Update: tried to watch a bit more last night, but only made it as far as their arrival at The Tower of London, and the ensuing moment of "oh fuck..."  To be fair I had just come off a full eight hours running around at work.

I think that really sums it up.  I mean, Robin Hood is very much like Gladiator, in that it's a purely fictional story where the story takes place around real historical people / places / events.  Whereas, in Braveheart and Black Hawk Down the stories are supposed to depict actual people / places / events.

When I saw Braveheart, I knew nothing about Scottish history, and I think I enjoyed it more because of it.  Black Hawk Down was a story I was very familiar with when I saw it, and was definitely part of why I didn't care for it.

Since then I guess I've developed this need to see history reflected with some degree of accuracy in film.  When I saw Bonnie and Clyde a couple years ago I was disappointed to later read their historical account, and find that in this case, the history was more interesting than the film.

I think a cooking analogy of some kind would work well here, because historical events are rarely very good as films in their "raw" form.  You need that bit drama, that something extra to make it more palatable, but it's easy to go too far.  It's also easy to get the order wrong.  If I order a steak, I might be able to forgive being served a hamburger if it turns out to be really good, but if I'm served a veggieburger, I'm leaving the table.

If I'm going to watch, or ask others to watch, a film that takes place in a fairly well documented part of history, then one of the following scenarios should play out: 1.) If I'm not familiar with that part of history, I'd like to learn something from the film that is based on those historical facts. 2.) If I am familiar with that part of history, don't insult my intelligence.

Granted the whole Richard / John / Robin Hood story is so skewed by popular belief that the chances of even Ridley Scott getting it right were slim, but as an Englishman, I was kind of hoping he'd have a bit more respect for his own history.

Ok, I'll admit my first search was an ego search, but in fairness to the "other" Matt, the search didn't turn up Matrix: Revolutions, nor did a search for Lank.

Neither does Kung Fu!

I agree, if there is a way to allow users to submit tags (for administrative consideration) that'd really make this a powerful tool. 

We could go so far as to tag episodes with glossary terms, and perhaps set up an automated way to link from a glossary term to the search for that term, or generate a list of episodes in which that term appears.  Want to learn all about magic beans?  Here are the episodes where we cover that.

(Sigh) There I go again, making more work for Holden ; seriously dude, mad props yo!

It's not so much that it doesn't have my attention.  Honestly I think so far what's bothering me has to do with the portrayal of King Richard.  "Let's get these French bastards so we can go home to Nottingham!" What?  From what I understand Richard was more French than English, barely spoke any English, and spent almost none of his reign in England.  He used his kingdom as a source of revenue to pay for his crusade.  Must have had a heck of a press writer.

I get that the facts of history don't always make for the best drama (I recently caught Pearl Harbor again, and my brother-in-law who is a huge WWII buff kept up a running commentary of the films historical failings).  I also get that the story of Robin Hood isn't exactly set in stone.  I guess I just expected that if there was an Englishman who could tell this story, it would be Ridley Scott.

Ok Ridley, show me what you've got.

The chemistry the presenters have on Top Gear is definitely the better part of what makes it great.  Top Gear USA is finally coming to fruition and I'm dubious that any other group can match that chemistry.  Then again we're pulling if off here at DIF, so who knows.

I'd like to think that had I been born elsewhere, with no memory of that place, I would still consider myself American.  Then again you always hear about folks saying "I'm _______ but I was born in ________ and my parents are _______,"
so who knows.

Heck, if you want to stretch the analogy, I could say "I'm American, but my Dad's family came from Hungary, and my Mom's family is German (for one)." Given the histories of the US and the UK in particular, unless you're a pureblood Native American or can trace your linage back to a cave in Somerset,  no one can really say they're American or British based on genetics.  Which brings us back to the notion that we derive our cultural identities more from our surroundings and upbringing, and less where we come from.

Robert A. Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land comes to mind.  The protagonist, Valentine Michael Smith, is a human, raised by Martians.  Throughout the story he is referred to as Martian, even though he is human, and his parents were from Earth.

According to Google:

http://www.ehow.com/how_2031050_submit- … pedia.html

Maybe we need to set up a Down in Front Wiki page first, then start linking to episodes.

Yeah I remember now.  We got it as a Special Edition DVD.  Never knew they made a sequel.  Don't know how you'd do that with the UK version.  I'm sure it was one of those direct to DVD sequels you see on the shelf that evokes a double-take followed by "they made another?".

FTFY.

If memory serves the UK (better) cut of The Descent has that extra twenty seconds or so before credits roll, yes?

Hey man, I'm on your side.  Just wanted to suggest a change of venue.  I know when I went through school we were taught U.S. History, and World (read European) History.  I don't remember studying geography after grade school either.  Point is, just about everything I've learned regarding other cultures and their history (outside of studying German in high school) has been as a result of frustration at my own ignorance.  I sincerely hope kids these days are learning more about eastern cultures, especially given the world they are on the road to inheriting.  I have a 6 month old nephew and I joke with my sister about when she's getting him enrolled in Mandarin classes...well, half joke anyway.

...

So...how'd everybody like the wall to wall art in this episode?  Did it help anyone outside of Region 1 stay is sync?  That Luc Besson's something, hu?  I love Ian Holm.  Isn't Milla Jovovich talented? Gary Oldman's got such range.  I prefer Bruce Willis with hair, but I grew up on Die Hard.

October Scary Movie Month suggestions:

The Descent
Slither
Sean of the Dead
28 Days / Weeks Later
Event Horizon

We could always resurrect this thread.

Nice dude, I remember you talking about this.  Glad to hear there's some interest.  Hopefully those wheels keep turning for you.