Rome- TV Series

I was wondering what people thought of this TV series on HBO. I personally like it because it manages the plot, largely historical like the murder of Pompey, interesting even though everyone knows the outcome. There is a bit too much nudity however so I end up having to watch it when my parents aren't home. Many of the characters are just as how I imagined them. Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson work very well together.

Your thoughts?

Its the best mini series ever in my opinion, it has drama, comedy and great acting plus its set in the roman era. My only complaint is that battles were skimped over and this is a shame because it would have made the series even better, perhaps the budget did not allow for this.

Goth

It's a good show overall. Very vulgar and adult, but good. It definitely did take a few episodes to build up steam but I was quickly hooked. It's easily the most historically accurate television show or movie that I have ever seen, with the possible exception of Band of Brothers. It's obvious that the producers spared no expense making the show as true to ancient Rome as possible. At least, they did enough to please my hobbyist's knowledge of the period.

Yeah its a good show even though they make quite a few mistakes here and there.(The Hindu shop owner, the entire time they where in Egypt, and a couple of armour mistakes ect) BTW doesint the show come back in 2007? I certianly hope so, very last episode almost made me cry!

Jeez, I'd say this poll was unnessasary if it were'nt so fun. Of course its a good show. I dont think there's a way anyone could not like it, its that great. The acting, the nuanced historically mindful writing, the elaborate byzantine plot, and the deep and thought provoking characters combine to make the best mini series I've ever seen. If this were a movie it'd win an oscar in so many categories.

Favorite Character: Julius Caesar. Best acted rendition of caesar I've ever seen. take that Richard burton.

Originally Posted by IamthePope

the elaborate byzantine plot

Que? Byzantium is alittle after this timeline man.

Originally Posted by the celt

Que? Byzantium is alittle after this timeline man.

lol, I mean "byzantine" as in the descriptive adj. meaning elaborate to the point of absurdity, not the Byzantine empire though I can see why you might have misunderstood.

BTW, I liked the Hindu shop owner. While it may seem unrealistic to us that there could have been an indian in Rome, it very well could have been possible. The inclusion of him added to the sense that these were a truly cosmopolitan people in the city of Rome.

Favorite Scene: Titus Pullo fathering Caesarian with Cleo

Originally Posted by IamthePope

BTW, I liked the Hindu shop owner. While it may seem unrealistic to us that there could have been an indian in Rome, it very well could have been possible. The inclusion of him added to the sense that these were a truly cosmopolitan people in the city of Rome.

Wrong my friend, back then if you left India you were cut off from your family and your friends as an exile. You probubly would've been sold into slavery by the Parthians much less have alittle shop in Roma.

And about that scene, it just prooves my point that the whole time they were in Egypt it was just mistake after mistake.(that includes those godawful wigs. :disgust )

Nudity ? Nudity ? :no Guess that's why it makes the show here in my coutry about 45 minutes each episode.

Need to go and buy the full DVD set if there is.

I love this show, and I consider it the best series I have ever seen. Unfortunately, I've looked in stores in five states and yet have not been able to find the DVD set, so if someone finds out when/where it is, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm going to Boston this weekend (a little "college road trip" to see some basketball games) and my girlfriend is going to want to shop, so I'll check there too.

One of my favorite scenes in the series (I'll try to keep this as clean as I can) is when Cleopatra tries to seduce Vorenus and winds up with Pullo instead. Pope, I also like the scene at the end of that episode where they're all cheering (that was the one you were referring to, I think?).

Originally Posted by Aemilianus

I love this show, and I consider it the best series I have ever seen. Unfortunately, I've looked in stores in five states and yet have not been able to find the DVD set, so if someone finds out when/where it is, it would be greatly appreciated

look what i found, no wonder you cant find it.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...164453-0935836

@Aemilianus

My friend recorded the show on DVD gave the DVDs to me to borrow.

I agree. Cleopatra was hilarious in that scene. Although I have to say Octavian was great in his acting.

Supposedly a season takes about 18 months to film, so they're not even sure if they're going to do it again since people might lose interest. I agree they should up the battles, if only to meet their advertising. In the commercials and stuff they made it out to have Gladiator scale battles every episode. The "Battle" of Phrasalus looked like a skirmish. This disappoint was reinforced by the fact that Band of Brothers, another HBO war type film, had many huge battle scenes. Still, epic battles are mostly asthetic and the series was great without them.

Btw, what was wrong with Egypt? At least they showed the Egyptian soldiers as Hellenic and not something out of The Mummy Returns!

I loved the whole thing, did anyone notice how similar the Roman families were to a modern day Mafia family? In fact the whole thing seemed like it was the Soprano's set in ancient Rome.

Originally Posted by The Sword of Cao Cao

Btw, what was wrong with Egypt? At least they showed the Egyptian soldiers as Hellenic and not something out of The Mummy Returns!

There was? All I saw were sandy ruins(was that Alexandria?!)guys in arabian style turbans and rather ugly wigs. Not to mention Cleos rather unattractive actress.

If you're talking about Cleopatra, I'll kill you She was HOTT! And the Egyptians were shown, traditionally, eye-liner, black headdresses, golden things, the usual.

Originally Posted by Spartacus-Popat

If you're talking about Cleopatra, I'll kill you She was HOTT! And the Egyptians were shown, traditionally, eye-liner, black headdresses, golden things, the usual.

Then kill me boy, becuase she looked like a rat with makeup on. And that raspy vioce of her's didint help for much. Niobe was way better looking than Cleo ever was. (Not the REAL Cleo ofcourse)

Originally Posted by the celt

Then kill me boy, becuase she looked like a rat with makeup on. And that raspy vioce of her's didint help for much. Niobe was way better looking than Cleo ever was. (Not the REAL Cleo ofcourse)

The real Cleopatra is not regarded as very attractive by all her contemporaries either. She was renowned for her voice, her intelligence, and her allure and on some accounts; her beauty.

Originally Posted by Plutarch

"For her beauty, as we are told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her; but converse with her had an irresistible charm, and her presence, combined with the persuasiveness of her discourse and the character which was somehow diffused about her behaviour towards others, had something stimulating about it. There was sweetness also in the tones of her voice; and her tongue, like an instrument of many strings, she could readily turn to whatever language she pleased..."

Christopher Pelling gives an great account of the origins in ancient sources for the permutations of Cleopatra's story and Guy Weill Goudchaux gives an excellent assessment of the aesthetics of her appearance in coin portraits. I will upload the two respective essays tomorrow most likely for the edification of the Romanophiles here.

It had shagging in. Shagging on mainstream TV is good. It makes me feel warm down to my toes to think of all the people in the Bible Belt getting angried up.

I loved the show, the last episode had to be one of my favorites and makes me want to freeze myself in time and watch the next series next year. Mark Antony realy looked upset when he saw Ceaser killed.

Although its biased, its quite good. I'm looking forward to the next series.