'Rome' TV series

[marcellis]

I just found out about this show, even though it's about 7 years old.

I'm hooked. It's like 'Gone with the Wind', except ancient Rome is a lot bigger
and more interesting than Atlanta. It gets the big events right too.

Pompey & most senators fleeing Rome, Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon,
the first Roman civil war with Pompey & Julius, Marc Antony chasing every whore
between Gaul & the Avantine, Julius being knifed on the Senate floor by about a dozen
old senators...and more.

I bought the box set. There is a lot of nudity in it.

I never even knew about this show until it was gone.
Like Julius Caesar said when he was asked if he had a political opponent whacked,

"I never knew he existed until he didn't."

I never knew this TV show existed until it was off the air.

If you like EPIC. And you have about 25 hours to kill -- this is worth buying.

 

[poser]

You're not alone. I never knew about it until I read your post.

25 hours :shock:

 

[fronobulax]

I'd heard of it but Game of Thrones is the HBO series that gets my attention. Probably because I read the books first.

 

[marcellis]

Here's a bit of dialogue from it. Cassius & Brutus, two of Julius Caesar's assassins are
soliciting money from a king in Asia Minor (Bithynia) to raise an army against Marc Antony.

Warning: NSFW

[ edit: stuff that's NSFW doesn't belong here. I removed it. - Chaz ]

 

[jeffcoop]

How strange to find this thread here now. I started watching the series in November and just finished it. Very enjoyable show, although I think the first season was better than the second.

 

[Bikerdoc]

:lol: :lol: I can barely focus on a 1/2 hour show let alone a mini series.

Peace

 

[Bing k]

:lol: :lol: I can barely focus on a 1/2 hour show let alone a mini series.

Peace

I have trouble with 20 minutes of news! :?

 

[marcellis]

The TV version is NOT the same as the DVD's.

Lots of sex & nudity on the DVD's. They leave nothing out frontal & otherwise.

The series is historically accurate as far as the big events of the Roman Republic.
The two main characters - Lucius Vorenus & Titus Pollo - actually existed.
They are the only two soldiers Julius Caesar mentioned in his commentaries on Gaul.

So the writers wrote the history of the Republic, from Pompey until the demise of
Antony and Cleopatra. But they put these two guys in the center of everything.
There is a lot of tragedy in it. But there is no shortage of dirty jokes too.

One little moment involves Pullo & Voranus with Julius Caesar in Egypt.
Cleopatra is being held captive by some feuding family members.
Caesar orders Pullo & Vorenus to find her & rescue her. They do.

Cleopatra, being an ambitious woman, wants to have Caesar's baby.
A son would be an heir to the throne of Rome. But there is a problem.
When she's rescued, she's in her fertile time. By the time she gets back to
Alexandria, she won't be.

So - as queen of Egypt - she orders Vorenus 'procreate' with her.
Unfortunately, he is not up to the task. As Pullo's superior, he goes outside
and orders Pullo to do it. And Pullo has no problem obeying her command.
As usual, the DVD leaves nothing to the imagination.

Nine months after Pullo performed his duty, - voila! Julius Caesar and Cleopatra
celebrate the birth of their son tgether. And Pullo and Vorenus keep their mouths shut.

Unfortunately, I don't know how it ends. The last of the DVD's is screwed up.
I have to get a replacement.

I know how the history ends. But I don't know what happens to these two characters.
I suspect Vorenus will go fight for Antony & Pullo will end up fighting for Octavian (Augustus).

But don't tell me.

The big historical events IMO, prevent this from being merely a sandals & toga soap opera.
The set is amazing. The great buildings and the slums of Ancient Rome. It's real tragedy
when Pompey is defeated or when Caesar is knifed by numerous senators. Caesar's mistress and Brutus' mother was an especially tragic figure. But there is enough sex, low comedy & battle scenes to keep the tragedy from dominating the series.

