Spartacus or Gladiator?

[Sun Jetzu]

Was having a fun discussion with a certain individuel over witch show best represents romans and their ways. I sayeth Spartacus, he sayith Gladiator. What do you think and why? Or do you think their is another show/movie that can compete with these two giants? J

[Dan113112]

Are you talking about the TV show Spartacus or the Kubrick film?

[Sun Jetzu]

yes

[Dan113112]

Well between the TV show Spartacus and the Kubrick film I'd have to say that Kubrick film is better even if I haven't seen it. I've seen clips of it. Despite the numerous inaccuracies in Gladiator I thought it was a good film and portrayed many characters well. Even if some of those characters were composites.

[Påsan]

Well Spartacus is meant to be over the top. Gladiator is a much better representation although HBO's ROME is better than both.

Spartacus was still a great show though.

[torongill]

For all its inaccuracies, both in terms of character portrayal and customs/clothing Spartacus portrays a much more accurate image of Roman society, especially from the PoV of the slaves.

Gladiator is historical in that there were two Roman Emperors called Aurelius and Commodus, and there was a Roman general who was close to the Emperor Aurelius and may have been considered as a next Emperor, but turned down the offer... and that's it basically. The movie is so full of inaccuracies, there's a special wiki page dedicated to listing them.

[Dan113112]

For all its inaccuracies, both in terms of character portrayal and customs/clothing Spartacus portrays a much more accurate image of Roman society, especially from the PoV of the slaves.

Gladiator is historical in that there were two Roman Emperors called Aurelius and Commodus, and there was a Roman general who was close to the Emperor Aurelius and may have been considered as a next Emperor, but turned down the offer... and that's it basically. The movie is so full of inaccuracies, there's a special wiki page dedicated to listing them.

Gladiator did a good job of portraying how crazy Commodus was. Apparently he was actually far more crazy but they couldn't put what he was truly like in the movie because of age ratings.

i think spartacus does a better job of showing how romans truly were, especially the ones in power. plus no english accents lol and gladiator was cool in the beginning but that was about it for me. ive never seen rome so i cant comment on it.

HBO Rome did a better job in terms of PoV and accuracy. Even if it has it's own inaccuracies. HBO Rome even shows a massive slave encampment in season two.

[Anna_Gein]

For all its inaccuracies, both in terms of character portrayal and customs/clothing Spartacus portrays a much more accurate image of Roman society, especially from the PoV of the slaves.

Gladiator is historical in that there were two Roman Emperors called Aurelius and Commodus, and there was a Roman general who was close to the Emperor Aurelius and may have been considered as a next Emperor, but turned down the offer... and that's it basically. The movie is so full of inaccuracies, there's a special wiki page dedicated to listing them.

It is funny how your link contain inaccuracies itself. Marcus Aurelius : conqueror of Germania !!! Why not ?

Gladiator did a good job of portraying how crazy Commodus was. Apparently he was actually far more crazy but they couldn't put what he was truly like in the movie because of age ratings.

Was he that much crazy ? Some accused him to have quickly ended the military campaigns of his father while it was apparently the contrary. But I like how in the movie his madness was in my memories not overplayed except during the scene in the senate which was in my opinion unnecessary. It was far better than some sensational "documentaries" about crazy Romans emperor.

HBO Rome did a better job in terms of PoV and accuracy. Even if it has it's own inaccuracies. HBO Rome even shows a massive slave encampment in season two.

Yep. Though Rome was in my opinion the only one who attempt to be accurate. The TV show Spartacus was made just for the fun (not that it is necessary bad) and Gladiator between the two. Though I disagree with the idea that Gladiator was less accurate than Spartacus.

[Sun Jetzu]

i think spartacus does a better job of showing how romans truly were, especially the ones in power. plus no english accents lol and gladiator was cool in the beginning but that was about it for me. ive never seen rome so i cant comment on it.

[portugal11]

i think spartacus does a better job of showing how romans truly were.

how were the romans truly?

[Comrade_Rory]

i think spartacus does a better job of showing how romans truly were, especially the ones in power. plus no english accents lol

Because Australian and New Zealand accents are much more accurate?

[Sun Jetzu]

Because Australian and New Zealand accents are much more accurate?

hey as long as theyre not english im fine. And i definetly am oblivious to what a new zealand accent sounds like so idk. But i know that an australian one has never graced the show. EVER!
Spartacus "To what purpose do falter command! Crikee!"

