Not everything is Gladiator 2: these are the best films set in the Roman Empire according to critics

Gladiator 2the late sequel to Ridley Scott’s great classic, has once again made films inspired by the Roman Empire fashionable. A tradition that is not exactly new within the Hollywood industry. Despite the controversies about its historical accuracy (historians do not seem very convinced about this), the film has raised enormous expectations.

However, there are many other films, classic and modern, that have also enjoyed good reviews and deserve a chance, unless you like cinema and history, or the history of cinema, for that matter. Some of them, in fact, were clearly undervalued by the public at the time of their release. Let’s look at some of the most representative ones.

Ben-Hur (1959)

It is impossible to talk about a Roman movie without starting with one of the great classics in the history of adventure cinema: Ben-Hur. Directed by William Wyler and starring Charlton Heston.

The story follows the life of Judah Ben-Hur, a Jewish prince who suffers an unjust betrayal at the hands of his childhood friend. His stable race is truly legendary.

Quo Vadis (1951)

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy and based on the novel by Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, the film recreates the beginnings of Christianity in the Rome of Emperor Neroplayed in an unsurpassable way by Peter Ustinov.

The story centers on the Roman general Marcus Vinicius, who falls in love with a young Christian girl named Lygia and finds himself caught between his loyalty to the empire and his love for her.

Spartacus (1960)

The great director Stanley Kubrick and Hollywood legend Kirk Douglas combined their talent to tell the story of the famous Thracian gladiator who led a slave rebellion against Rome.

In a way, it has certain similarities with Gladiator, despite also its differences. Kubrick did not hide his political moral at any point in the film.

Agora (2009)

In this case it was the Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar who chronicled the life of Hypatia, a philosopher, astronomer and mathematician of great influence in 4th century Alexandria.

Starring Rachel Weisz, the film explores the life of this pioneering woman during the time of the Roman Empire, when Christianity was still being consolidated. Applauded by critics, it failed at the box office.

The Eagle Legion (2011)

The Eagle (which is what it was called in English) was an epic adventure that follows the young centurion Marcus Aquila (played by Channing Tatum) in search of the emblem of his father’s lost legion in the dangerous lands of Britain.

An adventurous production that did not fully meet expectations, but in which the legendary Donald Sutherland also participated.

Centurion (2010)

When this film directed by Neil Marshall and starring Michael Fassbender was released, many quickly They thought of a mix between Gladiator (especially the first part of it) and in 300.

The influences of the film were clear, but its criticisms were not so much: it divided the experts and, above all, the public.

In short, the Roman Empire has often served as a source of inspiration for Hollywood. And it would be strange if Gladiator meets its goals at the box office, the same thing doesn’t happen again.

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Tags: Cinema