 

[southernGuild]

That actually looks like something I'd really enjoy watching. I know my Roman history, but not in such detail. Its always a pleasure to watch, and learn, from something that is both historically accurate and entertaining.
I'll look into it, May order the set myself. :wink: Thanks M.

 

[marcellis]

That actually looks like something I'd really enjoy watching. I know my Roman history, but not in such detail. Its always a pleasure to watch, and learn, from something that is both historically accurate and entertaining.
I'll look into it, May order the set myself. :wink: Thanks M.

Best thing I've seen n years. But buy the boxed set. Don't miss out on all the the sex.
The TV version was too censored. The whole sex with Cleopatra scene was cut.
And that hurt the plot.

 

[ladytexan]

Marcellis,

I really like Rome. Well-written with great actors. I'm a big fan of Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson. Here's a link that gives a bit of detail about the series. The total production budget was $100M! :shock:

 

[marcellis]

Marcellis,

I really like Rome. Well-written with great actors. I'm a big fan of Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson. Here's a link that gives a bit of detail about the series. The total production budget was $100M! :shock:

I heard that's why it was cancelled. It cost too much. it won a slew of awards. It had Oscar-winning director (Michael Apted). It had an academy-award winning screenwriter/producer, John Milius. And they were filming in Rome at the vast Cinecetta set.

I think the guy who plays Marc Antony, James Purefoy, is incredible too.
He's really the Rhett Butler of this epic. Atia (Polly Walker), is the Scarlett O'Hara.

Don't tell me what happens with Vorenus & Pullo though. I've got to get a hold of a replacement disk 4.

 

[fronobulax]

The TV version is NOT the same as the DVD's.

Lots of sex & nudity on the DVD's. They leave nothing out frontal & otherwise.

You sure? You could be right but the broadcast version of "Game of Thrones" and the DVD (so far) are the same as far as I can tell and either one would have been hard core pornography according to community standards in the 1970's. In many cases HBO is the porn channel for folks who do not want a porn channel explicitly showing up on their bills :wink:

 

[Ross]

Don't tell me what happens with Vorenus & Pullo though. I've got to get a hold of a replacement disk 4.

I loved the series (TV version). The character development of Vorenus & Pullo is terrific, although the Town Crier is my favourite character. Good ending, too.

 

[charliea]

Wait a while, then get "I, Claudius". You may enjoy it more. Or, not.

 

[marcellis]

Wait a while, then get "I, Claudius". You may enjoy it more. Or, not.

I already have the boxed set for I Claudius. So I've got Rome covered from Pompey through Claudius.
It's convenient that I Claudius starts almost exactly where 'Rome' ends, with Octavian becoming Augustus Caesar.

They are very different kinds of series though. 'Rome' is epic cinema. I Claudius is bascally
theater. The writing, the cast are brilliant. But it's more a stage play than a movie.

Once I see what happens to Vorenus & Pullo, I'll probably go straight into I Claudius.

And wow - the portrayal of Octavian is very different in the two series.
In 'Rome', Octavian is basically a nerdy little teenager. Watching his competition with
Marc Antony grow is like watching a charisma contest between Bill Gates & Elvis Presley.

In I Claudius, Octavian/Augustus is no nerd. he's larger than life. He's played by
Brian Blessed and his speaking voice is huge.

 

[adorshki]

Unfortunately, I don't know how it ends. But don't tell me.

Spoiler alert: the snake did it.

 

[marcellis]

Unfortunately, I don't know how it ends. But don't tell me.

Spoiler alert: the snake did it.

Yeah, I've heard that. But I don't know what happens to the characters, Vorenus, Pullo & Atia.
And I don't want to know until I've got the DVD.

 

[southernGuild]

Unfortunately, I don't know how it ends. But don't tell me.

Spoiler alert: the snake did it.

A pain in the Asp? :shock:

 

[adorshki]

Unfortunately, I don't know how it ends. But don't tell me.

Spoiler alert: the snake did it.

A pain in the Asp? :shock:

Ouch! :lol: