Gladiators - Bloodsport of the Colosseum (2001) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the WORST DVD I ever bought technically! The movie excerpts are from clippings from old films and the clarity is beyond recognition. I find the excerpts very irritating. They were a lot of flickering (as if you are watching a movie or television show using an old television set or your set back to the 1950's when the frame of the TV screen keeps on flickering continuously until the screen stabilizes). The running time is actually more or less an hour and not 90 minutes as advertised. The special features are not really special anymore because they were just repeats of the main feature. You will realize that you will watching the same scenes a couple of times. Some scenes are shown more than five times just to stretch the time. Do not waste your money with this DVD. I wasted mine! This is not a DVD quality. The quality of the silent movies are much better!

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The Roman Colosseum was the setting for more terror, agony and horror than has ever been witnessed anywhere. Emperor Trajan gave one set of games that lasted 122 days, during which 11,000 people and 10,000 wild beasts were killed. Often the fresh blood of gladiators was used as a cure for epilepsy. It was also considered a good luck charm for brides-to-be to dip their combs in gladiator’s blood. Who were the gladiators? Where did they come from? How did they live? This fascinating video follows gladiators through their training, choice of costumes, weapons and style of combat to their rise to stardom and their inevitable violent death. So popular did some gladiators become that many Roman women were prepared to give anything to meet and be with the idol they worshiped. A compelling video insight into the violent, deadly world of the gladiators.Etxra Features: Colosseum, House of Terror; Flamma, Gladiator Superstar; Gladiators of Hollywood;Training Killers; Fighting Men of the Arena; Fearful Facts.

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The Spartans (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)The ancient Spartans were perhaps the most intense people to ever walk the face of the earth! I thought I knew all about them - I was wrong. I barely knew half the story.
This is a lengthy documentary: running over three hours. It's also surprisingly formatted in 16x9 widescreen, which was a joy. The picture is clean, bright, and mastered well. There's some re-enactments herein, a nice use of re-created "Spartan" music for the background score, and plenty and plenty of info, facts, trivia, ancient and modern quotations, and tidbits.
You'll get the whole story here: they leave little out - from Sparta's early beginnings, to it's strict social code, to it's intense training, it's subjectism of the neighboring Messenians, and the city-state's eventual decline. The only thing the documentary failed to capitalize on is the rise of the Macedonian powers and the fall of the various Greek city-leagues to Phillip II and his son Alexander the Great.
This documentary is excellent! It certainly helps that your host throughout the tour is a gorgeous British brunette with a sexy voice who walks around the various parts of Greece in tight bluejeans and sexy red tank tops. Aristophenes would have agreed no doubt. It's certainly a whole lot more interesting watching this intellectual beauty story-tell her way around the Greek islands than it would be to have a dull, monotone, male narrator VOG. She's alot easier on the eyes and her voice would launch a thousand ships to make Hellen of Troy seem pitiful. (I think I'm in love).
I've since watched this DVD from beginning to end several times now and it does not get redundant in the least! Indeed, I would recommend several viewings to absorb all the details it's so rich in research and information about ancient Sparta. Both the novice and casual observer will be highly entertained by this DVD, but hardcore scholars and history students will find a well-researched documentary that will add to their expertise as well.
Well worth every penny. I am proud to have it as part of my DVD collection for years to come.

