OP
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I remember seeing that photo somewhere before.
I think these are waitresses in basic training for Oktoberfest
Netflix for History Buffs: New show Barbarians
- Thread starter Absalom
- Start date
I remember seeing that photo somewhere before.
I think these are waitresses in basic training for Oktoberfest
UncleEd
Member
That's one of the things that struck me about the trailer for "Barbarians", something that won't bother most of you:
Sure, the Roman speak Latin. Cool. But the Germans speak beautiful modern German like you'd hear in Hannover today.
In reality, whatever proto-German dialects those Germanic tribespeople spoke 2000 years ago would be as incomprehensible to modern Germans as King Arthur's "English" would be to you
When it comes to spoken language, supposedly Shakespeare
in merry olde England wold have had a hard time understanding
Chaucer who proceeded him by two hundred years.
JcMack
Member
Watched Barbarians for 15 mins and determined they dressed, spoke and were cleaner than a lot of my neighbors. I was expecting something like the opening half hour of "Gladiator" with Russell Crowe.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
My son, Richard "Arminius" will like that.
OP
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
First impression after two episodes: Worth watching.
It is indeed a bit cheesy, as I thought it might be. At times it's more comical than dramatic, and especially the young Germans appear a bit too "modern" in their habits. But then again, we have no idea how these people really behaved 2000 years ago. But the show certainly doesn't come close to depicting the complex relationship between the Romans and Germans.
A problem is scale, as always with a show trying to depict events of significant magnitude. The Germans are basically reduced to one settlement of a dozen houses, and when the tribal leaders, who represented tens of thousands of people each, meet in the first episode, they appear as a handful of grubby village chiefs.
The costumes and equipment of the Romans are very well done, and the setting was also well chosen. Even though it wasn't filmed anywhere near the real area, the geography and forest lands are a pretty good match.
I'm looking forward to watching this unfold.
It is indeed a bit cheesy, as I thought it might be. At times it's more comical than dramatic, and especially the young Germans appear a bit too "modern" in their habits. But then again, we have no idea how these people really behaved 2000 years ago. But the show certainly doesn't come close to depicting the complex relationship between the Romans and Germans.
A problem is scale, as always with a show trying to depict events of significant magnitude. The Germans are basically reduced to one settlement of a dozen houses, and when the tribal leaders, who represented tens of thousands of people each, meet in the first episode, they appear as a handful of grubby village chiefs.
The costumes and equipment of the Romans are very well done, and the setting was also well chosen. Even though it wasn't filmed anywhere near the real area, the geography and forest lands are a pretty good match.
I'm looking forward to watching this unfold.
JcMack
Member
Target spotted 14:58 mins. into episode 3. Better than I projected.
HOUSTON RICK
Member
Thanks Absalom, my son and I will watch "Barbaren". You are right, modern German is enough of a challenge for my German vocabulary. My son speaks Latin so if I miss anything there he picks it up. I hardly expect a living breathing documentary depicting the whole event. As with Battle of the Bulge, The Longest Day, and many others, the right scenes convey the gist. Some revisionism is unavoidable in a commercial production when you are trying to get modern folks to care about fictional individuals
from 2,000 years ago. Definitely worth watching. Definitely not a documentary.
Caj, enough for a man of your experience and maturity.
from 2,000 years ago. Definitely worth watching. Definitely not a documentary.
Caj, enough for a man of your experience and maturity.
OP
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Final report for anyone still following this thread 
Enjoyable. In terms of accuracy of the story line, it was really no better than the many 19th and early 20th century historical fictions that were written in Germany about the specific events. But the actors by and large did a good job, the general gist of history was captured.
And the real battle, based on the archaeological evidence, was a three-day running fight extending over many miles and basically an extended meat grinder as the three legions were chewed up piece-meal.
It was turned into something of Custer's Last Stand in the show with all major characters fighting it out within sight of each other, and was over in less than 30 minutes. And I'm still wondering where the Germans at that time would have gotten the gasoline .... (you'll get that if you watch it)
But hey, the women are really something ....
Enjoyable. In terms of accuracy of the story line, it was really no better than the many 19th and early 20th century historical fictions that were written in Germany about the specific events. But the actors by and large did a good job, the general gist of history was captured.
And the real battle, based on the archaeological evidence, was a three-day running fight extending over many miles and basically an extended meat grinder as the three legions were chewed up piece-meal.
It was turned into something of Custer's Last Stand in the show with all major characters fighting it out within sight of each other, and was over in less than 30 minutes. And I'm still wondering where the Germans at that time would have gotten the gasoline .... (you'll get that if you watch it)
But hey, the women are really something ....
Attachments
Well, it was entertaining... I watched about half in German with English subtitles but the subtitling was erratic, at times absent and at other times flashed so briefly on screen that I did not have time to read it. So I switched to English for the second half but that was somehow unsatisfying, too.
On the plus side, the story was easy enough to understand whether one understood the dialog or not.
It was not on the extravagant level of HBO's Rome, by any means, but was made for a lot less, too, I am sure.
On the plus side, the story was easy enough to understand whether one understood the dialog or not.
It was not on the extravagant level of HBO's Rome, by any means, but was made for a lot less, too, I am sure.
OP
Absalom
SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
If anyone wants a taste of the visuals, albeit without the original sound, here's a music video by a Scandinavian folk band using about three minutes of battle footage from the "Barbarians".
It gives a pretty good idea why the Romans lost fighting the Germans in the forest. Legionnaires among the trees are vulnerable like tanks in narrow city streets; they can't deploy properly and use the tactics that are their strengths.
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJHnM_PqreE[/ame]
It gives a pretty good idea why the Romans lost fighting the Germans in the forest. Legionnaires among the trees are vulnerable like tanks in narrow city streets; they can't deploy properly and use the tactics that are their strengths.
[ame]https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YJHnM_PqreE[/ame]
