We all know for a fact that some or most of the historical movies made are inaccurate, Yahoo! Movies has somehow listed the ten most of 'em all..
I'm not familiar to most of it, since I only seen a few. There are still some that I know, but I guess didn't made it to the top!lol
So for all of you who are interested, here's the link and I hope that you could at least be informed why they topped the list and the flaws behind the film!lol
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/10mosthistoricallyinaccurate.html
[question posted by raijin]
responses and comments:
These must only be the most recent, I do recall in JR High, we had to watch The Alamo, and write down everything inaccurate about it, so I think it should be added also...I worked hard on that project... LOL [Grace35]
Oh ok, tell me something then!! I will admit, I didn't travel through every movie, I just noticed that it wasn't in the Top Ten!! HAHA Thanks [Grace35]
the oliver stone classic JFK. well you could add Nixon to that too. both were full of holes. its sad too both films really were good movies. I enjoyed them [hholt01]
Yes, that's also correct but maybe their first category for that matter is the way it faired on the theater!happy [raijin]
love the examples! my own contribution was the u boat movie about the enigma code machine. can't remember it's name. it had the guy from guns and roses. the error? america recovered the machine. i don't think so!!!! it was a british recovery. hollywood has a lot to answer for! [axle_shockhits]
Hehe! Movies..confused [raijin]
Thanks for the link Raijin, they were very interesting facts. I have only seen one of the movies and that was "BraveHeart" I did enjoy it, flaws and all. [Goodie123]
I loved the Lethal Weapon series. [Goodie123]
Thanks for a really interesting link here, raijin! I know some of these movies were highly inaccurate, but other ones I hadn't actually studied before. It's interesting to hear about the differences between real life and how Hollywood paints it. I found myself laughing out loud at a couple of these, just because the idea anyone would think they were accurate in the first place cracked me up. [lecanis]
Hehe! That's right, I was also thinking if ever schools would just make a reaction paper just for the thought of how well students are aware of separating the facts from fiction. Just like what responder number one did, when she was still in high school!happywink [raijin]
Some of the description in those movies had actually made me laugh, specially those movies that I've seen. Haha.. I knew Persian King Xerxes at the 300 movie wouldn't really look that godly in real life, and I LOL at the leather Speedos criticize. Well actually, I don't think history itself is accurate anyway... for example the famous line of Douglas Macarthur "I shall return", do you know that there's a saying that he never really did said that? I don't know if that's true though... there's also the fact that history are being changed to make it seems like they're the good guys. Aren't there cases when the history of 1 country is different from another? Hehe... [DevilHands]
Yeah, sometimes powerful personas influences history. They could simply erase and create one, according to their interest.. [raijin]
Well, I see Mel Gibson has more than a few on the list. I guess he rewrites history to suit the film he wants to make. lol Actually, I can see why he would have wanted to remake the character for the Patriot, in real life he wasn't a very good person. ...whit [whittby]
Shucks, I'm a fan of his..lol [raijin]
Of then ten, I am familiar with 6. :) The thing is I am glad that I do have this notion that "historical" movies are usually done for commercial purposes thus I do not heavily rely and believe on them but I do appreciate the cinematography. :) [tryxiness]
North and South Part I was supposed to be extremely accurate historically speaking. Only place I ever heard tht the civil war was started cause the south wanted to keep their slaves but agreed new states would all be free and the north wouldn't accept that. I reserached it and yeah, it was true. We were all taught it was just to free the slaves. [coffeebreak]
I saw that and was going to post it too! I dont' go to the movies anymore as one, they are to expensive. and then they just aren't what they use to be. To much violance, crime, killing, s*x, and other "carrying on's". Just isn't fun anymore - at least to me. Last one I saw was Sweet Home Alabama and Uptown Girls. Haven't been since! I know there are other kinds, but I'll just wait till they come out on DVD and rent them and have fun at home where I can get upa nd get something to eat if I want or use the bathroom if Needed and not miss the show! and even watch it again if it was good. [coffeebreak]
To me at home is more fun. More comfortable too! And if you want to say something you can! And to sit that long and eat all that food in your lap in the dark!?!?! I'll stay home and have fun! [coffeebreak]
I've seen five of those top 10: "2001, The Patriot, Elizabeth, The Golden Age, Braveheart and Gladiator." The only one I haven't seen that I plan on seeing is "300." I don't see Gibson's movies anymore and I never have liked Tom Cruise. However, when I watched them, I did not expect them to be historically accurate. If something claims to be a documentary, then that's a different story. These are all movies meant to be entertainment. As far as I'm concerned, the movie makers are allowed to twist histry as far as they want as long as they don't claim that it is true. I don't even get upset when movies made from books are not in sync with the book. A book is a book and the movie is something else entirely. What I can't figure out from this list is why "2001" is on it at all. The movie was made in 1968 about the year 2001. Uh, correct me if I am wrong, but wouldn't that have been a futuristic movie? How could it be historically inaccurate? lol [CherylsPearls]
Cheryl - I can't stand Tom Cruise either! What a self righteous jerk! Never did like him even in Top Gun - but yeah, you're right about 2001 - Space Odessy. Wonder why they chose that? And yeah, a book is a book a movie is a movie. Both are for enjoyment, why worry about them being correct - not like you are taking a test in school about history or anything! [coffeebreak]
This list must not consider some of the old movies, like BELLE STAR, or SOLOMON & SHEBA, and--oh well you get the drift. [ErrollLeVant]
Hehe! I know what you mean, not to mention those supposed-to-be futuristic films that they thought would come true!lol [raijin]
I think it was a bit unfair of whoever wrote that list to include "2001 A Space Odyssey" as it was made in 1968. Somehow I don't think it was meant to be "historically accurate". Apart from that I thought it was an interesting read. happy [crispeater]
Now I'm really curious of what that story was all about, I guess I'll just have to go and take a look in it.. [raijin]
I really think that Disney's Pocohantas should have made that list. That movie is so ridiculously inaccurate, I won't even have it in my home. It makes me so angry to think of the stupidity the Disney folks had in doing that as a movie for kids. It's not even a love story to begin with! Yes, there are some there that are obviously twisted to suit the purpose of the story. With Pocohantas, it starts out wrong, and just keeps going downhill from there. Anyway, I enjoy a good movie, historically accurate or not. After all, that is the aritist's perrogative, in this case the artists are the film crew, to change it to fit. It's a good thing we don't get our history lessons from movies, or do we? [serialmommy]
Some could be, the same way you are concerned about the movie Pocahontas. I myself would be worried of having my kids being misinformed about this, since kids are used of thinking that way and they always thought that what they saw/watched was true.. [raijin]
wow and they did not put that masterpiece of crap that is Troy? that was totally insulting to anyone who knew even just a bit of Greek mythology and history! I never watch those movies, when i do it's because someone forces me, actually of the list i only saw Gladiator...forced of course and hated every second of it...Hollywood should stop making movies and ruining the mind of people...they treat us like a mass of idiots really... [JoMarch]
I see, I am not that familiar with Greek history but I do understand your point of view. If ever I knew the REAL story, I'd rather NOT watch that movie and waste my money!lol [raijin]
I've seen two of those films (The last samurai and The memoirs of geisha), for me they were both satisfying. In fact, the last samurai movie is one of my favorites. The rest, I haven't seen then. My friend told me that the 10,000BC movie which is the latest one isn't really a good one. [MGjhaud]
Wow ! quite an interesting article -I must admit. ------------------------------------------ Some of these Historical inaccuracies makes us laugh ;others just make us wonder. 1)"So we hate to inform him that woolly mammoths were not, in fact, used to build pyramids. Heck, woolly mammoths weren't even found in the desert. They wouldn't need to be woolly if that were the case. And there weren't any pyramids in Egypt until 2,500 B.C or so." This one is quite hilarious .Imagine If one had to wear Heavy Woollens in Sahara Desert with Temperature hovering above 45 Degree Celsius !!! Ha ha !!! The others on Gladiator,300 and The Last Samurai are also interesting ;though I think such inaccuracies are not new to the Hollywood Movies. Overall ; a worth reading Article . [ptrikha1]
Yes, at least they should make their best intentions in good decision-making. I guess that's what they all want to express there, thanks for adding up helpful infos..happy [raijin]
wow...thanks for posting the link! [idaantipolo]
confusedshockeddoh [raijin]
Good Post! I've seen some of these Movies (and Why is Mel G popping up so often?!) Braveheart,the Patriot,Gladiator,2001,Last Samurai,..OK,so they're not Historically accurate-"Escape from New York" could be on this list by this stage..these aren't Documentary Biopics,they're Movies for Entertainment purposes..don't they all come with Legal disclaimers that they're not historically accurate,(Any resemblance to Persons Living or Dead..yadda yadda) that they're "Based On" or "Derived from" Books or Characters created by others? Even "Based on a True Story" Movies will have twists and turns in the plot that a writer has added to further the story (Titanic,Anyone?) (btw....These are all fairly successful movies-The accuracy (or not) didn't do any harm at the box office!) This list could be a whole lot longer! happy [ShepherdSpy]
Hehe! They didn't included Titanic maybe because it's not that much about history ,since the theme was more on love story/romance!lol [raijin]
