pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It sounded interesting as we've been studying Rome for awhile. I queued it up on Netflix, started watching the first season last week. Why am I annoyed? This would be great for kids minus the overly risque scenes & blood. Why, Why, Why? Kids would love this and they could of made a bundle of $. There is even a neat feature to turn on in the extras, Roman culture points, extra character info & geographical trivia appears on the screen when enabled. Wondered if anyone else was watching it...is the extra info reliable? The series begins with Julius Caesar in Gaul, & Pompei/Senate worried about his growing popularity and influence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My hubby watched this and said it was fairly accurate. I couldn't stomach the sex scenes. Too bad, huh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizzie in Ma Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It could have been such a great resource. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hub and I watched it and enjoyed it even if we ff through certain scenes. A lot of it is just nasty, although I think it might just be an accurate portrayal of the Romans. The bloodly parts don't faze me, but I feel like the sex scenes were too much. I was really disappointed that it was inappropriate, imo, for the kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 does it get worse? I have three more episodes before season 2. Is season three any good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Given it was HBO, was it marketed for kids? I thought it was an adult series like the Sopranos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 does it get worse? I have three more episodes before season 2. Is season three any good? I would say parts of season 2 are worse than season 1. There is no season 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 however, they very well could have made this within PG or PG13 bounds. I know better than to expect that out of HBO. It is similliar to Sopranos. The quality & casting is very good..something my dd would go nuts for, it could have been something for most age ranges. That is why I'm annoyed...darn them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Given it was HBO, was it marketed for kids? I thought it was an adult series like the Sopranos? You're absolutely right. It's not meant as a series for anyone but adults and was never advertised as such. It's a *phenomenal* series -- fascinating, lavish, well-acted, intelligent writing -- but it's also extremely bloody, violent, and graphic sexually. I hesitate to recommend it to other *adults*, because I'm not sure how much they can stand, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it for children or adolescents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MySerenity Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I actually loved this show and really wouldn't have wanted it done any other way. Of course I would not let my children watch it until they were older... much older. But I thought it was completely accurate to the way the Roman's lived. (Even the history was fairly accurate considering most shows like this are awful for accuracy) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KarenNC Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It only has 2 seasons, and no, it was never marketed for children. They've made quite a bundle of money as it is. We've been through almost all of season 1, haven't seen season 2 yet. It's a great series. As for the accuracy, from what I have read they went to very great lengths to get the look and scenes extremely accurate. Unfortunately much of history is simply not appropriate for children when you look at the actual details, just as much of the details of the political intrigues, power plays, gang activity, actions during war, etc of today is not appropriate for children. The sex scenes are pretty much along the lines of what I have read of the Romans, but given what I have read and know about other cultures through time (including our modern one), I don't think the Romans had any corner on the market in terms of sexual practices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sleepy Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I'm moving it to the top of my queue! :cool: I've had it on there for months, but I keep opting for more family friendly dvds. It will be nice to have something just for the grown-ups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_claire Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I *love* this series. We bought the dvds. It would be good for rhetoric stage ancients (so grade 9) I think. Dh and I really like shows with mature content, makes it more interesting. Most HBO series are mature, but I like Rome the best just because I'm such a fan of the time period. And hey, sometimes they even throw a Latin word in here and there. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 You're absolutely right. It's not meant as a series for anyone but adults and was never advertised as such. It's a *phenomenal* series -- fascinating, lavish, well-acted, intelligent writing -- but it's also extremely bloody, violent, and graphic sexually. I hesitate to recommend it to other *adults*, because I'm not sure how much they can stand, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it for children or adolescents. It's in my queue. I have let both my dd's watch I Claudius, but I doubt either will be interested in this one. Oldest dd watched about 10 minutes of the 300 and went, "yuck!" I would agree, it would be hard to make a series about Rome w/o all the "adult" stuff. :blushing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valerie in Chicago Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I love this show too. Call it "a guilty pleasure," "my dark side," whatever. I found it fascinating. And Vorenus is easy on the eyes. I recently watched the Season 1 reruns on On Demand. Any word on the new season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 