Your favorite Book/Film/TV-serie of the Roman era?

[Sweavenger]

While we are all waiting for the next patch to come, why not dig in to some nice films or books on a Roman theme.

Personally I can recommend the old TV-series from BBC “I, Claudius”. Not so much action or battle if that’s what you prefer, but quite intriguing around the characters in the era from Augustus to Claudius himself.
If you like the era I would strongly recommend the HBO series “Rome”. Fictional story in the Julius Caesar period.

Film recommendation (the one I recall right now): Gladiator. Brutal film under the era of Commudus(?).

Also read a couple of books from Simon Scarrow, his Silvereagle series, during the summer. Claudian era with the conquest of Britain from a soldier/legions perspective. Not a nobleprize nominee, but quite good.

Anyone of you who can recommend something else?

[jackwei]

Fall of the Roman Empire 1964: Probably one of the best epic roman films out there as Christopher Plummer's Version of Commodus is awesome.

[ur-Lord Tedric]

Fall of the Roman Empire 1964: Probably one of the best epic roman films out there as Christopher Plummer's Version of Commodus is awesome.

^^This - gets my vote.....

It's effectively the same 'story' as the more recent 'Gladiator' - but the scope is so much more epic.

Both the original Ben Hur and the done for TV more recent remake are both rather good too. And the original Spartacus - but of course.

Just remember - all the stuff of the last 20 or so years is about visual effects - and that's why Rome2 will have far too many fire effects...... Just ask any sailor - fire on ships is extremely hazardous and should be used with extreme caution!

[Timmius]

I really like the comic 'Vae Victus' by Rocca and Mitton. It's a cimic kind of like the Rome series of the BBC. It revolves around a set of characters that have or sometimes haven't existed but with a slight twist. So most events are based on history but a lot of "smaller" events such as love interest haven't. It's set during the conquest of Gaul by Ceasar.


As for films and series; only ones that came to mind are Gladiator and the HBO Rome tv series. And as I was scanning this list i came to the conclusion that aren't really that many movies or series I can recommend Most that I would are documentaries.

For some reason I did like Hero of Rome which was on TCM the other day. Maybe because it was because it's set in very early Rome.. The movie isn't all that good when you look at the script or acting performance but for some reason I couldn't stop watching. I'm weird that way I guess...

[Joar]

I, Claudius.

I'm very fond of my family... Generally speaking!

[Sweavenger]

Also don't miss Conn Igguldens series of books "Emperor" - It's about the rise and fall of Julius Caesar and also the aftermath. Really, really good!

[Captain W. Handberg]

King Arthur.

[Josura]

The good old Spartacus with Kirk Douglas from 1960

[z28man]

surprised no one has said the new Spartacus.

[Lt.Speirs]

- The new spartacus http://www.starz.com/originals/spartacus (original is cool as well)
- HBO Rome ofcourse
- Julius Caesar 2002 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0284741/

and as for books I've only read The Forgotten Legion which I can strongly recommend http://www.benkane.net/his-books/

Also i'm pretty fond of the Decisive Battles from History Channel. (It's hosted by Matthew Settle aka Lieutenant Speirs) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfw9g2UdMtU

[FeralBlueBird]

Decisive battles was my first encounter with Total War engine ever... so many years ago!

[dvk901]

HBO Rome and King Arthur. I have watched the latter numerous times. The one thing that kinda annoyed me about 'Rome' was the portrayal of Augustus as some kind of near Psychotic maniac. The rest of the story was quite entertaining.

[the man, the myth, the legend]

HBO Rome and King Arthur. I have watched the latter numerous times. The one thing that kinda annoyed me about 'Rome' was the portrayal of Augustus as some kind of near Psychotic maniac. The rest of the story was quite entertaining.

I don't know I'm reading a book on Augustus now, and a lot of things he did and was apart of in his early years, were very cold and calculating. A lot we know but a lot was probably suppressed and covered up later in his career when he had the power to do so. The view of the "Augustus" we have as an older beneficiary to Rome and scholar/statesman was, I'm sure a lot different angry, sickly, and vindictive "Octavian".

Lately I've read Goldworthy's "Caesar - life of a colossus", excellent book, and I finally started reading the Simon Scarrow "Eagle" series, those are great too.

[Silius Saurus]

Books: "I, Claudius" series by Robert Graves, Adrian Goldsworthy's "In the Name of Rome: The Men Who Won the Roman Empire"; Suetonius' "12 Caesars" and of course Caesar's "Commentaries on The Gallic War".

TV: "I, Claudius", HBO's "ROME".

[Bcman]

I have read most of the Eagle series mentioned before. But i think that the Forgotten Legion Trilogy is far better.

For Movies I really enjoyed Gladiator. But every other Imperial era movie ( Centurion, The Eagle) I really didn't enjoy.

[xsithspawnx]

As far as TV/Movies go HBO's Rome is my favorite, but I also enjoy Gladiator, I Claudius, and any good quality documentaries I can find.

On the book front I enjoy any of Michael Curtis Ford's historical fiction (most of which is set in the Roman era, though less often from the Roman point of view). The Forgotten Legion trilogy is good, as is Harry Sidebottom's Warrior of Rome series. Conn Iggulden's series is fairly enjoyable but drove me away with it's rampant historical inaccuracies. I've also found quite a few good historical fiction e-books on the era in the kindle marketplace. Outside of fiction I'd strongly recommend anything by Adrian Goldsworthy.

[paulp146]

Spartacus with Kirk douglas and Gladiator, a good film in it's own right, but even more for me as it was Oliver reeds last film, was a fan of his work.

[Spartan999]

HBO Rome, I Claudius, The Rise and Fall of an Empire Rome (the six episodes and the documentary)