Greece and Rome in the Movies CC 2023

  The first few establishing shots of Rome within Gladiator (2000) are staunchly unique compared to how it's portrayed in the rest of the movie, particularly when Maximus is fighting within the colosseum. As Commodus returns to Rome as the new emperor after Marcus Aurelius' death, the city is extremely gray, as if it's an overcast day. As shown in the picture above, Rome is strangely monotone within its color scheme and contrast. The cinematography encapsulates the saying "A dark day [for Rome]". It's not clear if the filmmakers did this on purpose, but it does capture the somber mood and dark future for Rome as Commodus is its leader. 

I chose this scene from Gladiator because I thought it held a lot of meaning. This is a group of slaves traveling through the desert, under pretty terrible conditions, but the way it’s filmed makes it look so peaceful. The difference in color of the sky/ground makes this scene deeper and more complex. The contrast between the quiet, simple dusk sky and the agonizing and tiring emotions coming from the people builds a more well-rounded picture. This also gives the viewers some important insight surrounding how Maximus’ life changed dramatically. He goes from a strong, respected leader of the Roman Army, to a weak and enslaved man who cannot even walk on his own.  Additionally, this scene is familiar from older epics. It appears in Spartacus when all the men are being paraded to the gladiator training house. Then again in Ben Hur when Hur is on the brink of death during his travels through the desert. Though we have seen this picture multiple times previously, in Gladiator it hold...

  I chose this scene because I think it is one of the coolest scenes in the movie. Maximus is done with finishing and killing all his opponents and Commodus is over it because he is starting to win the crowd over and his nephew. Commodus decides he wants this finished so he brought in the defending gladiator champion for Maximus. Along with Maximus facing the champion he has to keep a eye on his backside because he had 4 tigers around him trying to kill him which is what Commodus wanted.  In the end of the fight, Maximus is destroying the champion and is standing over him waiting for the approval of Commodus to kill him and Commodus puts his thumb down which means Maximus has the green light to kill the champion. Maximus is about to chop the champions head off but then he stops which makes Commodus angry because he couldn't kill Maximus. Commodus then tries for Maximus to fight him after the fight by saying things about Maximus's family that is now dead because of Commodus but...

This is a scene from the movie Gladiator . This is right before Maximus fights the formerly undefeated gladiator and beats him. You can see the light coming from the doors which obviously makes sense with the way the light is shining from the bright arena. However, I think it also symbolizes Rome, because at the beginning of the movie when Maximus is talking to the old Emperor, Maximus compares Rome to the light (even though he's never been there before). Also, he is walking toward the light away from the darker part of the corridor which could symbolize that he's getting closer to his goal of getting revenge on Commodus. He's stepping out from the darkness that was his grief into the light of a purpose he gave himself. Another thing I think this scene could be showing with the light and darkness is that Maximus is stepping out into the spotlight where thousands of Romans are watching him. He's being plucked from the obscurity he's had since he was removed from the ...

This scene from Gladiator (2000) is incredibly meaningful both tonally and in terms of the plot. In it, Maximus reveals his true identity to Commodus. Maximus gives a powerful speech, declaring who he is and what he wants: vengeance. Commodus, shocked and disgusted, desperately wants to kill Maximus where he stands. However, both the crowd and the other gladiators stand by Maximus; the other gladiators stand in between the pair, physically protecting Maximus, and the crowd chants, "live! Live!" with growing intensity. Commodus is forced, by the will of the people, to save him, despite every instinct and desire he has to kill him right where he stands.  This shot exemplifies the tension between the two. Most notably, the sword at Commodus' neck. Its presence represents how he is feeling: threatened and "at knife point" to save Maximus from death, as well as threatened by Maximus himself. He stares directly at him, an expression of hatred and disgust on his face, ...

This scene from Gladiator (2000) was absolutely heartbreaking, as Maximus returns home after his escape from the Praetorian Guard, he finds his home farm burned and his wife and son hung and tortured.  The hanging feet of his deceased family frame the image. The audience doesn't need to be shown the entirety of the bodies, as the reaction of Maximus shows that he's collapsed with grief and they are dead before him. The excessive dirt and possible burn marks on their feet tell how they were beaten and thrown around before they were hung. Maximus sits farther back in the shot, pictured between the two bodies of his family. He is sitting in child's pose, as he's fallen to his hands and knees from the horrors displayed at his front door and is crying. The foreground of the shot is covered in shadows, and sunlight comes in right behind Maximus so the audience can see the destruction in the background. There is smoke coming from the ground and smashed pots, showing the torchi...

  I chose the scene where Commodus creates this weird and almost sexual tension with his sister. He speaks to her about life and how he "only has [her] to share it with." Then he forces his head to her chest. It's the same way he described the love he wanted from his father in an earlier scene. He wanted a hug from his father with his head in Marcus Aurelius' chest. After, he forces her onto the bed he touches his fingers to her lips to touch his fingers to his lips right after. This scene is where Commodus becomes the most irredeemable and least relatable as a person to the viewer. One can relate to wanting and needing more affection from their parents and family. However most people in the audience hopefully cannot relate to forcing the affection through creating sexual tension with their sister and sexually assaulting her. 