I respectfully disagree, for every 'adult' scene there is a way to imply what is going on without having to enact it. I also believe: the more the makers of such things have to spell everything out removes our own ability to imagine and usually provides more for the imagination than is really necessary. I feel the need to clarify my first post: it is because the series is soo good that I wish I could share it with my dd, my parents & a few of my siblings. Because of the adult content they would not appreciate my recommendation. DH has no problem with the s*x, go figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kari C in SC Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 My dh and watched it and enjoyed it, but I would NEVER let my kids watch it. Not even in high school. It is plainly for adults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 Maybe the problem is not that HBO should have made their series more family-friendly but maybe there should be more interesting, well-produced, history-based television shows some of which should be family friendly. My sister has the theory it's the TV producers' way of making people accidentally learn something about history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Maybe the problem is not that HBO should have made their series more family-friendly but maybe there should be more interesting, well-produced, history-based television shows some of which should be family friendly. My sister has the theory it's the TV producers' way of making people accidentally learn something about history. yes, sigh, and if that is true...they have quite the opinion of people (deserved or not), dh would say it's the TV's producers' way of making sure we learn what they want us to learn about history... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_claire Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I agree that more history shows would be great. I like watching the history channel, but it is fun when some fiction is mixed up with it as well, like in Rome. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenstet Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 I LOVED, LOVED this series. I think it reflected the decadence and brutality of the time. I watched the extras and they were informative. Can't remember if it was racy but it talked about the accuracy of the sets and people. It also spoke about who the characters were based on historically. The sex didn't bother me. It's HBO... I loved Pullo. Hot Hot Hot. Loved the scene where he killed his girlfriend after she told him she killed his wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 19, 2008 Author Share Posted March 19, 2008 Hey no spoiling!! I'm not done watching it.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted March 19, 2008 Share Posted March 19, 2008 It sounded interesting as we've been studying Rome for awhile. I queued it up on Netflix, started watching the first season last week. Why am I annoyed? This would be great for kids minus the overly risque scenes & blood. Why, Why, Why? Kids would love this and they could of made a bundle of $. There is even a neat feature to turn on in the extras, Roman culture points, extra character info & geographical trivia appears on the screen when enabled. Wondered if anyone else was watching it...is the extra info reliable? The series begins with Julius Caesar in Gaul, & Pompei/Senate worried about his growing popularity and influence. Well, it's an HBO production. They seem to need to include totally unnecesary sex and violence to stay "hip". I did enjoy the show, though. Sometimes you just need to over look the stupid.:ohmy: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
st_claire Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I didn't find any of the sex or violence unnecessary. I thought it was a main reason the show was sooo good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Watching the John Adams series on HBO and so far it's fantastic. I've seen nothing I would would not easily share with both my girls 7 & 12. Just thought I would share... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 that is good to know- is out on DVD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Sine I am a "keep it real" kind of person anyway, the heavy violence and blood are not a problem for me and my kids because that's real--that's how it was back then. It would be a lie to portray it any other way. The sex I won't go into because that's a "to each their own" thing. But the violence I can and will not worry about because this particular series did go to great lengths to ensure as much accuracy as possible and I appreciate that. I'd rather have that than "pg" because Rome was far from "pg". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I too allow mine to watch things that many on this board find objectionable. Just thought I would share a great piece of historical drama that those who shelter their children more than you and I do, might enjoy. :cheers2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 I too allow mine to watch things that many on this board find objectionable. Just thought I would share a great piece of historical drama that those who shelter their children more than you and I do, might enjoy. :cheers2: Oh I know. I was responding more to the "there was no need for the sex and violence" parts of the thread. It's kind of like when the Passion came out--some people complained about the violent scenes in it and all I could think of was "do they really believe Jesus died easily and sweetly?" No he didn't and Rome wasn't pg..hehehe.. there was probably a whole lot more going on (sex wise at least) in Rome than this show is showing us. :) It wasn't exactly discretionary either, in that aspect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestof3 Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 DH has no problem with the s*x, go figure. What man would -- LOL! I too wish there were more historical films that left a little more to the