A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
A look at history and popular culture
This week we're continuing our three-part (I, II, III) look at one of film's most famous Roman battle sequences, the iconic opening battle from Gladiator (2000). I had planned this to be in two parts, but even though this sequence is relatively short, it provides an awful lot to talk about. As noted last week, … Continue reading Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator’s Iconic Opening Battle, Part II
This week (and next), I want to talk a bit about the recent release of Gladiator II. Now I've written a review of the film for Foreign Policy, which you can find here (behind the paywall). I also discussed it with Jason Herbert and Sarah Bond over at Historians at the Movies, which is a … Continue reading Collections: Nitpicking Gladiator II, Part I
Hey folks! Fireside this week! I was hoping to have a post on Roman infantry tactics this week, in particular the oddity of the Romans not using spear-and-shield infantry (much), but it isn't ready yet and other things have me quite busy, so fireside it is. Fortunately, we have Ridley Scott to complain about. I … Continue reading Fireside Friday, November 17, 2023