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Nova: Secrets of the Parthenon (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Parthenon, considered by many the ultimate monument of antiquity, has coexisted in recent years with the glaring presence of modern construction, as a Parthenon reconstruction project which began in the mid-1970s continues its slow and somewhat controversial pace. This Nova episode addressing the secrets of the Parthenon's construction paints a rather rosy picture, referring to the one hundred million dollars that has already been spent but saying nothing about the debate over remaining finances at this point. The program does make clear why the restoration has been such a long and drawn out process, however -- it has been very much a learning process, revealing much new information on the original construction.
The Parthenon was completed in 432 B.C., a mere eight years after construction began. It is, of course, a shadow of its former self. Much of it lies in ruin, and the incredible statues that once graced its interior have been looted (mostly by Europeans of the 18th and 19th century). Still, even in ruins this monument to the glory of ancient Athens still sits majestically stop the summit of the Acropolis. One can hardly imagine a world without it, which is precisely why a decades-long effort to restore it was launched. After some 2500 years, what remains of the Parthenon was in danger of collapsing. As a traditionalist, I find it slightly troubling to see new pieces of marble being combined with the original stonework, but there is no other way to save it - and new material is only being used to replace pieces that can no longer be found among the ruins. And, of course, it's not a full restoration, as it is only preserving the Parthenon as we know it today.
The "secrets" detailed in this documentary are basically all architectural in nature. For example, no matter how perfectly symmetric the monument may look, there are subtle curves even on the foundations and cornices, the columns taper up oh so slightly, no two stones are exactly alike, and there are almost no right angles in evidence anywhere. Much is made of the incredible precision of the marble stones. One prominent idea discussed is that the design was modeled on the supposed ideal proportions of the human body, along with the notion that the ancient Greeks understood and incorporated the existence of optical illusions into the design. Answers to some of the most mysterious architectural secrets of the Parthenon are only now being found, as those on the restoration project have been compelled to learn as much as they can figure out about the original design, and physical evidence from other ancient Greek sites help explain how the builders achieved such precision among builders using Doric, Common, as well as Ionic design techniques.
It's taking decades for modern technological man to restore only a portion of a monument that the ancient Greeks completely built in just eight years. Clearly, we still have much to discover and learn from "the secrets of the Parthenon."

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Erected by the ancient Greeks as a temple to Athena, the Parthenon has served as a church, a fortress, an ammunition dump, and the model for countless banks, courthouses, and museums across the world. It has been shot at, exploded, set on fire, rocked by earthquakes, looted for its magnificent sculptures, and subjected to restorations that have been termed catastrophic. Surprisingly, despite much abuse and renown as an icon of Western civilization, the question of how the Parthenon was built has been largely ignored until recently. Thanks to the Greek government s $10 billion restoration program, scholars are finally probing the enigmas of its planning and construction. With unprecedented access, NOVA presents the inside story of the official restoration, which reaches far beyond the challenges and controversies of conserving one of the world s best-known buildings. The researchers are confronting some truly monumental riddles: How did the ancient Athenians build their great temple with incredible precision in a mere eight years? How did they manage to incorporate subtle, eye-pleasing distortions into the Parthenon s layout, such that there are few straight lines or right angles to be seen? And, most baffling of all, how did they accomplish all of this without an overall building plan or blueprint, which would be indispensable to a modern architect?

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The History Channel Presents Egypt - Engineering an Empire (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)I absolutely loved it! Peter Weller tell the story of the rise and fall of the Egyptian empire in a fascinating and contemporary way. There is great insight on exactly how all those amazing pyramids were created and the story behind the leaders and commoners who made it happen. There is also the inside story on the creation of the first military fortresses which is absolutely amazing. The Egyptians were the first great empire and made their mark which will live on forever in history.

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Peter weller narrates egypts awe-inspiring engineering accomplishments through the prism of its pharoahs indomitable personalities who pushed their royal architects to stretch the boundaries of the imagination & human potential essentially inventing the science of structural engineering.Studio: A&e Home VideoRelease Date: 12/19/2006Run time: 92 minutes

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Roman Invasion of Britain (2009) Review

