Sunday, 9 January 2011

Masada

(1981)

RATING:100%
FORMAT:DVD

[Antagonists]

Superbly well-written and compulsive historical-drama set in Judea in 70 AD; featuring superb acting talent. As usual with these Roman Empire dramas the Romans are played by British actors and the heroines & heroes by (Jewish-)Americans; making the distinction between the antagonists at least vocally, if not visually, obvious; given the differing acting styles.

The writer has clearly done his research and historians will love it as well as those looking for sheer entertainment. The wealth of period detail is fantastic and is well-integrated into the plotting; without making it feel like a dry-as-dust history lesson. There is even a good deal of subtle humor at the expense of both sides in this military campaign as their odd religious beliefs are gently ridiculed.

Where this mini-series really scores is in its astute political sense that has much to say about similar, present-day (2011) situations Afghanistan, Iraq & Somalia.

Copyright © 2011 Frank TALKER. Permission granted to reproduce and distribute it in any format; provided that mention of the author’s Weblog (http://franktalker5.blogspot.com) is included: E-mail notification requested. All other rights reserved.
Posted by Frank TALKER™ at 11:47
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Science:



No science is immune to the infection of politics and the corruption of power.



Jacob Bronowski… (1908 - 74), British scientist, author. Encounter (London, July 1971).


Sleep of Reason:



The dream of reason produces monsters. Imagination deserted by reason creates impossible, useless thoughts. United with reason, imagination is the mother of all art and the source of all its beauty.



Francisco José de Goya y Lucientes… (1746-1828), Spanish painter. Caption to Caprichos, number 43, a series of eighty etchings completed in 1798, satirical and grotesque in form.


Humans & Aliens:



I am human and let nothing human be alien to me.



Terence… (circa 190-159 BC), Roman dramatist. Chremes, in The Self-Tormentor [Heauton Timorumenos], act 1, scene 1.


Führerprinzip:



One leader, one people, signifies one master and millions of slaves… There is no organ of conciliation or mediation interposed between the leader and the people, nothing in fact but the apparatus - in other words, the party - which is the emanation of the leader and the tool of his will to oppress. In this way the first and sole principle of this degraded form of mysticism is born, the Führerprinzip, which restores idolatry and a debased deity to the world of nihilism.



Albert Camus… (1913-60), French-Algerian writer & philosopher. The Rebel: An Essay on Man in Revolt: New York: Vintage Books, (1984; page 182.)