The verdict: A film that plays fast and loose with the details of its setting to meet the expectations of its audience for an action-packed, rebirth of the swords-and-sandal genre.
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The Breakdown
How the saltiness verdict was reached, category by category. Lower is closer to the record.
Materials
Setting
Accuracy to Events
Authenticity
Materials4/5
- The Praetorian Guard are depicted as wearing black armor and purple cloaks in association with their role as bodyguards to the emperor. Though purple was a color associated with the upper classes and imperial office, the full purple cloaks and black armor are purely a cinematic convention to give the appearance of the guard a villainous undertone[1]The Praetorian Guard did not wear purple cloaks, nor black armor. In fact, within the boundaries of the city of Rome, the guard would often be more likely to just carry their sword and wear a toga than don armor.Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023)..
- The Roman cavalry are all depicted in the film as using stirrups, a technology that would not have been available at this time in the Roman World[2]The Roman cavalry are all depicted in the film as using stirrups, a technology that would not have been available at this time in the Roman World.Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023)..
Myths and Misconceptions
Patterns the archive sees cinema repeat about the past, and where this title stands on each. Each links to a page setting out what the record shows.
Repeats the myth
The Free for All FightRepeats
The record: Armies from antiquity until past the Napoleonic period fought in formation because individual soldiers are vulnerable. Battles were usually contests between blocks of men holding together, and the side whose formation broke first usually lost. Further, maintaining clear formations was essential to maintaining battlefield operations and communication, both for commanders to be able to give orders to their subordinate officers as well as for individual soldiers to know where to rally and position themselves.
Though the Romans in the opening battle begin the fight against the Germanic tribesmen in good order, once the fighting kicks off, their formation quickly dissolves, not to mention that the tribesmen hold no formation of their own.
Methods and Tactics
Sources
- The Praetorian Guard did not wear purple cloaks, nor black armor. In fact, within the boundaries of the city of Rome, the guard would often be more likely to just carry their sword and wear a toga than don armor.Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023).↩
- The Roman cavalry are all depicted in the film as using stirrups, a technology that would not have been available at this time in the Roman World.Gregory S. Aldrete, Graham Sumner, Ancient Rome on the Silver Screen: Myth Versus Reality (Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, 2023).↩
On Screen, and on the Record
What the record holds, beside what the film made of it. The comparison is the point rather than the verdict — nothing here is scored.
Joaquin Phoenix as Commodus
On screenImage via TMDBRichard Harris as Marcus Aurelius
On screenImage via TMDBPlaces Connected to this Film
Production Information
- Written by
- David FranzoniJohn LoganWilliam Nicholson
- Cinematography
- John Mathieson
- Production design
- Arthur Max
- Costume design
- Janty Yates
- Music by
- Hans ZimmerLisa GerrardDjivan Gasparyan
- Production countries
- United KingdomUnited States
- Budget
- $103 million
- Box office
- $465.5 million
Credits, budget, box office and production countries from TMDB.
Where to Watch
Availability from JustWatch, via TMDB. It changes often and varies by country.