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(More customer reviews)Education meets entertainment with perfection. Not just for history lovers. Dramatization as good as any Roman Era films, fine military and Brit commoner costuming, and realistic period settings. As a visual documentary, it is one of the best at filming wild, rustic, natural British countryside you can find on DVD. It's about the Roman Empire's invasion (AD 43), Brit retaliation, and occupation results over 400 years. Eventually the Romans in Britannia fall.
Original UK air, July, 2010.
Presenter/narrator Bettany Hughes is scholarly AND expressive, photogenic,& dramatically theatrical with a most bonny British accent. Her eyes draw you into narrated history as emotionally as the battle scenes. Flirtatious, smiles & looks, rivaling Honeysuckle Weeks of 'FOYLE'S WAR', almost drives one to distraction. I want to be taught more by this historian & will look for "When the Moors Ruled in Europe" and "The Minotaur's Island."
3 episodes about 46 minutes each--WITH SUBTITLES
1 ONSLAUGHT--Spring AD 43, Claudius sends 40,000 troops to conquer Britannia and perhaps save himself & his public image. Plautius was the general leading the channel crossing invasion of 800+ ships. Romans vs Celts.
2 REVOLT--1st century, 17 year gorilla war (a Viet Nam for the Roman Empire) continued, lead by Boudica and her E. Anglia clan, Iceni (AD 60). She wipes roman colony Colchester off the earth, now archeologically proven. London & St. Albans followed. But tides turned. Rome builds towns, i.e. Bath. A 73 mile Hadrian Wall (AD 130) is Rome's northern wall of dominance.
3 DOMINION--350 years of Roman domination proved a mixed existence for Brits. 10-15% lived well. 85% in harshness, hatred & fear. 10% of Rome's military were stationed in Britannia to exploit. Romans taught the Brits how to tax (ask Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin). Brits became mine & urban slaves. By the end of the 4th century the Romans sun was setting.
Bonus material:
Text Bios of Bettany Hughes, Claudius, Plautius, Caratacus, Boudicca, Hadrian.
Athena booklet with time line, study questions, & 5 essays on historical fact.
Extended Interviews (subtitled):
1 Dr. Paul Sealy; + Mosaics of Romano Britain
2 Dr. John Davies; + Ruins of Romano Britain
3 Guy de la Bedoyere; + Museum of London's Roman Relics
A must for Educational institutions dealing with British history or Roman Empire impacts. Not rated but family friendly, but the intellectual level is high school through adult.
Really wonderful to view--high recommendation for ANYONE who enjoys learning.

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Rome\'s daring conquest and occupation of the British Isles
Motivated by an emperor\'s greed and political ambition, Rome added Britain to its empire in the first century CE, changing the land and its people forever. Join historian Bettany Hughes (When the Moors Ruled in Europe) as she examines new research and the latest archaeological evidence to reveal the brutal realities of the Roman conquest. Meet scheming politicians, beleaguered generals, and fiery revolutionaries--including Queen Boudicca, the wronged woman who mobilized her people for a bloody and tragic revolt. Interviews with noted military experts and meticulous reenactments illuminate a little-known but pivotal period in British and Roman history.
Packed with drama and detail, this absorbing series reveals how a nation sprang from 400 years of subjugation.
Oxford-educated author and historian Bettany Hughes has presented historical documentaries for the BBC, PBS, and the Discovery Channel. She serves on the Innovation Programs Committee of the U.K.\'s National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts.

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Warrior Empire - The Mughals (History Channel) (2006) Review

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(More customer reviews)This 90-minute program about India's Mughal (or Mogul) Empire, which lasted from 1526 to 1858, focuses on the battles and weaponry of the Mughals under the emperors Babur, Akbar, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb, with attention also to Mughal architecture, including the Taj Mahal. You'll learn a great deal about the making and use of the composite bow, armor for elephants, swords, matchlock guns, cannons, and rockets, and you'll see demonstrations of many of the weapons.
I was disappointed that virtually nothing was said about religion or government in the Mughal Empire--where Muslims ruled a largely Hindu populace--but if you're particularly interested in the Mughals as warriors, you'll probably find this program quite interesting.
(The documentary "Ancient India" includes about ten minutes near the end about the Mughals.)

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WARRIOR EMPIRE: THE MUGHALS is a sweeping, in-depth portrait of India's most colorful, violent, and majestic era. From 1526 to 1858, this dynasty of nomadic warriors indulged their appetite for territorial expansion, spreading their rule throughout the Indian subcontinent. Though they conquered their kingdom with crushing brutality, the Mughals were also brilliant technological innovators and masters of art and architecture. This program offers lush, detailed images of Mughal accomplishments such as the glorious Taj Mahal, palaces, forts, water systems, elaborate gardens, and richly crafted artwork. Step-by-step scientific recreations of advanced Mughal metallurgy and weaponry show the meticulous production of chain mail armor for a battalion of elephants, lethally flexible composite bows, rocketry, and swordsmith techniques passed down through the generations, and still alive today. Join us for an enthralling history of the inventive warfare, material excess, architectural marvels, and cultural flowering that shaped modern India. DVD Features: Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Bible Battles (History Channel) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)If you are studying the Old Testament of the Bible, this History Channel program gives a unique perspective of events of the time, told from the point of view of the soldier. The perspective is supported by both Biblical text and Egyptian texts describing the various events. This program provides a humanistic opinion of Old Testament events that involved warfare as told in a very logical sequencing of military thought and strategy. I highly recommend this program for anyone doing in depth study of the Old Testament or Torah.

