Films, which will be discussed today, are required to watch any self-respecting movie fan. We present to our readers a list of 7 outstanding historical films and dramas of all time.
Why do we love this kind of movie?
Good, quality filmed historical films and dramas are always delight for the eyes and soul. That is why such paintings are highly appreciated by real movie buffs. It doesn’t matter if a particular era, a famous historical event or an outstanding personality from the past attracts the viewer - there is everything in historical cinema.
Braveheart (1995)
The events of the film transfer viewers to the occupied England of Scotland in the 1280s. The protagonist of the film is a real historical figure - William Wallace. Wallace, a Scottish knight and warlord who took part in the Revolutionary War. According to the plot of the picture, young William is raised by his uncle, since the boy’s relatives die at the hands of the British. Having matured, the hero returns to his native lands to begin a peaceful family life. But by the will of fate, his dreams turn into ruins. Then Wallace teams up with free Scots and creates a real army that rebels against the tyranny of England.
This Oscar-winning historical drama (the film was shot by the ingenious Mel Gibson, who also played the main role) is considered a real classic of the genre. The painting was noted at many prestigious ceremonies and is still considered one of Gibson's best works, both as a director and as an actor.
The Titanic (1997)
A story well known even to those who have never seen this movie masterpiece. "Titanic" is the name of a real transatlantic steamer that sank in 1912 during its first voyage after it collided with an iceberg. The director of the film of the same name, James Cameron, managed to transfer to the screens the beauty and grandeur of the ship and, at the same time, all the tragedy of this historical moment.
Many viewers call the Titanic primarily a romantic film. And this is partly true. In the center of the picture is the love line of two young people from different social backgrounds. The ship’s wreck, as it were, is slightly shifted to the background and serves more as a background, rather than the main theme of the film. In any case, “Titanic” should be watched by every person in his life, and it does not matter if he prefers romantic films and melodramas or historical dramas.
"Saving Private Ryan" (1998)
20 years ago, Steven Spielberg managed to create a real masterpiece in the genre of historical military drama. Saving Private Ryan tells a story that happened during World War II and which, according to sources, was based on a real case.
The plot unfolds around a detachment of experienced soldiers, whose task is to go behind enemy lines to find Private James Ryan. The fact is that four siblings by the name of Ryan went to war, and only James managed to stay alive. In order to alleviate the suffering of his mother, the commander general gives the order to find and return the privates home. To fulfill this very risky task, a detachment led by Captain Miller (Tom Hanks) will have to go through the impossible.
The film won five Oscars and was enthusiastically received by film critics and viewers around the world.
The Gladiator (2000)
This is the famous Oscar-winning blockbuster Ridley Scott, whose events unfold in the great Roman Empire. The main character of the film is the commander Maximus performed by Russell Crowe. Ridley Scott masterfully mixes reality and fiction, telling the story of a fictional character in a real historical era.
General Maximus is a man of honor and nobility. Faced with treacherous political intricacies, he receives accusations of disobedience to the new emperor, loses his family and almost does not lose his life. Fate leads Maximus to the camp of gladiators and now, in the arena of the Colosseum itself, he has to fight not for life, but to death for his own freedom and long-awaited revenge.
Apocalypse / Apocalypto (2006)
Another outstanding drama and good historical film from director Mel Gibson. On this Gibson decided to plunge into a later historical era and talk about the ancient Mayan civilization that lived on the Yucatan Peninsula (Central America). The film tells about the life and life of the Indians before the Spanish conquistadors arrived on their lands, about their bloody and cruel sacrificial rituals. The main character is a hunter named Lapa Jaguar, a native of a small village that is one fine day attacked by human hunters. Prisoners awaits a ritual sacrifice at the top of the pyramid, however, Lapé Jaguar manages to avoid a terrible fate. His life continues to be in danger, as well as the lives of his family, to which the hero will return as soon as possible.
Despite some inconsistency allowed in the depiction of the Mayan civilization and corresponding criticism, Gibson's painting is still considered one of the best in its genre. This is exactly that unique drama and historical film, the viewing of which will leave a lot of deep impressions.
The Golden Age (2007)
The next costumed foreign film is the historical drama about Elizabeth I with the stunning Cate Blanchett in the title role. The picture tells about the five-year period of the Queen’s reign (1585-1590).
In the story, King Philip II makes plans to seize the territories of the British, intending to make them part of Catholic Spain and give the English throne to his daughter Isabella. At the same time, Elizabeth I began to persuade about the necessary marriage, in order to provide the country with its direct heir. Otherwise, the throne could go to Mary Stuart. However, the war is on the alert and Elizabeth has to stand in the way of Philip II and his plans to capture England. The queen also understands that she will never be able to marry, despite the need to continue the Tudor dynasty, as she has already made a choice and "married" to her country.
The Golden Age is not an accurate historical film. The drama has several key inconsistencies that relate to the time, dates and details of events that occurred. In general, the picture was well received by the public at the box office and collected impressive box office worldwide. In 2008, she was awarded three prestigious awards at once: an Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe.
"Battle of the Red Rock" (2008)
Not only Hollywood is rich in historical films, action films and dramas, but also large movie markets of other countries. The director of such films as “Faceless” and “Mission: Impossible 2” John Wu has been shooting high-quality historical films for a long time in his homeland - in China. One of his works was a painting entitled "The Battle of the Red Rock", released in 2008. The plot of the film takes place in the era of the Three Kingdoms in Ancient China and tells about the events that occurred at this time.
The Battle of the Red Cliff is a real battle in which two parties took part: the combined forces of Sun Quan and commander Liu Bei and the imperial troops of Cao Cao. For Ancient China, this event is comparable to Troy, it was also described in detail in the ancient Chinese novel "Three Kingdoms".
At home, the picture of John Wu has achieved very good success. The scale of the story prompted the director to divide it into parts and release two films instead of one. Both paintings were positively accepted by the public not only in China, but also on the international market. In 2010, the Battle of the Red Cliff received three nominations for the prestigious American Saturn Award.