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cover art for Kingdom of Heaven

History in Technicolour

Kingdom of Heaven

Ridley Scott's 2005 historical epic came soon after the massive success of Gladiator, and consciously aimed to repeat it's success. It didn't manage it, but the Director's Cut was better received, and the film has very strong themes about religious fanaticism; and is a visual treat.

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  • Napoleon

    50:24
    Ridley Scott's long awaited latest epic; a 'character study' of one of the most influential figures of European history, who reshaped a continent. It has been accompanied by furious debate, criticism, praise and confusion. Henry, Wolf and David rushed to see it, and to chat about it.
  • Oppenheimer

    01:04:50
    Christopher Nolan's biography of J Robert Oppenheimer is visually stunning, rich, ambitious...also quite long. Did it engage you, was it thought provoking, present a convincing view of it's subject? We talk about that.
  • The Great Escape

    55:28
    Released in 1863 The Great Escape has got to be one of the definitive tales of derring-do, the ultimate escapism, in the 'film is fun' genre. What role would you have had if you had been there?
  • Chariots of Fire

    52:38
    I remember back in 1981 this film was a sensation; we were all running around on beaches in slo-mo. Has it stood the test of time, though, and is it any more than a bit of fluff?
  • Bright Star

    54:06
    Jane Campion's Bright Star was released in 2009 and featured on the lives of Fanny Browne and John Keats in the last years of Keat's life. Abbie Cornish and Ben Wishaw do a brilliant job of recreating their lives
  • Gladiator

    01:01:49
    Ridley Scott's classic - is it, and were you entertained or did it unleash hell? Has it stood the test of time? And how well does the revenge format work? This and much more - and a discussion of the ubiquitous agricultural yield ratios. 
  • The Lost King

    58:19
    The Lost King follows the remarkable story of Ricardian Phillipa Langley, whose steely determination and persistence led to the discovery of the body of Richard III and paints the academic community as determined to write her out of the story.
  • Lagaan

    52:21
    The evil British oppressor Captain Russell - twiddly 'tache and all - forces the poor hapless (and stonkingly rich) Raja to impose the traditional tax, Lagaan threefold on the villagers unless they beat the English overlord at their weird game - Cricket (pre IPL days, obs). Find out what happens.
  • In Cold Blood

    51:58
    The 1967 film noir adaptation of Truman Capote's famous book, In Cold Blood tells of the gruesome story of the murders of the Clutter family. It used a quasi document style, and is not only strikingly filmed, but makes you ask why these people died. It won multiple nominations for Academy Awards.