Ironclad
Ironclad see the historical epic return to the big screen this week as James Purefoy and Paul Giamatti lead the cast of Jonathan English's latest movie.
The genre of movie has delighted cinema go-ers for decades - even if they are not always historically accurate.
So to celebrate the release of Ironclad we take a look at some of the best historical epics that have graced the big screen.
- Ben Hur
In 1959 Heston starred as Ben Hur, his most famous role despite it being offered to Marlon Brando, Burt Lancaster and Rock Hudson first, cementing him as one of the best sword and sandal epic actors of all time.
When a Jewish prince is betrayed and sent into slavery by a Roman friend, he regains his freedom and comes back for revenge.
The chariot race still remains one of the most exciting and spectacular action sequences ever committed to film.
Long before special effects were used actor Charlton Heston spent weeks learning how to drive a chariot. It took over three months to complete, using 8000 extras.
Over the years Ben Hur's popularity has not diminished as many recognise the effort to get a movie of this scale shot in a time before computers.
And now almost fifty years after it was released Ben Hur remains the grandest of Hollywood's classic biblical and historical epics.
- Gladiator
Hard to believe that Gladiator was released back in 2000, I know it's really eleven year old, but it was to be the movie that moved Russell Crowe onto the Hollywood A-List as he took on the role of Maximus in the Ridley Scott directed movie.
In the final days of Marcus Aurelius' reign, the aging emperor angers his son Commodus by making it known that he wants Maximus, a fearsome and respected Roman general, to be his successor.
Power-hungry Commodus kills his father and orders the death of Maximus. But the latter flees, only to discover that his wife and child have been murdered by Commodus.
Captured, Maximus is forced into slavery, where he is sold to Proximo, a former gladiator who serves as both mentor and slavemaster.
Maximus trains as a gladiator in the arena, where his fame grows. He goes to Rome, intent on avenging the murder of his wife and son by killing the new emperor Commodus.
Maximus has learned that the one power stronger than that of the emperor is the will of the people, and he knows he can only attain his revenge by becoming the greatest hero in all the empire.
His performance earnt him his second Oscar nomination for Best actor, he was nominated the previous for his role in The Insider, which he went on to win.
- Braveheart
While Mel Gibson had been directing movies long since 1995 it was to be Braveheart and the role of William Wallace that announced him as a filmmaker - as well as becoming one of his most famous roles.
In the late 13th century, William Wallace returns to Scotland after living away from his homeland for many years.
The king of Scotland has died without an heir and the king of England, a ruthless pagan known as Edward the Longshanks, has seized the throne. Wallace becomes the leader of a ramshackle yet courageous army determined to vanquish the greater English forces.
At the historic battle of Stirling, Wallace leads his army to a stunning victory against the English.
Knighted by the grateful Scottish nobles, Sir William Wallace extends the conflict south of the border and storms the city of York. King Edward I is astonished by the unexpected turn of events.
Unable to rely on his ineffectual son Prince Edward, Longshanks sends his daughter-in-law Princess Isabelle to discuss a truce with Wallace.
The movie was a box office success on it's release going on to gross over $210 million worldwide.
It was nominated for ten Oscars taking home five, including Best Picture and Best Director for Gibson.
- 300
'We are Spartans' is probably the most famous line from Zack Snyder's stylish 2007 movie that really helped kick off the career of the lovely Gerard Butler.
In the ancient Battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fought to the death against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.
Facing insurmountable odds, their valor and sacrifice inspire all of Greece to unite against their Persian enemy, drawing a line in the sand for democracy.
While the movie may not be 100% on the money accuracy wise it's a blood fest that's highly entertaining.
- Gandhi
Ben Kingsley is perhaps best known for his role as Mohandes 'Mahatma' Gandhi, leader of the nonviolent resistance movement against British colonial rule.
His early life is not the subject of the film it, instead, concentrates on events that make a young Gandhi revolt against an unfair political system.
Directed by Richard Attenborough it is widely regarded as his best picture as a director and Kingsley's performance in the central role earnt him a Best Actor Oscar.
- Elizabeth
Cate Blanchett's role as Elizabeth I is the part that announced on the global acting stage back in the nineties.
She first took up the role in 1998 as the young innocent woman who, at the age of twenty five, finds herself the Queen of England after her sister Mary dies.
In 2007 she reprised the role of the Virgin Queen and in 1585 her greatest threat is from Catholic Spain who want to remove the Protestant monarch from the throne of England and replace her with Mary Queen of Scots, a Catholic.
Both films focus on Elizabeth's to win over the male dominated upper class and church convincing them that she capable of ruling the country without a husband.
For both of her turns as the mighty monarch Cate Blanchett was Oscar nominated for Best Actress.
Ironclad is released 4th March
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw