Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Short TV Blog
Rome was pretty interesting. As in some of the scenes where Septimius (7th born) guts and beheads Pompeii Magnus, in the background of an opening scene to last week's episode, Caesarion (the name of Caesar's and Cleopatra's son), there is a tall building in the background. That is the lighthouse or Pharos of Alexandria, one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, destroyed by a series of earthquakes in early 1300s AD. Looked a little dark on Rome, as the real thing was built with white marble on the outside.
The other remarkable thing was a less than stunningly beautiful Cleopatra. We have all grown up with the idea that Cleopatra was dark skinned with black hair like all Egyptians. I'm no longer so sure. As Vorenus said, her people rode with Alexander which means they were from the ancient nation of Macedonia, which is now called, well, Macedonia, but just a few years ago was part of Yugoslavia. Plenty of blonds and redheads in Macedonia and the general hair color there is brown, not black. Absolutely no reason to think she looked like an Egyptian.
Now a little criticism. The fight between Pullo and the Nubian was terrible. It was clear that the Nubian was trying his best NOT to stab Pullo. That fakery was not made up for by the 20 or so stab wounds he got at the end. Also, I'm OK with the fact that everyone speaks with an English accent, but, every so often, a modern British slang word creeps in and strains my willing suspension of disbelief. Like the slang term Gyppo for Egyptian. I'm sure the Romans had a nickname for the Egyptians, but it wasn't Gyppo. Words like that cause a Monty Pythonic comic dissonance, as disturbing to the ambiance as Caesar would be with a Cockney accent--"Cor, blimey, what's all this then, Brutus?"
Caesar actually sounded like a Mafia boss when he demanded immediate repayment of the Roman loan to Ptolemy XII, but I guess that's probably right. Finally, Lucius Vorenus may not be as good in the sack as Pullo, but riding on horses, Vorenus has the decided edge as Kevin McKidd clearly is an experienced horseman--he is smooth as glass, he's one with the horse, where poor Ray Stevenson rides like a big bobble head.
The other remarkable thing was a less than stunningly beautiful Cleopatra. We have all grown up with the idea that Cleopatra was dark skinned with black hair like all Egyptians. I'm no longer so sure. As Vorenus said, her people rode with Alexander which means they were from the ancient nation of Macedonia, which is now called, well, Macedonia, but just a few years ago was part of Yugoslavia. Plenty of blonds and redheads in Macedonia and the general hair color there is brown, not black. Absolutely no reason to think she looked like an Egyptian.
Now a little criticism. The fight between Pullo and the Nubian was terrible. It was clear that the Nubian was trying his best NOT to stab Pullo. That fakery was not made up for by the 20 or so stab wounds he got at the end. Also, I'm OK with the fact that everyone speaks with an English accent, but, every so often, a modern British slang word creeps in and strains my willing suspension of disbelief. Like the slang term Gyppo for Egyptian. I'm sure the Romans had a nickname for the Egyptians, but it wasn't Gyppo. Words like that cause a Monty Pythonic comic dissonance, as disturbing to the ambiance as Caesar would be with a Cockney accent--"Cor, blimey, what's all this then, Brutus?"
Caesar actually sounded like a Mafia boss when he demanded immediate repayment of the Roman loan to Ptolemy XII, but I guess that's probably right. Finally, Lucius Vorenus may not be as good in the sack as Pullo, but riding on horses, Vorenus has the decided edge as Kevin McKidd clearly is an experienced horseman--he is smooth as glass, he's one with the horse, where poor Ray Stevenson rides like a big bobble head.
# posted by Roger Fraley @ 12:23 AM 