imagination. I can read a story, but watching it acted out is a different matter. I am one who thinks those sorts of things are best shared between two people behind closed doors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Lorna Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Our Latin teacher in school insisted we watch 'I Claudius'. He was head of department and got his fellow teacher 'Miss Sweetman' to show it to us (she was also the religious education teacher and very much true to her name). You should have seen her rush across the room to fast-forward the video, several times. I remember being 'quite fascinated' when Caligula ate his ... well I can't even post it on these boards. I have never told my parents what we were studying in Latin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Our Latin teacher in school insisted we watch 'I Claudius'. He was head of department and got his fellow teacher 'Miss Sweetman' to show it to us (she was also the religious education teacher and very much true to her name). You should have seen her rush across the room to fast-forward the video, several times. I remember being 'quite fascinated' when Caligula ate his ... well I can't even post it on these boards. I have never told my parents what we were studying in Latin... I have the whole series on dvd! Love Derek Jacobi, John Hurt, and crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Antonia Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 But I thought it was completely accurate to the way the Roman's lived. (Even the history was fairly accurate considering most shows like this are awful for accuracy) :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 per the recommendations I've queued up 'I Claudius', & by the Caligula comment I'm guessing if one had restrictions on the risque or grotesque for a dd(8) it will be inappropriate? Please tell me it isn't along the lines of Caligula w/O'Toole in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 the Caligula with O'toole was done by playboy as softcore and meant as that. This I Claudius is NOT the same thing and not even CLOSE to what is shown in the O'toole version/mcdowell version...nowhere near it. And if you have restrictions on the risque or grotesque for an 8 year old, then you've queued the wrong movie. Unless you keep in mind that this movie and Rome are almost entirely accurate, history wise and that "risque and grotesque" FITS for the period of time it is in. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 good to know about 'I Claudius' I'm looking forward to watching it I saw Caligula 19 years ago and can only remember that it was very descriptive of the period; certain scenes- brutally so. Thank you for the added info on its back ground. my original intent with this post was simply to whine/lament about historical movies being made appropriate for children, in the general sense of the term. I would love it if HBO could offer a PG version for this purpose. *and I wasn't questioning the s**ual content's accuracy (while helpful to understand a culture/period, IMHO it is usually stuck in as eyecandy and rarely, really, relevant unless you happen to study those sorts of things or it happens to be the main topic). I never doubted the accuracy in how HBO portrayed this aspect of Roman life nor was I shocked by it. I was wondering more about the way the political figures were portrayed, and any subtle leanings to either side of an issue. I don't think I conveyed myself clearly in the original post, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Wait, though.. there are several versions of Caligula--and O'Toole is also in the one I spoke of--is he in another? This is the Penthouse(not playboy, I keep doing that) version I spoke of and thought of when you mentioned O'Toole (as he is in it) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080491/ I know there are other versions, but only this one is O'toole in. And it is soft core porn(while being almost entirely accurate, strange)... I just wanted you to understand that while I might let my older child watch the Caligula version (there are only a few scenes that I'd have to talk about, but they still haven't seen it yet and don't even know it exists in my home), the I Claudius and Rome shows ARE shows I'd let both watch without hesitation because it isn't gratuitious or eyecandy (like Caligula is in some scenes). Now I confess I don't know what you mean by "subtle leanings to either side of an issue" in reference to Rome. Only because they ALL leaned towards different sides--that's why they fought. Maybe if you could clarify that for me? I suppose if they cut out the sex scenes, no matter how accurate to the time they are, it would become pg-13 at best. You just cannot cut the violence because Rome was violent, very much so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Can I hijack just a little for a moment? How many people here have been to Pompeii? Penises EVERYWHERE. It was a good luck symbol. I told my sister I would buy the birdbath with the giant penis sticking out of it for our mom if she (my sister) would carry it home on the plane. She refused, go figure. So...I think, yes, sex, nudity, etc were very much a part of Roman culture. I will admit I think some of the sex in the series was more graphic than necessary to get the point across. I do agree I wish there were more family-friendly historical series of this caliber because it really was a fantastic production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Can I hijack just a little for a moment? How many people here have been to Pompeii? Penises EVERYWHERE. It was a good luck symbol. I told my sister I would buy the birdbath with the giant penis sticking out of it for our mom if she (my sister) would carry it home on the plane. She refused, go figure. So...I think, yes, sex, nudity, etc were very much a part of Roman culture. I will admit I think some of the sex in the series was more graphic than necessary to get the point across. I do agree I wish there were more family-friendly historical series of this caliber because it really was a fantastic production. My grandmother had her best friend bring her back a box of "penis pasta" from Rome. :) Little pastas shaped like penis' and when cooked, well... :) they were a hit one sunday night at dinner. I still don't know that I can agree to a watered down version of this for kids, at least not with the violence part of it. That's just what Rome was--violent. But, meh.