eBranch Blog

March 25, 2008

Historically Inaccurate Movies

Yahoo! Movies recently had a feature on the 10 Most Historically Inaccurate Movies. Topping the list is the current movie 10,000 B.C. I have to say that when I saw 10,000 B.C., the historical inaccuracies were very distracting while watching the movie - wooly mammoths helped build the pyramids? Come on. Personally, I enjoyed several of the other movies on their list, but then while historically accurate, they were good movies. See the list for their reasons why the movies aren't accurate. If you want to check them out for yourself see the list below, which also includes links to books and other materials on the historical aspects of each film.

10,000 B.C. - In Theaters
Check out books on the pyramids, mammoths, and ancient Egyptians

Gladiator
For the facts, check out books on gladiators, ancient Rome, and Sick Caesars for information on Emporer Commodus.

300
For more information see materials on the Battle of Thermopylae and Sparta,

The Last Samurai
See the catalog for information on 19th century Japan, Samurai warriors, and The Last Samurai a book on Saigo Takamori - the basis for Ken Watanabe's character.

Apocalypto
Read about the Mayan Civilization.

Memoirs of a Geisha
Read about Geishas or read Arthur Golden's novel.

Braveheart
Read about the real William Wallace.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Books about Elizabeth I; the first movie - Elizabeth.

The Patriot
Read about Francis Marion, the basis for Mel Gibson's character.

2001: A Space Odyssey
The late, great Arthur C. Clarke wrote a short story - Sentinel of Eternity in 1951, which was adapted into the movie and novel in 1968. He didn't quite get 2001 right, but then neither did George Orwell get 1984 right. Read the book.

For more on history and the movies, see the book History Goes to the Movies: A Viewer's Guide to the Best (and Some of the Worst) Historical Films Ever Made by Joseph Roquemore.