[Comrade_Rory]

hey as long as theyre not english im fine. And i definetly am oblivious to what a new zealand accent sounds like so idk. But i know that an australian one has never graced the show. EVER!
Spartacus "To what purpose do falter command! Crikee!"

What's wrong with an English accent?
Are you talking about the Spartacus series? Because pretty much every single actor in that series has the thickest Aussie or Kiwi accent.

[Sun Jetzu]

What's wrong with an English accent?
Are you talking about the Spartacus series? Because pretty much every single actor in that series has the thickest Aussie or Kiwi accent.

listening to all these british accents has got you confused, thinking that there aussi accents in spartacus. if anything they try hard not to speak with an accent. And they speak beutifully in the indirect language of their times. Name me a character that does this because i cant find even one

[portugal11]

the HBO show Rome is better than both

[alex_shields]

Kubrick's Spartacus was the best of the three. Its props and costumes were ahead of the rest of the sword/sandals epics. It's story was closer to an actual historical narrative than say, Fall of the Roman Empire, Quo Vadis or Ben Hur. It also captured a very gritty, authentic feel similar to Braveheart (which the modern show lacks because it was filmed in a green-screen studio, for example). But, it did not give a good depiction of a galdiator's life, and THAT'S where the STARZ show is best. The film, Gladiator, is about revenge set in ancient Rome. The gladiator's costumes are not representitive of the actual things and the gladiators' personal lives are not really explored. That's beyond its scope.

In both Scott's Gladiator and Kubrick's Spartacus, the galdiators are slaves - and are treated as such - whereas the series shows how being a lanista was a profitable business and how keeping your men alive, indeed, cultivating a Champion, would have been desireable. The series depicts a gladiator as an individual without rights, but not without reward for his wins. Many times in Season 1 it was said that a gladiator was a person/position of honor that gave a person of low standing worth. And that's where the show is correct. It shoes how popular galdiators could become. They were sports stars.

Of note, the Kubrick film and Scott's Gladiator both showed the two most accurate depictions of the Roman Army that I have yet seen on film. The army in the Kubrick film's final battle is the only example of an accurate quincunx used by early legions. The Starz series gets recognition for making the best costumes, however. Gladiator helmets, armor and weapons were all based on actual examples and the show was the first time I've ever seen Republican legionaries represented correctly with oval scuta, Montefortino helmets and mail armor.

[Dan113112]

Kubrick's Spartacus was the best of the three. Its props and costumes were ahead of the rest of the sword/sandals epics. It's story was closer to an actual historical narrative than say, Fall of the Roman Empire, Quo Vadis or Ben Hur. It also captured a very gritty, authentic feel similar to Braveheart (which the modern show lacks because it was filmed in a green-screen studio, for example). But, it did not give a good depiction of a galdiator's life, and THAT'S where the STARZ show is best. The film, Gladiator, is about revenge set in ancient Rome. The gladiator's costumes are not representitive of the actual things and the gladiators' personal lives are not really explored. That's beyond its scope.

In both Scott's Gladiator and Kubrick's Spartacus, the galdiators are slaves - and are treated as such - whereas the series shows how being a lanista was a profitable business and how keeping your men alive, indeed, cultivating a Champion, would have been desireable. The series depicts a gladiator as an individual without rights, but not without reward for his wins. Many times in Season 1 it was said that a gladiator was a person/position of honor that gave a person of low standing worth. And that's where the show is correct. It shoes how popular galdiators could become. They were sports stars.

Of note, the Kubrick film and Scott's Gladiator both showed the two most accurate depictions of the Roman Army that I have yet seen on film. The army in the Kubrick film's final battle is the only example of an accurate quincunx used by early legions. The Starz series gets recognition for making the best costumes, however. Gladiator helmets, armor and weapons were all based on actual examples and the show was the first time I've ever seen Republican legionaries represented correctly with oval scuta, Montefortino helmets and mail armor.

Good post but I like HBO Rome better than Starz Spartacus. I kind of died inside when I saw the front cover of the Spartacus season DVDs. At least HBO Rome tried to be as accurate as possible given their budget. I think HBO Rome actually used some props from Kubrick's Spartacus. Not many notice it but in HBO Rome, at the Battle of Phillipi, the legions do form up in a historical manner and fight in a historical manner. That is, until CGI AI takes over and turns the battle into a slaughter-fest.

[Augustus Scipius]

You made a new thread because of what I said?... Right.

[alex_shields]

Agreed, Rome is the best of them all. BUT, the question was 'Which is best: Spartacus (movie, or series) OR Scott's Gladiator?' Don't forget to read the OP first.

[Sharpe]

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