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In one of the most hostile lands on the planet, an ancient people called the Israelites forged an army and carved out an empire. Their ancient military exploits are described in one of history's most famous religious texts--the Old Testament of the Bible. But by reading between the religious lines, military historians unlock the soldiers' secrets of the Bible by examining the weapons, strategies, and the commanders, some of whom are not always thought of as warriors, like Abraham, Moses, and Deborah. In this feature-length special, we explore the biblical world from a military perspective from the time of Abraham until David's ascension to the throne. Blood often flows more freely than holy water in the days of the Old Testament, and the military secrets of the Bible have yet to be revealed...until now!

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The History Channel Presents Rome - Engineering an Empire (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I rented this video for my 7th grade son. It was interesting to see how things were accomplished by the Romans. It talked about the Roman Emperors during that time, but the engineering feats that they accomplished really kept my son's attention and helped him gain more understanding. I would highly recommend this for any 7th grader in addition to their textbook. Parents, be aware there are a couple sexual references, but shown as a historical educating perspective.

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One of the most powerful civilizations in history, the Roman Empire roled the world for more than five centuries. Although renowned for its military prowess, Rome s real power stemmed from its unprecedented mastery of urban planning and engineering.Hosted by Peter Weller, ROME: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE chronicles Rome s spectacular structural history from the rise of Julius Caesar in 55 BC to the Empire s eventual collapse in c. 537 AD. Each of Rome s legendary rulers left their mark on the city--some stately, some sordid--and their collective ambition caused a surge of innovation and ingenuity that led to Rome s glorious ascendance. Examine the planning and construction of the city s greatest masterpieces, including the awe-inspiring Colosseum and its mysterious subterranean aqueducts, and piece together Rome s magnificent past through its architectural triumphs.Abundant in exclusive location footage and cutting-edge CGI graphics, the multiple Emmy Award-winning ROME: ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE breathes new life into the incredible history and majesty of the epic Roman Empire.DVD Features: Behind the Scenes FeaturetteHistory in the Making: Rome: Engineering an Empire

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The History Channel Presents The Crusades - Crescent & The Cross (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)I received this advanced review copy from the promotional company working for the History Channel. I must admit that they sent me a very nice package and a bonus disk. This is an eight sided box, like a two pound box for candy - lovely print job. The two disks are contained in a book inside the box, along with a CD disk of photos - some from the production, others are historical pictures of either the key players or events/places. A very nice package, though it will not fit on your DVD shelf. Also, one of the pages in my book was stapled in upside down. Still, a nice presentation. Not sure if this product will be the same when released.
Apart from this, the work itself is very interesting. I sat through the entire production and was never bored or antsy. Actually, I found myself marveling at what the History Channel has done here.
The program covers the First Crusade on the first disk. There is an examination of the causes of the initial conflict, examining cultural issues, Religious issues, European social and political unrest, Church influences, financial issues and points of conflict in the Moslem and Byzantine world. While Religion is acknowledged as the primary cause of the conflict, they also do not ignore key issues that lead to these conflicts. There is also discussion of Urban's "selling of the Crusades". Very well put together and an in depth examination of the events leading up to the First Crusade.
Included also are maps of the areas, modern day images of the cities today as well as places that have survived, and those that have not.
There is a lot of information to sift through here. While the story is carefully laid out and well developed in order of events, the program purposefully comes across as a story woven by an expert story teller. Even the added discussions by such noted scholars as Dr. Thomas Asbridge, Tariq Ali, Prof. John France and Dr. Taef el-Azhari, to name a few, comes across as additional parts of the storytelling.
There are the usual added "tidbits" thrown in by the History Channel, like uncovered bits of text to give clarification to some accounts and the discovery of a location of a famous battle that up to now had been unknown.
Emphasis appears to be on key battles, as these are reenacted for the viewer. These are provided by Lion Television, and are nice additions to the material. They keep the viewer interested as this material could get rather dry if not for points of interest like this.
The second disk covers the Second and Third Crusades. Again, social and political climates are discussed and examined. Again, the story is covered in a "timeline" of events from the vantage point of the chroniclers.
We are presented with the fall of Edessa, the calling of the Second Crusade, the rise of Nur-el-Din, the battle for Damascus, Egypt and Sal-al-Din and the arrival of Richard the Lionheart in the Holy Land for the Third Crusade.
Again, key battles are reenacted, strategies discussed, failures noted and by the end of the film we are looking at a very good wrap up of the entire program.
Conflict, social upheaval, cultural differences, battle strategies, religious zealots and the lust for war and violence all comes through as the story of the Crusades unfolds in this production. We see the heroes, and the vile nature of the event itself. Nothing is left glossed over. There is some romanticism here, as the chroniclers tended to be very bias towards their benefactors, but on the other hand, we also see the social and political issues that were key to the events that took place. And while not shown, there is discussion of the atrocities and barbarism that was prevalent during these events.
This is a good overview of the events that took place starting 1099 and which continued for about 200 years. There are some events that are more examined than others, and some key figures that are discussed in some detail. It was, however, very entertaining, factual and well worth, I felt, the time I spent watching it.medievalcrusadesbabe

