Great new movie opening this month.

philologus

Subgenius
This movie is will be released on Feb. 23 here in the states. I don\'t know if it will play in Europe. I saw the trailer and it looks to be great. The link below is to the page with trailers. Any History buffs interested in the abolition movement will find this interesting.

Movie Link
 

lono

New member
It\'s got a great cast for sure and is an interesting bit of subject matter. The trailer looks a little bit feel good to me, but perhaps I\'m just being cynical.

My main concern is that they make regular use of Amazing Grace in the soundtrack, because I despise the tune and it will make the film a real chore for me to sit through no matter how good it is if they reprise that whenever there is a moving bit or whatever.
 

philologus

Subgenius
Supposed to open in @1000 theaters across the US. I like Albert Finney a lot and he plays John Newton (the man who wrote Amazing Grace). I\'m just glad that Wilberforce will be given decent treatment. He is often overlooked in typical history classes here (U.S.)
 

hakoMike

Active member
The only question is, should I get a babysitter to go see it or skip out of work at lunch... lol

@Iono: submit to the power of the pentatonic scale!
 

lono

New member
My music theory isn\'t what it was, but that\'s a scale using all the black keys right? Perhaps an intentional black power statement from Newton there! Although he was for slavery at the time was he not, despite himself being pretty much enslaved at one point?
 

philologus

Subgenius
Originally posted by lono
My music theory isn\'t what it was, but that\'s a scale using all the black keys right? Perhaps an intentional black power statement from Newton there! Although he was for slavery at the time was he not, despite himself being pretty much enslaved at one point?

He was a slave ship captain, he transported ca. 20,000 slaves during his career. His conversion to Christianity resulted in his fervor to abolish slavery and his mentorship of Wilberforce. He was indeed a slave himself for sometime which may have spurred his engaging in slave trade as a sort of vengeance.
 

Dragonsreach

Super Moderator
Staff member
Well seeing as this is the 200th aniversary of the abolition of slavery in this country, it might spur some interest.

I work beside Liverpool which was at one time the primary point of departure for slaves from Britain, as part of the Triangle Trade. There are reminders of this aspect of History in a lot of places within the architecture of Liverpool.

Although there are some people who are campaigning for the removal of city street names and building Fresco\'s associated with the Slave trade. It was a man of Afro-Caribean descent however, who was leading the BBC camera crew round and showing these frescos and pleading that they should be left alone not a bleeding heart liberal.

While I detest and mourn my country\'s historical involvement in criminal kidnap and enforced slave labour, I too would not remove all evidence that it happened, lest we forget and allow history to be repeated.
 

treide

New member
Saw the preview for this at the theatre before Pan\'s Labyrinth. Looks great.

I have a hard time picturing the lead actor as anyone other than Horatio Hornblower, though.
 

J2FcM

New member
hmmm

Looks interesting, but rating a movie by its trailer... ahhh something I learned a long time ago, DOES NOT work. The masters of marketing will do anything to make their trailer the best part of their movie. Plus, how can you get bored during the highlights which last only 2 minutes! AHhh, no really I\'ll watch the tomatometer and if all signs say yes, I\'m there.
 

lono

New member
Yay, I remembered some of my history A Level correctly. I rock!

I\'m not rating it by the trailer, if I was I\'d be dissing it heavily, because it\'s a fairly poor one. I\'m predicting it will be good through reaction to preview screenings and the fact it has an excellent cast.

On the other hand the director hasn\'t got much of a track record and the writer is one of the creators of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, so not all signs are positive!
 
Back To Top
Top