watching it tonight!

*Still curses HBO six ways till tuesday for cancelling Carnivale.*
 

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Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
 
Me and Niki missed it last night, but I'm sure we will watch it sometime this week. We'll let you know what we think .
 

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Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
My hubby and I saw it.

I liked it, he wasn't impressed.

He expected it to be more like Gladiator.
 

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Posted by Eaquae Legit (Member # 3063) on :
 
I don't have HBO, so I'm kind of hoping this one will stay popular enough to make it onto regular cable eventually.

Anyone able to compare it with BBC's I, Claudius? I really enjoyed I, Claudius, and they did such a magnificent job of it, it's kind of become my benchmark for Roman-esque mvies and shows.
 

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Posted by Sopwith (Member # 4640) on :
 
I thought it was pretty good. The kid that played Octavian really got to me, though. I just couldn't figure out where I had seen him before.

Turns out he was the young ensign from Master and Commander who lost his arm.
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
There's a new series all about the Roman Republic, and it's on a channel that I . . . don't . . . have!?
 

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Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
Welcome back, LD!
 

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Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
 
Hehe..Thanks Goo! I was away in Penn State taking classes all summer, so I didn't have much time to post.

My one question is:

Why British accents? Was it decided somewhere that if the ancient Romans spoke english, they would have British accents? I've seen this done constantly in other movies/shows about Rome.
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
I haven't seen it, but I'm guessing that the actors are British.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
/snooty American

I assume it's the whole 'people with toff English accents sound aristocratic' silliness that seems to be everywhere you turn, i.e. Fancy Feast commercials, etc.. Since a lot of the characters were Roman patricians, I'm sure it made sense to the producer to cast a bunch of Brits in the roles.

/snooty American
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
Also, it was co-produced by the BBC. So that might have had something to do with it, too.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
Doh.
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
In my defense, from what little I caught of whatever that Roman epic was that was shown recently on network television, I remember a lot of the patricians having English accents.
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
A lot of these shows and films are made by the British. It doesn't make sense to criticize the British for having British accents.

Mind you, I wish we Americans would make more things like this, with our own actors. Roman patricians talking like Frasier. Cicero delivering his speeches in a Harvard accent. That would be cool.
 

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Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
 
No, but . . .

I see London
I see France
I see Little_Doctor's underpants

*ducks and runs for cover*
(come to think of it, probably should run under the covers, I'm a little punchy due to lack of sleep)
 

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Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
Well, understand that it doesn't *really* bother me, Verily, but I'm pretty sure that the phenomenon of using English accents to represent sophistication or highbrow, so to speak, in America is real.

Of course it's silly to criticize Brits for having British accents, but I find it weirdly interesting that the phenomenon exists at all in America. I wonder why it does?

On the other hand, when I watch the BBC, I find that I rarely hear American accents. Maybe I'm missing the right shows, but I wonder why that is. Some kind of union thing, maybe?
 

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Posted by johnsonweed (Member # 8114) on :
 
I saw it and it looked pretty good. I think they are goingto do well with the historical accuracy, unlike the ABC miniseries recently on TV. All of the key players are on screen. I liked the fact that Cato was not in his Senatorial Toga, apparently he really refused to wear one! I like that attention to detail.

HBO series typically have slowish starts. I will remain optimistic.
 

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Posted by Verily the Younger (Member # 6705) on :
 
*wonders if it would be foolish to add the price of HBO to his monthly cable bill for the sake of a show he's never seen*
 

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Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
 
I've heard that after the first 4 episode, they halted production for a few months to re-tool the series. And while those first 4 episodes are "Good", apparantly the ones that follow are supposed to be significantly better.
 

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Posted by Little_Doctor (Member # 6635) on :
 
Or...


It's all part of a conspiracy within the BBC to take over the world, once they establish that English accents are superior to all others.

Example: Why do you think so many Jatraqueros use BCC as their news article source. Not because their news is accurate, I'll tell you that much. It's the accents. Brainwashing Scum!
 

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Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
 
The U.S. has its own version of posh accents. National newscasters all have flat Midwestern accents, and you never hear Southern accents on the news. (Correct me if I'm wrong here, I hardly ever watch regular TV.)

On a different note -- how violent is Rome? I don't watch horror movies, but I can handle violence if it's part of a story (say, like on Deadwood.)
 

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Posted by Xavier (Member # 405) on :
 

quote:

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On a different note -- how violent is Rome? I don't watch horror movies, but I can handle violence if it's part of a story (say, like on Deadwood.)

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Its nothing too gruesome, but it is realistic.

Out of the primary cast of important people (Ceaser, Pompeii, Mark Antony, Octavius Caesar, Brutus, etc) there is also a subplot starring a Roman army officer which is quite a violent subplot, as you would expect.

There was also one very bloody scene, but it was not human blood...

I would think that if you can handle Deadwood, Rome shouldn't be any problem.
 

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Posted by Sweet William (Member # 5212) on :
 
...and you never hear Southern accents on the news...

Basically true. There is a woman with a Southern accent who is on the Chris Matthews show that is on NBC on Sunday Mornings. But EVERYONE on that show interupts her CONSTANTLY. I just want to smack them, because she sounds intellingent, but she can't EVER finish a sentence.

Then you have James Carville sometimes on the Tim Russert show. I don't really now what to call his accent. I think it's southern.
 

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Posted by Taalcon (Member # 839) on :
 

quote:

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I would think that if you can handle Deadwood, Rome shouldn't be any problem.

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If you can handle Deadwood, then very few things should be a problem
 

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Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
 
Oh, the joy of ur new cable system!

I am watching Rome, and loving it!

So, what is th deal? Is it a miniseries, or will it continue? What am I watching now? (I have watched about five episodes. In this last one, the very sexy Centurion has taken his job back and thumbs were removed from a different character.)

Is it on DVD yet? Could I get it for my dad?
 

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Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
 
Sounds like you're at episode 5. There are 7 more episodes in the first season. I envy you. You still have some awesome episodes to look forward to.

quote:

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HBO has renewed its epic drama series ROME for a second season, it was announced today by Carolyn Strauss, president, HBO Entertainment. Production of the 12-episode second season will begin next March, with the debut set for 2007.

"Although the first season of ROME is just underway, we're affirming our support for this exciting and ambitious series by preparing for a second season now," noted Strauss. "I'm delighted that critics and subscribers share our enthusiasm for the show."

The initial episodes of ROME have inspired legions of critical praise. TV Guide hailed it as a "feast for the eyes" and a "ripping good story," as well as a "shamelessly enjoyable historical romp." USA Today called ROME "as extravagant, enticing and chaotic as Rome itself," adding, "you may never want to leave." The Washington Post described the series as "ravishing and wickedly shocking," and "a feast for the senses that includes generous portions of food for thought." HBO

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Originally posted by Elizabeth:
Verily, I was thinking.
If they are going to continue the series, then maybe, just maybe, Niobe survived the fall? I mean, they could work that, couldn't they??? Maybe she was just unconscious?

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