3D Cleopatra *twitch*

[Nrblex]

There is not a part of this that doesn't make me nauseus.

Fucking Angelina Jolie as fucking Cleopatra? Brad Pitt as Marc Antony? No, no, and HELL NO. Liz Taylor had made a fantastic Cleopatra for her time, but Angelina Jolie is no Liz Taylor and I really hoped that when making movies based on historical figures like this that nowadays we'd be a little bit better about casting.

All people are going to see is Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. And I'm sure she'll be portrayed as some sexpot that nobody can resist and blah blah inappropriately modern mores blah.

Oh yes. And it'll be in 3D. WHY?!?!?!

[Orual]

The casting is questionable (I don't actually think Brat Pitt is a terrible choice), but James-fucking-CAMERON?? Aw, hell no.


... but I probably wouldn't mind seeing 3D CGI renderings of Alexandria.

[What Exit?]

I'm not sure what casting for Cleopatra should be. We have a bust and some coins of her from her time.
Her coins do not portray her as a beauty.

A bust that might be her is pictured here.


We know she was the product of a lot of inbreeding and was actually Macedonian and not Egyptian.

Plutarch wrote

her beauty, as we are told, was in itself not altogether incomparable, nor such as to strike those who saw her. Rather, what ultimately made Cleopatra attractive were her wit, charm and sweetness in the tones of her voice.

On the other side we have this:

Cassius Dio also spoke of Cleopatra's allure: "For she was a woman of surpassing beauty, and at that time, when she was in the prime of her youth, she was most striking; she also possessed a most charming voice and knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to every one. Being brilliant to look upon and to listen to, with the power to subjugate every one, even a love-sated man already past his prime, she thought that it would be in keeping with her role to meet Caesar, and she reposed in her beauty all her claims to the throne."

[Nrblex]

Yeah, 3D CGI renderings of Alexandria would be pretty cool. I can see Brad Pitt pulling off the swaggering heroism of Marc Antony well, but I'd still be seeing Brad Pitt every time I looked at him. Especially if he was wooing Angelina Jolie's Cleo.

[Nrblex]

From what I understand, a lot of the stuff portraying her as some sexy siren was actually propoganda against her, because it was assumed a woman could only wield sexual power. Most likely she was a very intelligent, very skilled ruler who did use her relationships for her own gain, as a woman of her time would have had to do, but it was a keen political mind and not her boobs that were doing most of the work.

I just shudder to think of James Cameron and Angelina Jolie and what they'll do.

[What Exit?]

BTW: There has been better looking Cleos than Liz. Vivien Leigh looked wonderful as Cleopatra in Caesar and Cleopatra (1945).

I just shudder to think of James Cameron and Angelina Jolie and what they'll do.

Agreed. Very shudder-worthy.

[Nrblex]

Oh, wow. I haven't seen that, but Vivien Leigh does make a very stunning Cleopatra. She has a very striking face that's helped to look stronger by the makeup and her acting.

[CatInASuit]

I guess Cameron wants to try and beat Avatar with his next film.

Looks like he will be running the same routine as well, find an excellent film, remove plot, insert love story, add destruction, change a few facts round and hey presto.

I guess Jolie hasn't learnt from Beowulf then.

[Peeta Mellark]

Looks like he will be running the same routine as well, find an excellent film, remove plot, insert love story, add destruction, change a few facts round and hey presto.

And people will probably eat it up. I wouldn't be surprised if there are random and inexplicable explosions at some point. What else are you going to do with all that 3D? Pay attention to accurate history?