How close are movies to history?

I use movies as a reference point when thinking about the past. Movies can be the best history teacher in the world, as long as use them as a general reference and not as a historical fact.

It's easy to pick out movies that have a historical significance and which ones don't. Films that are believed to be entirely fiction can still make an accurate or truthful portrayal of their time-frame.

If the movie gives a good approximation of what the life and culture was probably like during that era; then it is good for study.

Take the movie Gladiator for example: Gladiator is set in the year 150 a.d., and takes place in Rome & Spain. Filmed in 2000 and directed by Ridley Scott. Russel Crowe plays Roman General Maximus Decimus Meridius, a native of Spain, who leads the Roman Army to victory in the war against the Germanic barbarians in the year A.D. 180, and earning the esteem of elderly Emperor Marcus Aurelius. As the battle ends, the son and daughter of the Emperor arrive from Rome, Commodus and Lucilla.

While all the events portrayed in Gladiator, might not be entirely accurate, the characters in the movie are actual historical figures. Little is known about why Maximus really opposed Commodus. The movie says that it was because of Commudus murdered his father. Recorded history doesn't give any details about this event, so the writers of Gladiator, just made up a story to fill-in the gaps. It's unlikely that the Events in Gladiator ever really happend exactly like the movie portrayed, and noone can know for sure, but I think it's likely that something similar to this has probably happend sometime in Rome's history.

Maybe you'll look at historical movies different now. I now have an excellent grasp of historical time periods and such, and I swear it's because of movies more than any other influence.

History told through movies

I use movies as a reference point when thinking about the past. Historical Movies are the best history teacher in the world, as long as your not naive enough to believe everything.
It’s easy to pick out the parts that have a historical significance. Films that are believed to be entirely fiction can still make an accurate or truthful portrayal of the past.
If the movie gives a good approximation of what the life and culture was probably like back then; then it is good for study. I now have an excellent grasp of historical time periods and such, and I swear it’s because of movies more than any other influence. If there are any movies here that haven’t seen yet please puchase it and watch it. Send me a message and I’ll give you a review of it. Support the website, buy something, or click on some ads.

It's hard to place Movies sometimes

The movie Braveheart took place in 1257 ad. The Movie Gladiator took place in 150 ad. Both historical movies, and many years apart. What a difference in each cultures way of life. The Roman culture in Gladiator (over a 1,000 years earlier) was much more advanced and civilized than the English culture of Braveheart. It's just kind of weird how much time passed with hardly any advancements in technology. Some of my friends thought that Braveheart was set way before Gladiator! I knew they were wrong, butit makes you wonder how primitive the British Isle's must have been in Roman Times?!
There is a great site that lists movies in their historical timeframe called the Movie Timeline