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THE CRUSADES: CRESCENT & THE CROSS presents the epic battle between two Middle Age superpowers: the Christian Crusaders and the Muslims. Fought over two centuries, the conflict decided the fate of the Holy Land of the Middle East. Only a tiny strip of land, just a few hundred miles long, it contained the ultimate prize, the city of Jerusalem. The documentary is driven by the key personalities of the First, Second and Third Crusades, the popes, kings, sultans and knights who, in the name of God, ruthlessly fought for land and power. Experience the murder, treachery, and bloodshed of this legendary chapter of history throuth the eyes of key historical figures such as Richard the Lionheart and Saladin, King Louis VII and Nur al-Din. With breath-taking CGI-enhanced visuals, heart-pounding reenactments, and stunning footage from rarely-seen locations THE CRUSADES: CRESCENT & THE CROSS brings the first three Crusades alive for a new generation in conflict. DVD Features: Timeline; Behind-the-Scenes Featurette "History in the Making: The Crusades"; Bonus Documentary "The Knights Templar"; 16:9 Widescreen Format; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Battles B.C.: The Complete Season One (2008) Review

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(More customer reviews)The attempt to make the recreations appear like the movie "300" was idiotic at best (the 300 was about as accurate in portraying the battle of Thermopylae as Zena the warrior Princess was an accurate portrayal of ancient times). None of the recreations for these episodes had much character (they all seemed strangely alike) and most were ridiculously inaccurate. For example, why didn't the Romans have the scutum shields in the Caesar episode; why was Caesar portrayed so young; why did Hannibal have to look so much like the Scorpion King that he even lacked adequate clothing while crossing the alps: why did every commander in the series need to behave like Conan the barbarian; why didn't the Romans actually fight like Romans; and what's with the fights with two swords (one in each hand) as the soldiers pirouette about looking more like ballet dancers than the way these ancient armies actually fought.
Please History Channel, stop trying to recreate ancient military history based upon hideously inaccurate films such as The 300!

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Prepare for a riveting portrayal of some of the most exciting battles of ancient history as well as the tales of betrayal, lust, conquest and brutality that often accompanied them. Battles BC, the exciting series from HISTORYTM, uses computer graphics and live-action stunts to bring to life the battle strategies, tactics, and weapons of past military leaders, from Hannibal and the Romans to Moses, the Athenians, and David. Using a graphic style similar to 300, the contemporary novel that became a Hollywood blockbuster, Battles BC shows how leaders from the ancient world fared in some of the greatest conflicts in history, exposing the truths and myths behind the legendary feats of the epic heroes and villains who didn t just wage war, but invented itBATTLES BC features 8 historic battles on 2-DVDs including:Moses: Death ChaseJoshua: Epic SlaughterDavid: Giant SlayerHannibal: The AnnihilatorAlexander: Lord of WarJudgment Day at MarathonRamses: Raging ChariotsCaesar: Super SiegeStills from Dragon Ball Z: Season Nine (Click for larger image)

