Troy

May. 23rd, 2004 10:44 am
x_los: (Default)
[personal profile] x_los
Nothing makes me sadder than inappropriate, anachronistic use of the Turtle. Truly, the turtle, a martial move in which a legion of soldiers hold their rectangular shields above and along side them as they march to create a mobile, impregnable precursor to the tank is really cool to watch, and so it is tempting to plug it into a big battle scene so that the audience can chuckle at the cleverness.

When the Uruk-hai (spelling?) pulled it in The Two Towers, I was irritated at it happening in another dimension, but I let it go. When Achilles, however, whips it out in Troy, I just wanted to cry. Why invented the Turtle? Bloody Cesar, about the time of the purported birth of Christ. Who did Cesar come from? The FRIGGING TROJANS! Aeneas and Cereusa THE TROJAN PRINCESS to Ascanius/Iulus to the Julian Clan to Julius Cesar. So Achilles is using a move that won't be invented for, like, 3000 years and by the OTHER SIDE! AUUUUGH! Madness!

I've onl seen this done right ONCE, in bloody Cleopatra with rex Harrison. They're mucking about in Alexandra and Cesar's all 'check this out!' and it happens and everyone goes 'oooooh.' See? Everyone thinks these people were so primitive that just anyone could have thought up their great discoveries at anytime and doesn't realize that the Turtle is to ancient warfare what the Howitzer was to modern- a defining achievement. It's just disrespectful to steal the move, transplant it and act like the guy who came up with it was totally superfluous. Stupid movies.

Date: 2004-05-23 07:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nacilmeiel.livejournal.com
After watching 'Gladiator' and being extremely irritated inaccurate betrayal of customs, monarch lineage and fighting styles, I resolved myself never to watch historical films.

Also Last of the Mohicans, which has no relations, except for innaccurate geographical depiction in a historical film. Gosh, it ticks me off.

So no enticing will make me see such a movie.

You're going to school in mid-June?

Date: 2004-05-23 07:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] x-los.livejournal.com
I'm probably gonna start classes July 22nd, as part of my unending strugle to graduate as quickly as possible and transfer/get into a grad school I don't hate. Did I say June? Sorry. It'll just be one or two courses- might as well start getting the language requirement out of the way. Latin geekhood is in my immediate future.

Date: 2004-05-23 07:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nacilmeiel.livejournal.com
Ah, welcome to Latin geekdom. Hic, haec, hoc.. (why do I occaisonally get declensions in my head?)

You speak in Martial's epigrams.. just watch out when you start quoting Catallus!

Date: 2004-05-23 07:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] x-los.livejournal.com
...what's an epigram?

Date: 2004-05-23 08:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nacilmeiel.livejournal.com
Tantum magno suo debet Verona Catullo, quantum parva suo Mantuo Virgilio.

Meeble, Martial's a crazy sarcastic bitch.

Date: 2004-05-24 02:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] clio-the-muse.livejournal.com
Verona owes so much to its own great Catullus, however much small Mantua to its own Vergil.

And, ahem, I think it's supposed to be "Mantua," with an implied repetition of "debet."

Welcome to geekdom, Erin, we're glad to have you.

And I just actually found this LJ community that speaks entirely in Latin; it's so exciting!

Date: 2004-05-24 11:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] nacilmeiel.livejournal.com
Um, see, now you're the geek! Meeble, me-not-geek-of-any-sort.

Date: 2004-05-24 05:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] heather-macleod.livejournal.com
where is this LJ?
(must indulge geekdom)

Date: 2004-05-23 07:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dragonsallie.livejournal.com
hey erin, i got a live journal up and running

Date: 2004-05-24 02:49 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] clio-the-muse.livejournal.com
Oh, and Erin? I think this is the most interesting point I've yet read about the movie.

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