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Alexander
Nevsky (DVD)
Alexander
Nevsky (VHS), by Sergei Eisenstein, 1939.
Braveheart
(DVD)
Braveheart
(VHS)
Braveheart
(VHS widescreen), by Mel Gibson, 1995.
The
Duellists (DVD)
The
Duellists (VHS), by Ridley Scott, 1977. With Keith Carrdine and Harvy
Keitel. Excellent atmosphere which catches the flavor of military living at the
time of the French Revolution and Empire. The modest quality of the acting is
more than compensated by the story and excellent production quality.
Henry
V (DVD), by Laurence Olivier.
Last
of the Mohicans (DVD)
Last
of the Mohicans (VHS)
Last
of the Mohicans (VHS widescreen), by Michael Mann, 1982. Another movie
version of the famous novel. Grisly entertainment, but keep in mind that it is
a novel, not history.
The
Mission (VHS), by Roland Joffe, 1986. With Jeremy Irons and Robert de
Niro. A seldom watched but truly inspiring movie which didn't deserve the
lukewarm reception given by many professional critics. The events of the movie
are a condensed version of colonial fighting which occurred over several
decades during the 1700's in the border areas of present day Brazil and
Argentina. Its attention to historical and cultural detail is often missed, and
it is full of subtle background items such as the Tupi Guarani slaves placed
backwards on horses (the Guarani believed that moving them backwards robbed
their souls). One of the many great scenes is when the European army officer
who has been ordered to destroy the Guarani mission village realizes that the
Guarani Indians are inside singing hymns. The momentary pause on his hesitant,
distraught face before he steels himself to his mission is another notable
detail. Outstanding cinematography, chilling sound track and memorable
narration.
Napoleon (VHS), by Abel Gance, 1927. A restoration of this
silent film classic about the life of Napoleon I.
The
Patriot (DVD), by Roland Emmerich, 2000. With Mel Gibson and Jason
Isaacs.
Ran
(DVD)
Ran
(VHS), by Akira Kurosawa, 1985. A somewhat overrated but still interesting
movie about the Japanese civil wars of the renaissance era. A better movie to
watch about the same subject would be Heaven and Earth (not the Tommy Lee Jones
movie), which has battle scenes that are actually believable as well as an
interesting plot.
Seven Samurai (VHS) The classic Japanese story of the
wandering samurai who come to the aid of a small Japanese village. (Fictional
Setting, Fictional Story)
War
and Peace (VHS subtitled)
War
and Peace (VHS dubbed), by Sergei Bondarchuk, 1967.
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The Duellists
Ridley
Scott's adaptation of the famous Conrad novel. An excellent story of two
Napoleonic hussar officers who duel their way through the French Revolutionary
and Napoleonic Wars. Recommended watching. |
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THE
RENAISSANCE