  The scene I chose from Gladiator (2000) was at the end of the film, after the battle between Commodus and Maximus that killed them both. I found this shot particularly compelling because of both its cinematic quality, as well as its meaning. This is a long shot, showing the majority of the colosseum, the audience in the stands, and many people in the center. The audience seems to compositionally surround the events in the center, bringing our eyes downward. The shot has a solemn tone, the audience is silent and dark as similarly dark figures carry out Maximus' body. This in contrast to the lightly dressed Commodus, alone in his death, is striking. Commodus' motivation throughout his life, and the film, is to be loved. Whether it be the Romans, Lucilla, or his father, he is desperate for it. This scene shows the end of his story, as he ends up with nobody. They all follow Maximus out, even in death. It is also interesting how Lucilla stands in the middle, while looking toward...

For my scene analysis I have chosen the scene where Commodus says "I would butcher the whole world, If you would only love me!" to his father before killing him. The scene is set in a close-up shot with high contrast lighting with the characters filling up the whole frame of the shot. This use of a close-up shot lets us see the emotions of Commodus up close as he weeps in front of his father, showing us the facial expression of Commodus which seems to be a mix of sorrow and frustration. The use of high contrasts leads to the scene being very dark and makes the scene feel more intense to the viewers as they can only see a few features in the bright light. The dark lighting also signifies the turning point in the scene as hatred fills Commodus leading to him killing his father. Both of the characters heads take up the full frame of the shot making the scene more personal between Commodus and Marcus. Commodus is also standing above Marcus in this scene making it look as if Commo...

  In this scene in the movie Gladiator,  this is the first scene we the audience see Commodus and Maximus interact. This scene in particular could be seen as foreshadowing for Commodus' struggle to separate himself from his father Marcus Aurelius, but it also is showing the tension that the audience sees throughout the film. Commodus has all of Aurelius' flaws which is one reason why Aurelius does not think his son is fit to rule. Maximus is at his core a true leader and Commodus will never measure up to him. This scene does a great job of discreetly setting the movie up for Commodus' resentment and anger towards Maximus for the qualities he does not have. Having Commodus dressed like an Emperor but not being respected by his father, compared to Maximus wearing just his armor and commanding a whole legion gives insight to their characters. Also having Aurelius standing in-between Commodus and Maximus was a great way to foreshadow the cause of their conflict.

 "Casina" and "The Braggart Soldier" are two plays written by Titus Maccius Plautus. Both plays when compared have many similarities and differences. For example, both plays are comedies set in Greece, with a Greek cast of characters. They also both have love stories, featuring a slave/servant woman in the intended couple. In both of these stories as well, they use the formula, "a couple wants to be together, there is an obstacle in the way of this, and story ends when obstacle has been defeated." Personally, I enjoyed the "Casina" story more, as I felt it was easier to follow, and the plot had me more entertained while reading. "The Braggart Soldier" was slightly more challenging to follow, both in plot and the wide cast of characters and names, which took away some entertainment value for me personally. I think that "The Braggart Soldier" would be better understood with a visual component, either in the intended theater form...

 When looking at both of the plays, though they have differences they are both very similar. Both have relationships between slaves and their owners and they are both comedies. Even some of the jokes still hold up to todays comedy standards. Though both were funny, I feel that "Casina" was a much more enjoyable read compared to "The Braggart Soldier." I liked the plot of "Casina" more, but I also thought it was an easier read compared to the "Braggart Soldier."

"Casina" and "The Braggart Soldier" are old roman comedies written by Plautus. They each center around farcical and exaggerated relationships between masters and servants. They have similarly satisfying conclusions, with the main antagonist being beaten in each play. I preferred "Casina" over "The Braggart Soldier" as I found the plot of "The Braggart Soldier" to be convoluted and confusing at times. I think this more complex plot would "The Braggart Soldier" would make a better movie, as film is a medium suited to telling complex stories.   

 In both of the plays, Casina and The braggart solider were both comedies whiling being very similar to each other. In both of the plays they demonstrate the comedy side of slaves and their masters which added an element of surprise for me while I was reading it. Me personally I liked The Braggart solider because it had more of a movie like feature to it that I enjoyed because I could see the potential of a movie in it. With Casina it was easier to read but it didn't have that same structure that The Braggart solider had because I couldn't picture it to be in a movie. They were alright to read, probably wouldn't read anything like this on my own but it wasn't the end of the world. 

 The two plays are similar in some aspects. One is that they are experimenting with a newer genre, comedy. Some aspects of the comedy were almost modern. One was at times they used really cringy sayings to address a specific person. In both of the plays the central plot is about a man chasing after a girl whom he can't have. The men are both cocky and arrogant so it was easy for the characters around them to trick them both. Both could become movies, if the play "Casina" were to be made it would do alright. Due to the fact, it was an early comedy and the audience would enjoy watching something that made them laugh. "The Braggart Soldier" has more intense scenes and a more complex plot line. Along with the characters in the play, they have more characteristics. In the end "The Braggart Soldier" would be the better option to be made into a movie. 

