Okay, I'd actually love to know what your issues were. *g* I saw a few things that I knew were off, and a couple things I just didn't care for, but I'm actually really interested to know what you thought of the costumes and hairstyles and such. If you have time, will you tell me?
Oly's a better person to pick each element apart. :) I just noticed a few things, but part of what I mean by "what would be the point" is that this is theatre, right? This is a poem and a story that sort of above the actual historical time in which it takes place. I mean, the Iliad itself is historically inaccurate (of course, what do I know. Maybe it happened just like that!) So, it lends itself to a poetical approach to design, taking elements from more than one time period, more than one civilization. Helen's jewelry was a touch Sumerian. They used some 5th century designs, etc etc.
I would guess this is because there's a lot more evidence from other time periods. There isn't much archaeological evidence from the Trojan War, at least in comparison to other sites. The site of Troy has many layers because it was razed to the ground several times (that bit about it never being conquered is totally false *g*) The level that's thought to be during the time of the Trojan war was unfortunately mostly destroyed during the Schliemann dig. On the Greek side, it would fall during the rule of Mycenae, of which there is far less than later times. There is a Death Mask of Agamemnon (http://www.sikyon.com/Mykinai/Art/art_eg01.html), but of course no one knows if it's really his. They just called it that because it was big business back then to tie ancient legends with actual archaeological findings.
The hair did drive me crazy, because it was just too coiffed. I have no idea where the hairdresser got his research from, and in the Iliad everyone has lovely curls. Curls where definitely the style of choice back then, but I just don't see Agamemnon sitting pretty while someone does his hair like that, and it didn't fit Brian Cox, imo. And I don't know what was up with those beads. *g*
But, I really wasn't bothered by all of this, mind you. It's going to be the same for the King Arthur movie. There's very little evidence for that time period (like none. at all.) and so you just mix and match from anything that works, really.
I can't help it -- incidental details and clunky dialogue aside, I found so much to like in this movie, I'm all enamored and such. I'm starting to think I'm alone in that, but I actually thought the screenplay was genius in some ways. It made sense out of things in the Iliad that never made sense to me, and I thought he did a tremendous job of balancing several key contradictory aspects of Greek values and culture, and making them make sense together. Oh, well. *g
There was a lot I liked! I just wasn't swept away, which is too bad. Part of it is that I always forget how much I don't like the story of Iliad. I always get so excited, and then I'm "oh yeah, I hate this." LOL. My guy dies, and Achilles and Patroclus dies, and I get so irritated by the Greeks, and bah. So, I get cranky. :)
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Okay, I'd actually love to know what your issues were. *g* I saw a few things that I knew were off, and a couple things I just didn't care for, but I'm actually really interested to know what you thought of the costumes and hairstyles and such. If you have time, will you tell me?
Oly's a better person to pick each element apart. :) I just noticed a few things, but part of what I mean by "what would be the point" is that this is theatre, right? This is a poem and a story that sort of above the actual historical time in which it takes place. I mean, the Iliad itself is historically inaccurate (of course, what do I know. Maybe it happened just like that!) So, it lends itself to a poetical approach to design, taking elements from more than one time period, more than one civilization. Helen's jewelry was a touch Sumerian. They used some 5th century designs, etc etc.
I would guess this is because there's a lot more evidence from other time periods. There isn't much archaeological evidence from the Trojan War, at least in comparison to other sites. The site of Troy has many layers because it was razed to the ground several times (that bit about it never being conquered is totally false *g*) The level that's thought to be during the time of the Trojan war was unfortunately mostly destroyed during the Schliemann dig. On the Greek side, it would fall during the rule of Mycenae, of which there is far less than later times. There is a Death Mask of Agamemnon (http://www.sikyon.com/Mykinai/Art/art_eg01.html), but of course no one knows if it's really his. They just called it that because it was big business back then to tie ancient legends with actual archaeological findings.
The hair did drive me crazy, because it was just too coiffed. I have no idea where the hairdresser got his research from, and in the Iliad everyone has lovely curls. Curls where definitely the style of choice back then, but I just don't see Agamemnon sitting pretty while someone does his hair like that, and it didn't fit Brian Cox, imo. And I don't know what was up with those beads. *g*
But, I really wasn't bothered by all of this, mind you. It's going to be the same for the King Arthur movie. There's very little evidence for that time period (like none. at all.) and so you just mix and match from anything that works, really.
I can't help it -- incidental details and clunky dialogue aside, I found so much to like in this movie, I'm all enamored and such. I'm starting to think I'm alone in that, but I actually thought the screenplay was genius in some ways. It made sense out of things in the Iliad that never made sense to me, and I thought he did a tremendous job of balancing several key contradictory aspects of Greek values and culture, and making them make sense together. Oh, well. *g
There was a lot I liked! I just wasn't swept away, which is too bad. Part of it is that I always forget how much I don't like the story of Iliad. I always get so excited, and then I'm "oh yeah, I hate this." LOL. My guy dies, and Achilles and Patroclus dies, and I get so irritated by the Greeks, and bah. So, I get cranky. :)
*smooch*