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"Following the release of Ridley Scott's Gladiator in 2000 the ancient world epic has experienced a revival in studio and audience interest. Building on existing scholarship on the Cold War epics of the 1950s-60s, including Ben-Hur, Spartacus and The Robe, this original study explores the current cycle of ancient world epics in cinema within the social and political climate created by September 11th 2001. Examining films produced against the backdrop of the War on Terror and subsequent invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, this book assesses the relationship between mainstream cinema and American society through depictions of the ancient world, conflict and faith. Davies explores how these films evoke depictions of WWII, the Vietnam War and the Western in portraying warfare in the ancient world, as well discussing the influence of genre hybridisation, narration and reception theory. He questions the extent to which ancient world epics utilise allegory, analogy and allusion to parallel past and present in an industry often dictated by market forces. Featuring analysis of Alexander, Troy, 300, Centurion, The Eagle, The Passion of the Christ and more, this book offers new insight on the continued evolution of the ancient world epic in cinema"-- War & empire: the ancient world epic, combat films and genre -- The time of Achilles: memory and warfare in Troy -- The dreamers exhaust us: storytellers and the combat film in Alexander -- Is this Sparta: war, freedom and America in 300 -- Body politics: gods, men and monsters in 300 (2007) and Greek mythological epics -- Land of the free, Rome of the brave: faith, torture and imperialism in King Arthur -- American eagle: imperialism in The last legion (2007), Centurion (2010) and The eagle -- Rome on the range: the western in King Arthur (2004), Centurion (2010) and the eagle -- Religious violence: Christianity and extremism in Agora -- Passion project: faith, horror, and propaganda in The passion of the Christ -- The new wave: tales of Hercules and the return of the biblical epic.
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