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Last Stand of the 300: The Legendary Battle at Thermopylae (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)They showed this documentary on the History channel to accompany the release of the movie 300.
In contrast to the movie 300 (which was ok -see my review) this documentary is excellent. It is really a movie-like documentary with a lot of action.
Graphically it resembles a little the movie 300 since it uses a lot of computer graphics and non-realistic red looking skies. However, here Persians really look like Persians.
The content is excellent. Although I have read about the battle of Thermopylae from many different sources, I learned about things I did not know before and gained a more detail knowledge. However, like in the movie 300 here again Leonidas seems to be much younger than he really was by 480BC.
What I particularly liked was that the documentary focused both on the land battle of the Spartans and sea battle of the Athenian fleet. This really showed how brilliant and well coordinated the Allied Greek strategy was. Most other sources just focus on the land battle and pay minor attention to what happened in the flanking sea. The mastermind Themistocles is well represented and a decent length of the documentary is dedicated to him.
The Spartans and their society are accurately represented. They were not fighting for a new era of freedom which was at the time being brought forward by Athenian democracy. They were fighting to preserve their own, non-free un-democratic system and were hostile to the spread of democracy to other Greek city states. However, their last stand was not solely to seek "a beautiful death" but instead to cover the retreat of their fellow allied soldiers. Maybe, also to give an example from which the allied Greeks would stay united against the Persians for the sake of their sacrifice.
The sound tracks that accompany the scenes are excellent. However, they could have used them more often and they could have raised the volume a little too.
I enjoyed watching this documentary even more than the other two excellent documentaries on the Spartans (one from the History channel and the other by PBS).
Highly - I repeat highly recommended - to people interested in ancient history and battle strategies and warfare.


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The legendary battle of Thermopylae is still acknowledged today for its brilliant military maneuvers and the well-trained and fearless soldiers who fought to the death. The History Channel® presents a detailed account of this legendary battle, examining the events leading up to the conflict, the tactical expertise that allowed the outnumbered Greeks to stall their mighty foes, and the bloody encounter itself. Find out how an army of a few hundred men overcame impossible odds and witness the conflict that altered the course of Western civilization.

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Digging for the Truth - The Complete Season 1 (History Channel) (2005) Review

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(More customer reviews)More Digging for the Truth and Josh, please--one season is not enough! This program is a great exploration of some of history's greatest mysteries and for each quest, Josh and his crew travel the world to talk to experts, view sites, and check out any and all clues and theories for each topic. Watching Josh dive, rappel, climb, hike, fly, and ride (to name a few of the many things he does) to the sites and use ancient techniques and tools to recreate how ancient people did things makes it come alive and makes the viewer feel like they are there. Josh's down-to-Earth style of hosting and inquisitiveness is refreshing and endearing.
This show has something for everyone. For history buffs, it's a fresh look at things; for history novices, it's a great intro, and for anyone, it's a heck of a lot of fun to watch. The format of the show can entice even the staunchest history-hater to be glued to the TV. The scenery and camera work is top-notch and it's like taking a little mini-vacation (and in some cases, a thrill ride) every time you watch.


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Whether investigating ancient tunnels, crossing the icy waters of Lake Titicaca, or scaling the peaks of the Alps, explorer and survival expert Josh Bernstein takes viewers on a rollicking quest to unlock the world's greatest mysteries. DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH: THE COMPLETE SEASON 1 journeys to the most intriguing and dangerous places on earth as Josh uncovers astonishing secrets about some of history's most enigmatic civilizations. In the debut season, Josh voyages far into the Andes to track down the mythic El Dorado, deep into Ethiopia to follow the trail of the Ark of the Covenant, hikes through Utah to investigate the mysterious cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde, and explores the dark tombs of Egypt to unravel the true story of Queen Nefertiti--all the while proving that the ancient past is not so very far removed from our modern lives. In 13 action-packed episodes featuring stunning location footage from across the planet, the blending of modern forensic science and anthropology, and high-flying adventure, DIGGING FOR THE TRUTH: THE COMPLETE SEASON 1 unearths a vibrantly fresh approach to archaeology. DVD Features: History in the Making Featurette; Josh Bernstein Biography; Interactive Menus; Scene Selection

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Pompeii - The Last Day/Colosseum - A Gladiator's Story (2004) Review

