Alexander, Comparison Of Film And Reality

2004 Words9 Pages
Humanities Ancient and Greek Paper Alexander 2004 Alexander is a 2004 film, based on the life of Alexander the Great. It was directed by Oliver Stone. The film is based mostly on the book Alexander the Great, written in the 1973 by historian Robin Lane Fox. The film covers most of Alexander’s short life but with a concentration on his life as King of Macedonia. Physically, Alexander the Great was an anomaly when compared to the previous Macedonian kings and more importantly his father Phillip. His father, Phillip, had the normal close-cropped hair of a soldier and grew his beard out. Alexander was clean-shaven and his hair was long and parted as to frame his face which contained his straight nose, short but forward chin, prominent forehead and a mouth that was said to have revealed his emotion. He was also a short man; “when he sat on the throne of the Persian King, he required a table, not a stool, for his feet, and although the throne was designed to be high, this suggests a definite shortness of leg”.[i] The movie conveys this appearance for Alexander. In the film he is just how described in the referenced text. He is also shorter than that of all his generals and friends. The film also portrayed Alexander as a caring and emotional person; clearly showing that he acquired that from his mother Olympias. He even seemed at times to lack self confidence so far as to make him appear weak at times. Alexander showed respect for women rather than abusing them. This connects with authors representations of the King. After the battle of Issus, Alexander held captive the Persian King’s mother, wife and children. While captive Alexander showed exaggerated respect toward Darius’ mother. Alexander even released them without ransom after ransom was offered. The portrayal of Alexander within the film I believe was correct. He was shown as a driven,
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