Historical epics: films to be revered
An epic film is an epic
genre that emphasizes human drama on a grand scale. Epics are more ambitious in
scope than other film genres, and their ambitious nature helps to differentiate
them from similar genres such as the period piece or adventure film. Epic
historical films often take a historical or imagined event, or a mythic,
legendary, or heroic figure and add an extravagant, spectacular setting and lavish
costumes, accompanied by a sweeping musical score, and an ensemble cast of
bankable stars, making them among the most expensive of films to produce. Some
of the most common subjects of epics are royalty, superheroes, great military
leaders, or leading personalities or figures from various periods in world
history. Epics tend to focus on events that will affect the lives of many
people, such as cataclysmic events, natural disasters, war, or political
upheaval.
Epic films are
expensive and lavish productions because they generally use on-location
filming, authentic period costumes, action scenes on a massive scale and large
casts of characters. Biographical films are often less lavish versions of this
genre.
Sometimes referred to
as costume dramas, they depict the world of a period setting, often
incorporating historical pageantry, specially designed costuming and wardrobes,
exotic locales, spectacle, lavish decor and a sweeping visual style. They often
transport viewers to other worlds or eras, such as classical antiquity,
biblical settings, the Middle Ages, the Victorian era, the American Frontier,
or the Gilded Age. Films involving modern battle sequences (war films) are also
common settings in the epic film genre, as are westerns, and science fiction
films set in space, on earth or other planets, with science fiction-oriented
battle scenes on a massive scale or with a futuristic backdrop.
Historical epics
Historical epics are
epic films that take place in the historical past, often focusing on people who
alter the course of history. A number of historical epics, especially those
made in the 1950s and 1960s, are set in ancient times, particularly in Rome,
Greece, or Egypt. Historical epics typically are more grand-scale than other
types of epics, featuring elaborate sets and large numbers of extras.
Examples of historical
epics include Intolerance (1916), Gone with the Wind (1939), Ben-Hur (1959),
Spartacus (1960), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Cleopatra (1963), Doctor Zhivago
(1965), Barry Lyndon (1975), Gandhi (1982), Braveheart (1995), Titanic (1997),
Joan of Arc (1999), Gladiator (2000), Troy (2004), Alexander (2004), and
Kingdom of Heaven (2005).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_film#Historical_epics
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