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(More customer reviews)A realistic docu-drama, this is a telling of the building of Rome's Colosseum which started under the rule of Emperor Vespasian and was completed by his son and heir Titus in 80 AD. It also shows the training of the gladiators, many who were slaves, but a few who would trade their liberty for a period of time for money, and sometimes fame.
The decadence and brutality of the Roman games, as well the brave and desperate men who were the entertainment, make for a riveting story;
The central figure is a historical gladiator by the name of Verus, who was a slave working in a quarry when chosen for the arena. Robert Shannon is good in the part, exhibiting much physical prowess, grace and style.
Filmed in Tunisia, it boasts the latest technological wizardry to duplicate the Colosseum and the audience, using matte paintings and crowd replication among other techniques.
Produced and directed by Tilman Remme, the dialog is in Latin, and the narration by Liev Schreiber, whose modulated voice is always a pleasure to listen to.
Having seen the empty shell of what is left of this extraordinary structure as it stands today, I found this recreation fascinating and informative, with enough drama and action to make it interesting for repeated viewings.

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POMPEII:LAST DAY - DVD Movie

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Nefertiti Resurrected (2003) Review

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(More customer reviews)I saw this documentary when it originally aired on the Discovery Channel, and was more than a little disappointed. All the hype it got made me think they had FOUND Nefertiti, and that the discovery was the greatest thing since Tut himself. After spending two hours (excessive--it could have easily been one) waiting for the moment of groundbreaking acheivement--nothing more than speculation.
Essentially, there's a lady who claims to have found Nefertiti's remains stashed away in an out of the way place in the Valley of the Kings. The figure is deformed, the valuables gone, and only the damaged corpse remains, yet through various tests of sorts (which are very fascinating themselves), she is convinced that she has, indeed, found the lost queen. That's the claim, but it is really nothing more than speculation. There is some compelling evidence, sure, but nothing conclusive.
The sad thing is that several other major Egyptologists--the guy who found KV5 and the Egyptian in charge of approving digs in the Valley of the Kings--aren't convinced it's Nefertiti. It is possible that they don't want to admit that their work has been overshadowed, but I doubt that's the case. Essentially, this woman is convinced she's found Nefertiti, but she's about the only one convinced of that.
Again I have to say that this documentary was substantially less interesting than it was hyped up to be. It's a dig, maybe there's some cool stuff, that's it. Overall it was interesting, but certainly not worth owning unless you are into Egyptology in a big way. If you want a great documentary on recent finds, try Egypt: Beyond the Pyramids.