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 My grandmother had her best friend bring her back a box of "penis pasta" from Rome. :) Little pastas shaped like penis' and when cooked, well... :) they were a hit one sunday night at dinner. Too funny!! I still don't know that I can agree to a watered down version of this for kids, at least not with the violence part of it. That's just what Rome was--violent. But, meh.. Well, I think it would still have violence but it doesn't have to be so *graphic*. Compare the Colosseum scenes in Ben Hur to Gladiator or the war scenes of Branagh's Henry V to Rome's war scenes. It doesn't have to be watered down, just not graphic to the point of being nauseating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 well I searched and searched, O'Toole is in two? I wish I could remember, to long ago, aghh- Netflix search resulted in the same you linked me to at IMDb, so I'm guessing its the same?.? I'm not even sure O'Toole was in it but I'm guessing it is the same one.?. I'm going by the title.. my thoughts on violence are less restrictive than what I consider 'adult themes', and as an Art major I have shelves of books with plenty of body parts, parts are parts. and really what culture is devoid of s*x? or when could it even be considered a small part? even cultures which are super conservative make it big deal by the very restrictions & taboos they place. and your right- its subjective now I can't remember what else I was going to say- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 according to IMDB--O'Toole was in only one version of Caligula--the Penthouse Soft Core one I keep refering to--he plays Tiberius. He was in Imperium: Augustus as Augustus, but only once in Caligula. If the version you are seeing has Malcolm McDowell in it--it's the softcore version. As for the other stuff, well.. I happen to like that stuff, so take me with several grains of salt. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Can I hijack just a little for a moment? How many people here have been to Pompeii? Penises EVERYWHERE. It was a good luck symbol. I told my sister I would buy the birdbath with the giant penis sticking out of it for our mom if she (my sister) would carry it home on the plane. She refused, go figure. So...I think, yes, sex, nudity, etc were very much a part of Roman culture. I will admit I think some of the sex in the series was more graphic than necessary to get the point across. I do agree I wish there were more family-friendly historical series of this caliber because it really was a fantastic production. Just wait till you get to Ancient Japanese art... Those men loved their family jewels. My mom has a great big Japanese art bk dedicated to this. It contains some very interesting exaggerations of the male parts. Can we say healthy male Egos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Atl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074006/ This is the version I have, far far tamer than Bob Guccionee's flix. But it does have "adult" content (some nudity, implied sex, and such). I gather from many of the post, most here would not be comfortable with kids under 18? watching. Mind did, but we are weird art/lib folks. Grew up with hippy artists/frustrated movie director parents, and I've seen it all. I seem to be doing OK...:willy_nilly: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GothicGyrl Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Just wait till you get to Ancient Japanese art... Those men loved their family jewels. My mom has a great big Japanese art bk dedicated to this. It contains some very interesting exaggerations of the male parts. Can we say healthy male Egos? ahem--kama sutra anyone? :) Not that I recommend that for little ones, but we are adults (I think), so ......... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Just wait till you get to Ancient Japanese art... Those men loved their family jewels. My mom has a great big Japanese art bk dedicated to this. It contains some very interesting exaggerations of the male parts. Can we say healthy male Egos? Oh, I've seen them!! We have tons of art books (not to mention a topless mermaid on our schoolroom wall) and I feel I'm pretty liberal in this area but I wouldn't be comfortable with my kids watching Rome. But I'm not suggesting what's right or wrong for anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelroper Posted March 20, 2008 Author Share Posted March 20, 2008 I just read the Netflix subscriber reviews more carefully, I'm pretty sure I'm talking about Bob Guccionee, McDowell-Penthouse version. I was able to get enough specifics from the reviews. I'm certain I did not see a regular old 'R' version or I wouldn't have been able to recall certain scenes so vividly. But I stray from the intent of the post.. oops-to answer, no, I've not left the continent!! (I do read, and Art was my major) Only 5 states to go, then I start my international exploring. Themediterranean is on my list though- subtle (or not so subtle) leanings as in taking a conservativecharacter and really pumping up the 'negative aspects' of conservatism and downplaying the positives, same with liberal- KWIM I sort of got back to topic... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 ...(not to mention a topless mermaid on our schoolroom wall)... Wyeth? ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted March 20, 2008 Share Posted March 20, 2008 Wyeth? ;) Howard Pyle :) http://www.illusionsgallery.com/mermaid-pyle.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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