I bet every historical movie ever made has been inaccurate in some way. As long as they are not taken as documentary evidence and are accepted as artistic interpretations of the past it does not really matter. [paid2write]
Well, I certainly don't watch movies for the truth! If I wanted historically accurate, I'd watch the History Channel or read a book. Even then, "accurate" is subjective. History is, after all, written by the winners... But hey, I really enjoyed Gladiator, if only because I'm a big fan of Joaquin Phoenix. I love Roman history and even so, this movie didn't bother me at how wrong it was. It's entertainment, nothing more. [wildcat180]
Yes, watch them right on and either read them through books. I guess all they wanted to state there is, they are mixing out historical events just like the woolly mammoths from the movie 10,000 B.C> and put them on Egypt to make pyramids!lol [raijin]
If you want to talk inaccurate movies, well its more of a documentary, but Al Bo....er Gore's documentary is about as inaccurate as they come, and its been proven to be full of holes, in fact I think its got more holes in it than a block of swiss cheese. But that is my first thoughts on inaccurate 'movie'..... Mooch [oneandonemakesix]
i've only watched a few of the movies in the list, including 300 and braveheart. its not surprising if movie makers make a mistake in messing the history. they always do that! and if teachers aren't careful on what they show (during film showing) in their history class, it would be bad for the students. but then, the students should be aware too that movies are movies. they may use a lot of facts but they will also put some twists here and there. happy [secretbear]
lol i couldn't agree more! wink [secretbear]
Well if they are going to clobber 2001 as historically inaccurate, then they should hammer 1984 since they preceded the actual dates. The rest of the movies, I will not argue with. But face it, Hollywood is made for entertainment more then education. [Debs_place]
Obviously more or even got over than entertainment, since some films were mixed from different times and historical events. [raijin]
hello raijin... I've checked the link you gave and I was surprised to see that the Memoirs of a Geisha was included. But I have to agree to some degree to the comment given to that movie, particularly to the dancing scene. While I was watching it, I was actually thinking if something like that did truly happen or maybe the movie was given a small twist for a more dramatic effect. My husband had watched almost all of Mel Gibson's movies. And Braveheart was his favorite. As for The Patriot, I was even moved by the story. To learn that the ending of the movie wasn't really how it truly happened, is a disappointment. To think that I was almost at the edge of my seat watching it and "celebrating" with Mel Gibson when they "won" the war. rolleyes [jcj_111776]
Yes, we both don't know the exact American history. It's really surprising that they tend to twist the plot to the limit, for the sake of entertainment.. As for Geisha, I only watched it once and thought it was a good movie but lost interest finishing the it. I really laughed on their comments about "The Last Samurai" though, I do believe that using chopsticks properly is really a concern for the Japs back then!happylol [raijin]
One to add to the list actually came on last night, "The Ten Commandments." I mean they got the major points right, but when a person reads the Bible, and then watches the movie, there are a lot of differences. [AmbiePam]
True, I also thought it was what it's supposed to be written back then. But somehow found some omissions and loop-holes, they could be protecting other's interests there.. [raijin]
This was not surprising at all. Gladiator, 300 and Elisabeth II are some of my favorites, but it just seems to have always been the trend that movies dealing with either war, land dominance/takeover, or a certain time period of great change unfortunatly are the most inaccurate. [samantha_nicole]
True, I even took some researching after finding out that William Wallace was not what Mel Gibson portrayed him to be. [raijin]
hi raijin , how's your day? happy anyway, i've watched most of it and suprised that some of them are inaccurate... hahaha... thanks for posting and sharing this....rolleyes cheers and God bless... [delgar]
You're welcome, thanks for dropping by.. [raijin]
I guess a movie does not need to be historically accurate to be entertaining. I know that its always nice to watch an historically accurate move, but some good movies like you mention 'Braveheart' etc were not enirely acurate. I guess the main thing is to enjoy them and hope that most of it is accurate. [arjun999]
Yes, it doesn't have to be. But sometimes, they create too much that contradictions from the settings and the REAL person they are trying to portray.. [raijin]
Well they may be innaccurate but it's still a lot of good movies! I think it goes to show that the audience wants entertainment and we could care less about the accuracy. I do enjoy history movies or movies based on a true story, but I enjoy movies on this list just as much even if the stuff is all made up. [vivasuzi]
I also did enjoyed the one's on the list, but I also enjoyed the way they bombarded with criticisms it's writers and directors..w00t [raijin]