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The History Channel Presents Engineering an Empire - The Complete Series (Collector's Edition) (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)The History Channel's Engineering an Empire series, containing six DVDs, focuses on the engineering and architectural triumphs of great (and not so great) civilizations. Each of the programs attempts to feature a society's engineering accomplishments as a prism through which to view its history and culture. Because of the arbitrary selection of societies and engineering accomplishments and the limited length of each program, the series fails to achieve this grand goal, but it is still both entertaining and to a limited extent educational.
All too often, the engineering accomplishments of the civilizations covered are limited to aqueducts, the use of pilings to support buildings in marshes and over bodies of water, the discovery of the corbelled arch, and military inventions like the Greek triremes and the ubiquitous catapult in its various forms.
Although actors are used extensively, they look like you expect real people of the time would have looked, a major advantage that the History Channel has over PBS, where the actors are always English and good-looking. A History Channel Persian or Mayan looks like a Persian or Mayan.
One area in which the History Channel excels is that of Computer-Aided Design, which they use to "reconstruct" buildings that either lie in ruins or have disappeared. The results are remarkable.
On the negative side, while the experts who appear are clearly highly knowledgeable leaders in their field, that field is limited to history; relatively few professional engineers or architects appear.
The selection of Peter Weller (of RoboCop fame) as a host was initially off-putting to me (despite constant references to his links to Syracuse University, he apparently only received an M.A. from that institution, later becoming an adjunct lecturer there in film), but over time I came to appreciate his enthusiasm and willingness to laugh at himself.
Programs on the first four disks include:
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 1: Greece, Age of Alexander, & The Aztecs [DVD] (141 min.)
I question the inclusion of the Aztec segment which generally talks about their use of pilings to build their city on a lake. In contrast the Mayan segment, which appears in Vol. 3, is fascinating -- truly an advanced civilization.
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 2: Carthage, China & Russia [DVD] (141 min.)
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 3: Britain-Blood & Steel, Persians, & Maya-Death Empire [DVD] (141 min.)
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 4: Napoleon-Steel Monster, Byzantines, & Da Vinci's World [DVD] (141 min.)
The segment on Da Vinci's world has nothing to do with Da Vinci, focusing instead on Brunelleschi's building of the Duomo and the rebuilding of Rome in the 1500s. A separate segment includes a Syracuse University architecture professor discussing Brunelleschi's Pazzi Chapel. I only wish it had lasted longer.
The final two disks, which appear to have been made before the first four, are the flagships of the series, each containing one long, high quality program:
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 5: Rome [DVD] (94 min.)
More dramatic than the others, this program provides a nice overview of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire. If you're only going to buy one disk, this is the one. It features excellent CAD reconstructions of many of the most famous Roman engineering accomplishments.
Engineering An Empire, Vol. 6: Egypt [DVD] (92 min.)
Also of very high quality. Again, the CAD reconstructions are excellent. The experts, especially a woman professor from the American University in Cairo, are knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their subject. There's also an interesting add-on featuring Peter Weller talking about how he got into this line of work and why he enjoys it so much.
As indicated above, I question the inclusion of the Aztecs in this series, especially since there are other culturs that would have been more interesting (e.g., Babylon, India and the Incas.)
I did not experience the screen format problems that other viewers complain about, perhaps because my TV allows me to switch between five different formats, so I can use the best-fitting one.


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The Parthenon. Chichén Itzá. The Pyramids. Their scale, complexity, and sheer beauty stand as permanent reminders of the indomitable strength and ingenuity of the human spirit.ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE: THE COLLECTOR S EDITION circles the globe to re-examine history s most magnificent civilizations by surveying the architectural and engineering triumphs they left behind. Beginning more than five-thousand years ago with the mind-boggling construction feats of the ancient Egyptians, the 14 documentaries--including two feature-length specials--in this collection revive the spectacular glory of the past, from the great temples of Greece to the majestic and mysterious Tenochtitlan. Cutting-edge CGI graphics and stunning location footage reanimate the ancient streets of such cities as Carthage and Rome, while expert interview trace the rise of each empire and the technological achievements that paved the way for their gravity-defying masterpieces.Hosted by Peter Weller, ENGINEERING AN EMPIRE: THE COLLECTOR S EDITION unites each riveting moment of this critically-acclaimed and Emmy Award-winning series to reveal the innovation and infrastructure behind the world s most dazzling empires.DVD Features: Season 1 Behind-the-Scenes Featurette; Egypt FeaturettesInside Look ,From The Director s Chair , andEverything You Wanted To Know About Egypt ; Rome Behind-the-Scenes Featurette

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Story of India (2007) Review

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(More customer reviews)I must disclose two items - I am a big fan of Michael Wood and I am of Indian descent. I don't believe either of these color my review but both were my reasons for watching. Michael Wood is to History what Carl Sagan was to Science and Cosmology. His passion and interest in the subject matter may be viewed as overdone by some but I see it as sincere and therefore brings out the same in the audience. He is able to bring the story of 5000 years to life without leaving the present which is quite an accomplishment that has both to do with the filmmakers and India as both country and people.
The program was beautifully filmed and captures the voices of more than just the conventional academics that provide the commentary in many historical documentaries. The episodes on Asoka and Buddha are my favorites but all were easy to watch and taught me some or much that I had not already known. Some critics will call Wood's perspective as viewed through rose colored glasses. I would agree but I think that is by design and not meant to minimize much tragedy and depravity that has also occurred during the 5000 years. There are plenty of other resources that can provide that perspective.


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Sixty years after Indian independence, British historian Michael Wood presents the tale of the oldest and most diverse civilization, and largest democracy. A nuclear power and a rising giant, India's population will overtake China's within 10 years and its economy is predicted to overtake that of the U.S. in the 2030s. This journey of sights and sounds, and achievements takes him from the deserts of Turkmenistan to the Khyber Pass.

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