These two plays, though very different, share a central plot point of a man that wants a woman he can't have, and trickery from others helping make a fool of that man. The main antagonists in both films are also both men who are arrogant and egotistical. Both of these plays felt fairly modern in their wording and jokes, and were a surprisingly enjoyable read. I personally liked Casina more, as I laughed at more of the jokes and the outrageousness/stupidity of the male characters.  I felt the story of  Casina  was easier to grasp, but the plot of  The Braggart Soldier  was far more interesting and complex. Therefore, if one of these was made into a movie,  The Braggart Soldier would be better, as it's a lot more exciting with more scandal and trickery, as well as having a more rewarding ending. 

The two plays, “Casina” and “The Braggart Soldier” were pretty similar. Both were comedies that revolved around the main characters tricking a man who wanted a woman he couldn’t have while the woman wanted nothing to do with the man. In both cases the antagonist is a slave-owning man whose unearned confidence and stupidity allow him to be fooled by the much smarter main characters. I surprised myself by laughing out loud with some of the jokes that were made in these plays. My favorite was probably “Casina” because I thought it was a bit funnier. However, the play most likely to be made into a movie would definitely be “The Braggart Soldier”. It felt like the characters were given traits and scenes that the audience could connect with. Also, the way the play was written made me think that a director could do something interesting with the way they filmed it.

  Both Casina and The Braggart Soldier are comedic plays written by Plautus, and they are pretty similar. It was interesting how current they feel and how the jokes/wording are actually fairly up to date. All the silly descriptions used in Casina like “ love-bird , lovey-dovey, and cuddly-bunny” (line 138) made it genuinely funny and I was more compelled to read the entire thing. Right off the bat in The Braggart Soldier , Pyrgopolynices (the soldier) is portrayed as cocky and arrogant. Personally, I think he is an annoying character, but he adds an interesting flare to the play. I preferred reading Casina because of the two-sided conflict between Cleostrata and Lysidamus. Overall, though, I feel The Braggart Soldier would be a better film because there was a more complex plot. I did find it difficult to follo w while reading because of all the long and similar names, so hopefully it would be better in the film version.  - Sophia  

  “Casina” and “The Braggart Soldier”, both by Plautus, are similar in many regards. They are both comedies that explore dynamics between slaves and their masters, with plenty of schemes and trickery. I enjoyed “Casina” more, with its biting, crass humor and horrible (in the sense that they are all terrible people) characters. The translator used very colloquial, modern language which I thought was really funny and relatable. I did think it was interesting how Casina, the person practically the entire cast of characters is fighting over never once even spoke. I feel as though “The Braggart Soldier” would make a better movie, however, due to the satirical nature of the play and a far more complex plot that would translate to film well. Overall, both plays were an enjoyable read (despite the length) and they were definitely not as hard to understand as I thought they would be. 

               There was a lot that I didn't expect from these two plays, mainly the amount of jokes in every line, and how modern it felt, though that was mainly because of the translator's choice inclusion of lines like "cruisin' for a bruisin'" (line 837 of Casina). Both of them have very similar narratives and plot points, such as men fighting over the ownership of an enslaved girl, but I think The Braggart Soldier has more potential as a movie. In Casina, I felt like both parties sucked, but The Braggart Soldier offers a more complex plot and a hatable villain. As plays however I liked Casina a lot more, though it might just be because it was hard to keep track of all the long greek names in the other. 

 While having very different plots, I find that both Casina and The Braggart Soldier share the same themes, tropes, and essential message/purpose. They are both about lust-driven masters who fall head-over-heels for a young woman, allowing one (or more) of their slaves to manipulate them and gain more power for themselves. The plays also have similar senses of humor; making the audience laugh with awkward, unconventional situations and dialogue. It seems to me that the only major difference between these two works, other than the plot, is the style in which they're written. Casina's dialogue reads more casual and comedic, as if every line is meant to make the audience laugh. The Braggart Soldier's language and dialogue is more akin to Shakespeare, which makes sense, since apparently Plautus inspired some Shakespearean works. All that to say, The Braggart Soldier is written with more formal language, making it feel more melodramatic and serious to the audience, despite the h...

Casina and The Braggart Soldier are two plays written by Plautus. Both plays are comedies and share some similarities, but they also have some differences.  Casina is a play about a young man named Euthynicus who is in love with a slave named Casina. However, Euthynicus's father Lysidamus, is also in love with Casina and wants to marry her himself. So he sends his son out of the country and uses his slave Olympio to marry Casina so he could secretly have an affair with Casina while being married to his wife Cleostrata. Cleostrata finds out about her husbands attempt and tries to marry Casina to her slave, Chalinus, who would be stand in for Euthynicus until his return from the country. The play revolves around the various schemes and plots that the characters come up with to try to get what they want.   The Braggart Soldier, on the other hand, is about a soldier named Pyrgopolynices who is boastful and arrogant. He has kidnapped a young woman named Philocom...