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Historical figures who are more outrageous than their movie/TV representation
Posted on 7/27/20 at 6:33 pm
Posted on 7/27/20 at 6:33 pm
There are countless examples of historical figures who’s lives and deeds have been exaggerated for art, what are some examples of the opposite? Historical figures who were actually watered down for the screen?
One example is Commodus in Gladiator. While he likely did not have the hots for his sister, he did have her executed, and he also had his wife banished and executed. His excursions in the Coliseum are actually underplayed in the movie as well. He trained as a Gladiator and often fought battles against opponents who had led/blunted swords, or were crippled or handicapped. He would also host “big game hunting” events where he would stalk exotic animals in the arena and then shoot them with a bow and arrow, and he charged the empire $1million sesterce for each appearance
He also had tons of political opponents murdered and was eventually strangled to death by his wrestling partner, it seems like he was legitimately insane, not just a stuck up entitled creep like he was in the movie, but actually a psycho
One example is Commodus in Gladiator. While he likely did not have the hots for his sister, he did have her executed, and he also had his wife banished and executed. His excursions in the Coliseum are actually underplayed in the movie as well. He trained as a Gladiator and often fought battles against opponents who had led/blunted swords, or were crippled or handicapped. He would also host “big game hunting” events where he would stalk exotic animals in the arena and then shoot them with a bow and arrow, and he charged the empire $1million sesterce for each appearance
He also had tons of political opponents murdered and was eventually strangled to death by his wrestling partner, it seems like he was legitimately insane, not just a stuck up entitled creep like he was in the movie, but actually a psycho
Posted on 7/27/20 at 6:51 pm to Tiger1242
Yeah maybe Commodus. He was pretty nutty in the movie though.
Hard to think of many. Themistocles maybe, from the 300 sequel. He was cool in the movie but I think he was a little simplified and watered down, although it’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie. Historically, from what we know, he was brave, intelligent, charismatic, and sneaky as a mofo. He almost single handedly pushed Athens into building a navy and actually forcing that navy to fight at Salamis rather than retreat. The Spartans didn’t come save the day at Salamis at all. That victory was all his. How resilient of a politician was he? After being exiled from Athens he finished his career as a Persian governor.
Hard to think of many. Themistocles maybe, from the 300 sequel. He was cool in the movie but I think he was a little simplified and watered down, although it’s been a while since I’ve seen the movie. Historically, from what we know, he was brave, intelligent, charismatic, and sneaky as a mofo. He almost single handedly pushed Athens into building a navy and actually forcing that navy to fight at Salamis rather than retreat. The Spartans didn’t come save the day at Salamis at all. That victory was all his. How resilient of a politician was he? After being exiled from Athens he finished his career as a Persian governor.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:07 pm to Tiger1242
Genghis Khan was pretty horrible, way more so than when he is shown in movies.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:23 pm to Tiger1242
Frank Dux was more badass IRL, than in Bloodsport. He actually fought like 60 fights in the Kumite.
Believe it or not, he also had many more special moves than in the movie. We all know about Johnny Cage’s split/nutshot from Mortal Kombat originating from Dux. Did you know that Dux once defeated an opponent by using the bicycle kick made famous by Liu Kang? Guile’s “sonic boom” (Street Fighter II) also comes from in-combat maneuvers done by Dux. No, he didn’t shoot projectiles. That would be silly. His punches/kicks did frequently break the sound barrier, however.
Chong Li was more badass IRL, also. Ray Jackson was 1 of only 8 opponents he didn’t kill in his 59 matches leading up to the finals against Dux.
Believe it or not, he also had many more special moves than in the movie. We all know about Johnny Cage’s split/nutshot from Mortal Kombat originating from Dux. Did you know that Dux once defeated an opponent by using the bicycle kick made famous by Liu Kang? Guile’s “sonic boom” (Street Fighter II) also comes from in-combat maneuvers done by Dux. No, he didn’t shoot projectiles. That would be silly. His punches/kicks did frequently break the sound barrier, however.
Chong Li was more badass IRL, also. Ray Jackson was 1 of only 8 opponents he didn’t kill in his 59 matches leading up to the finals against Dux.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:32 pm to Tiger1242
Hard to believe, but Amon Goeth was even worse than he was portrayed in Schindler’s List. Here’s some other things he did that were not shown in the film:
quote:
Some real-life incidents from Goth’s time include him using his dogs to eat the inmates while they were still alive, shooting and then urinating on inmates during the morning parade, and a horrific incidence where Goth forced a young boy, sick with diarrhea, to eat his own excrement before shooting him.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:47 pm to Tiger1242
In the positive vein, Desmond Doss was more incredible than portrayed in Hacksaw Ridge. Gibson said that if they had been completely true to what Doss actually did, no one would have believed the movie.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:50 pm to RoyalAir
quote:
In the positive vein, Desmond Doss was more incredible than portrayed in Hacksaw Ridge. Gibson said that if they had been completely true to what Doss actually did, no one would have believed the movie.
Yea I heard that too, pretty incredible
Posted on 7/27/20 at 7:54 pm to MrFreakinMiyagi
quote:Didn't he lie about basically everything?
Frank Dux was more badass IRL
quote:Then he didn't finish a Kumite
He actually fought like 60 fights in the Kumite.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 8:20 pm to Tiger1242
Ceaser
Nero
Edward 1
Mehmed
Nero
Edward 1
Mehmed
Posted on 7/27/20 at 8:45 pm to Roaad
His wiki basically implies he is a pathological liar and everything he ever said has no legitimate collaborators including his recollection of his military service or connections to the CIA much less his 60 round single elimination tournament that only happens every 5 years
Posted on 7/27/20 at 9:59 pm to partywiththelombardi
Plus...breaking the sound barrier with a punch?? Sound barrier is like 770mph. Fastest punch is about 45mph.
Posted on 7/27/20 at 10:03 pm to Boo Krewe
quote:
Edward 1
From Braveheart I assume? I thought about this one. He was an interesting badass king for sure. The movie, although it screwed up the timeline, portrayed him as a hardass competent military guy in the twilight of his career. Not a bad portrayal.
Posted on 7/28/20 at 12:08 am to Tiger1242
quote:
Historical figures who are more outrageous than their movie/TV representation
Audie Murphy. He underplayed his heroism in his autobiographical film.
Posted on 7/28/20 at 1:47 am to Boo Krewe
Sgt York - the movie sanitized how brutal combat in the Meuse-Argonne front actually was. Alvin York was a badass.
Posted on 7/28/20 at 4:04 am to MrFreakinMiyagi
quote:
No, he didn’t shoot projectiles. That would be silly. His punches/kicks did frequently break the sound barrier, however.

This post was edited on 7/28/20 at 4:06 am
Posted on 7/28/20 at 5:56 am to partywiththelombardi
quote:
much less his 60 round single elimination tournament that only happens every 5 years
Interestingly, since this tournament contains every man, woman, child, and insect on the planet - the first 28 rounds or so are just stepping on insects until you get down to JUST the human population on earth. They left those out of the documentary.
Posted on 7/28/20 at 6:59 am to MrFreakinMiyagi
quote:
His punches/kicks did frequently break the sound barrier, however.

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