Advantages: Excellent characterisations; good plot
Disadvantages: None, really.

...This op is for anyone who ever wondered what is the link between ‘Julius Caesar’ and ‘Dead Poets’ Society.’ It also reveals that the title I have chosen - ‘the noblest Roman of them all’ – does NOT refer to Julius Caesar. In addition, you would probably imagine that a play called ‘Julius Caesar’ would be about Julius Caesar – but you would be wrong. You would also, in some ways, be right. Is this confusing? Perhaps a plot summary would be the best way to begin: PLOT SUMMARY Caesar is loved by the common people, who beg him to abolish the Senate and declare himself Emperor. Many of the senators are worried by this, particularly Cassius who persuades his friend Brutus to join a conspiracy to assassinate Caesar. Ignoring various omens and nightmares, Caesar goes... Read review

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Advantages: exciting, good characters, believable world
Disadvantages: lack of historical accuracy

...This book is about the youth of Gaius Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus. They grow up together, sharing a deep friendship, and getting into trouble as a pair. As they grow older, Gaius' father hires a famous ex-gladiator to train them, which he does with plenty of abuse. When the ex-gladiator wounds Gaius, it is Marcus who takes revenge. Gaius' father is killed in a slave revolt, and Gaius assumes his adult name of Julius. He goes to his uncle for help, and the two boys become more involved in Roman politics. Julius lives a life of luxury, while Marcus leaves Rome to join a legion. It ends after a battle defending Rome itself; which, of course, Julius is involved in. The ending then sets up the next book in the series. As a novel, it's an excellent book. There's warfare, politics, romance, and intrigue. Iggulden has created a very... Read review

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Advantages: Good if you carry on to read Antony and Cleopatra
Disadvantages: You can get bored after a while

..."Julius Ceasar" is my top play this year. The play does not have long over the top melodramatic deaths like "Antony and Cleopatra", and I am very glad that I did read the play as advised by my English Literature teacher Natasha Quick. The only reason I read this play was to better understand "Antony and Cleopatra" The basic plot of Julius Caesar begins with Tribunes, Marullus and Flavius scolding Roman citizens for blindly worshipping Caesar. Their words reveals deep-seated fears that Caesar is growing too powerful and must be stopped. A little later, we see Caesar leading a procession through the streets of Rome. A Soothsayer (fortune teller) tells Caesar to beware the "ides of March]", a warning that he will die on this day. It is ignored... Cassius, fearing Caesar's ever growing power, begins to recruit Brutus, a close friend... Read review

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Advantages: Some good performances and scenes
Disadvantages: Overall sketchy, both in production and history

...Recently I saw Jeremy Sisto in a film in the cinema, and as my movie-going friend and I were dissecting the film afterward, we both were impressed with Sisto’s performance, and tried to recall what we’d seen him in before. I remembered this production of Julius Caesar, but only after a while – Sisto’s role in the other film (a light drama with a comedic edge) is very different from the epic, super-serious Julius Caesar. This production is a good one for a straight-to-television production. It is a four-hour miniseries (the television nomenclature equivalent for ‘epic’). It plays a bit loose with the historic progression, but keeps many of the broad strokes intact – Rome’s trouble under Sulla, Caesar’s early difficulties becoming established, his military alliance and familial partnership with Pompey, destined to falter... Read review

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Advantages: very clever, hilarious, great cast, wonderful gags
Disadvantages: none

...Carry On Cleo is a wonderful Carry On, a real classic ! From the first scenes of Jim Dale & Kenneth Connor as Ancient Britons - Horsa & Hengist Pod, inventing a 'win-dow' & square wheels, this film starts off as brilliant & just gets better ! As the Roman soldiers come in & capture the two men, they are taken to Rome to sell into slavery. But they manage to escape & somehow, cowardly Hengist Pod gets the job as Mark Antony's chief bodyguard ! Sid James is a perfect Mark Antony, with Amanda Barrie a stunning Cleopatra. Kenneth Williams is great as Julius Caesar & utters the famous cry of 'Infamy, infamy, they've all got it in for me !' The whole film is peppered with quotable quotes, great performances & hilarious lines. Look out for Jon Pertwee's soothsayer, that's a great cameo too ! It is absolutely brilliant, one of the best, watch... Read review

