The Celts & Hollywood

[Celtag]

After watching several movies with The Celts depicted in them such as, The Eagle, Centurion, Prince of Thieves, King Aurthur. It always seems that they never depict them as they were historically. I just wish they would make a film once, that shows the Celts in a more historical role. I just wanted to get everyone's thoughts on this.

[ToddGrove]

After watching several movies with The Celts depicted in them such as, The Eagle, Centurion, Prince of Thieves, King Aurthur. It always seems that they never depict them as they were historically. I just wish they would make a film once, that shows the Celts in a more historical role. I just wanted to get everyone's thoughts on this.

Good luck finding a historically accurate movie! I'm still reeling from how they depicted the Norse on Pathfinder! Lol

[Celtag]

Good luck finding a historically accurate movie! I'm still reeling from how they depicted the Norse on Pathfinder! Lol

Those two groups the Vikings & Celts always get depicted as bloodthirsty savages bent on death and destruction.

[ToddGrove]

Those two groups the Vikings & Celts always get depicted as bloodthirsty savages bent on death and destruction.

Very true. People lump them together a lot as well, but in fact the two cultures have seriously different ways of life. But hey, ignorance isn't picky!

[Celtag]

Very true. People lump them together a lot as well, but in fact the two cultures have seriously different ways of life. But hey, ignorance isn't picky!

They probably lump them together because they had so much contact with each other.

[cigfran]

They probably lump them together because they had so much contact with each other.

I think they both represent the barbarian 'other' against which our Christianized civilization had to struggle to establish its dominance. They are the noble savage.

While I would prefer accuracy - I think films like Rob Roy at least make a good effort - I have to confess that I very much enjoy the depiction of the bloody-minded Celts. It's a counterweight to the dreamy, mystical woo that so often accompanies the idea of 'celticism' in modern neo-paganism.

With regard to Pathfinder: if you haven't ever seen it, find the original, aka Ofelas. It's a totally different story, and beautifully done.

[Fagan_the_Pagan]

Those two groups the Vikings & Celts always get depicted as bloodthirsty savages bent on death and destruction.

There were a few things in The Eagle that I appreciated: The hints at the hypocrisy of Rome, for instance, and that much of the uglier "savage" acts of the Celts were in direct response to the actions of Rome, and more out of desperation than "We are horrible evil people."

I thought the depiction of the Celts as looking like the stereotypical image of Native Americans, what with the hair style and the form of dress, was quite odd. I did enjoy that they were actually speaking at least some form of Gaelic, though. And the image of the chieftain in his Cernunnos/Horned God attire was pretty cool.

But apart from that, they really didn't feel Celtic at all.

[Fireof9]

Good luck finding a historically accurate movie! I'm still reeling from how they depicted the Norse on Pathfinder! Lol

I really really really wanted to like that movie........ I watched it probably 5 times trying to find some redeeming quality other than the violence.

I gave up.

[Celtag]

There were a few things in The Eagle that I appreciated: The hints at the hypocrisy of Rome, for instance, and that much of the uglier "savage" acts of the Celts were in direct response to the actions of Rome, and more out of desperation than "We are horrible evil people."

I thought the depiction of the Celts as looking like the stereotypical image of Native Americans, what with the hair style and the form of dress, was quite odd. I did enjoy that they were actually speaking at least some form of Gaelic, though. And the image of the chieftain in his Cernunnos/Horned God attire was pretty cool.

But apart from that, they really didn't feel Celtic at all.

One part of The Eagle was that the Brigantes slave was speaking Gaelic, and at that time the Celts of Britain would have been speaking Brythonic not Gaelic, even the Scottish tribes. So I pondered why they just didn't have them speak Welsh.

[cigfran]

One part of The Eagle was that the Brigantes slave was speaking Gaelic, and at that time the Celts of Britain would have been speaking Brythonic not Gaelic, even the Scottish tribes. So I pondered why they just didn't have them speak Welsh.

Wouldn't hey have been speaking Pictish? Or were they too far south for that?