Top Hollywood Historical Films
Titanic, Braveheart, Troy, Kingdom of Heaven, Joan of Arc
Jul 25, 2009
There are quite a few historical films that have hit the charts as Hollywood’s top films. There are other historic films, like ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and ‘Joan of Arc’ that have not made it to the top ten. That does not make these films unsuccessful. In fact, these films have featured some of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Their compelling story-lines and outstanding acting have grabbed the attention of millions of viewers and have earned them millions of dollars.
Here is a list of the five best historical films of recent times:
Titanic
The film, ‘Titanic’ was released in 1997. It immediately became a world-wide hit and still continues to be so today. This historical film is about two fictional characters, Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Rose DeWitt Bukater (Kate Winslet) who fall in love with each other aboard the doomed ship. Both characters are from two distinct social classes. The main characters and the love plot between Jack and Rose are fictional. However, some of the other characters in the film are based on real historical figures.
Braveheart
The historical film, Braveheart, released in 1995, was written by Randall Wallace and directed by Mel Gibson. Mel Gibson also stared in the movie as the main character, Scot William Wallace. The movie is set in the 1280s and is about the Scottish bloody struggle against the British. In this historical film, William Wallace leads the Scottish army in pitched battles against the British and, in the end, is tried for high treason and brutally executed. The entire film portrays the gruesome method of medieval warfare.
Troy
The historical film, ‘Troy’ was released in 2004. This epic historic film is set in 1250 B.C. The film is about the famous ancient war between Troy and Greece that was supposedly initiated when Paris (Orlando Bloom) took Helen, Queen of Sparta (played by Diane Kruger) back to Troy with him against the will of Helen’s husband, Menelaus. After finding out about his wife’s whereabouts, Menelaus convinces his brother Agamemnon to help him defeat Troy. Together, they set off to Troy in 1,000 ships with 50,000 Greeks. With the help of their greatest warrior, Achilles (Brad Pitt), they eventually manage to defeat the impenetrable Trojans.
Kingdom Of Heaven
The epic historical film, ‘Kingdom of Heaven’, is set in twelfth century Jerusalem between the second and third crusade. The film contains both fictional and non-fictional elements. Most of the characters are based on real historic figures and captures the realistic struggle between the Christians and Muslims.
The film is about blacksmith, Balian (Orlando Bloom) who is discovered by his father, Godfrey of Ibelin (Liam Neeson) when the fictional knight briefly returns to France to recruit more crusaders. Godfrey gets severely injured in a struggle and dies on the road to Jerusalem. Before he passes, he bequeaths his son his title and castle in Jerusalem. When Balian arrives in Jerusalem he falls in love with the leper King Baldwin’s sister, Sibylla and defends Jerusalem against the Muslims.
Joan of Arc
The 1999 version of Joan of Arc, starring Leelee Sobieski as Joan of Arc, initially previewed as a television series. It was then made into a film that was directed by Christian Duguay. This historical film was quite accurate in portraying the historical events of the time. The dramatic acting of the characters brought the mixed tragic and heroic story of Joan of Arc alive. This film was nominated for four Golden Globes and won six awards for outstanding acting, directing, and overall performance. The historical film, Joan of Arc continues to endure as one of the best and most famous historical films of recent times.