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Advantages: Another gripping story with some new characters and diffrent landscapes
Disadvantages: None

...Having spent most of his teens and early twenties fighting Pirates and crushing rebellions around Rome, Gaius Julius Caesar seems to be coming of age. Having been sent to Spain following the slave revolt however he seems to be stuck in a rut. A visit from Marcus Brutus's mother seems to respark Julius though and within months he returns to Rome to run for the senate. His plans after his period in the Senate see Julius head for Gaul and new friendships start to put a real strain on his relationship with Brutus. This is the third book in the latest series of fiction books about one of the Roman's greatest leaders. As a former English teacher, Conn Iggulden has taken to writing and for the majority of this book, like the previous two; he has stuck to recorded events in Caesar's life. Having read the previous two works by Iggulden I thought... Read review

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Advantages: If you liked the film 'Gladiator', you'll like this
Disadvantages: Some violent battle scenes

...This impressive historical novel running to 550 pages, albeit with a generous typeface, tells the story of the colossus that was the roman general Caesar. According to the author's note, it is based on real historical events, although some license has been taken and a few of the characters and sequence of some events have been changed. In many ways, it sounds very authentic, with a great atmosphere and graphic descriptions of life in the capital Rome, heart of the Empire. The daily life of a soldier, living conditions in the city and political machinations within the Senate are fascinating. It is based on the early life of Julius Caesar, commander of a Roman galley ship, who is captured by pirates and held for ransom. Released onto a deserted coastline in North Africa, he rallies fellow survivors, traversing the country and raising... Read review

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Advantages: better than Jack, Amanda Barrie is inspired casting
Disadvantages:

...THOUGHTS ON CARRY ON CLEO Blimus! The first attempt at a Classical mickey-take is a real belter. Carry On Cleo tells the tale of Julius Caesar (Kenneth Williams) and his attempt to dethrone Cleopatra of Egypt (Amanda Barrie) with the help of his best friend Mark Anthony (Sid James). Talbot Rothwell is on top form taking huge poetic licence with the historical accuracy (or inaccuracy) as Stone Age man meets the Romans. There is even a reference to a plant-eating brontosaurus eating a Stone-Age mother-in-law (no humans ever lived at the time of dinosaurs). Furthermore, this is the first time we see the real fun with character names. Bilius, Senna Pod, Markus Et Spencius and Sosages can only be the products of an ingenious mind. This ingenuity is born out in a cleverly worked story of lust and deceit recounting the actual downfall... Read review

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Advantages: Funny, good characters and performances, family friendly
Disadvantages: Old hat to some

...Carry on Cleo is one of the 29 comedy films of the British series of low budget films which were made between 1958 and 1978. This offering was released in 1964, was the eighth one made and is one of my favourites. It was made in full colour at Pinewood Studios, England, and utilised some of the set of the epic Cleopatra film which starred Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. As usual the cast has some of the regular cast from the Carry on Films. Sid James plays a rather middle aged and wrinkly Mark Anthony and Kenneth Williams a very camp Julius Caesar or Julie as he is known to friends. The female lead of Cleopatra is played by Amanda Barrie who will be known by some younger readers as a regular in Coronation Street, a little while ago. Representing the British, who were still in caves at the time according to this film, we have... Read review

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Advantages: Authenticity - Great Cast - Brilliant Acting
Disadvantages: Historical differences may offend some

...Aired in 2005 and released on DVD in 2006, Rome broke the mould and did something very different. Never has a TV series mixed fact and fiction as well and cleverly as this. Ultimately following the events of the Roman republic in times of Julius Caesar, the TV Series loosely follows the events of other characters that not only brings hours of entertainment but hours of intrigue, suspicion and shock. The series itself is split into six episodes each being just over an hour long. Upon watching these episodes the viewer is drawn into a world fully populated by extras that give out atmospheric detail into believing that it really is set in Rome 52BC. Scenery and buildings are all mostly authentic being filmed in Italy and any special effects added are astounding. Live animals wander in the background and interact with 'extras' that again... Read review

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