All Those Classics Movies You've Watched in Latin Class: Explained
Blake Himes, Shaker Heights
Gladiator: A surprisingly accurate portrayal of a slave’s brutal life and the glory all gladiators strove for. Amazing plot and equally sad backstory. It grossed $187 million dollars, so it’s obviously pretty good.
Ben-Hur (1959): 212 minute run time. It took us 4 class periods to get through after the AP Latin Exam, so if you’re willing to devote that much time, go for it.
Ben-Hur (2016): Only 125 minute running time! If you want the story of Ben-Hur without the time commitment of Ben-Hur, this one’s for you!
Spartacus: Watch this so you can get all the references and even chime in when a spontaneous round of “No, I’m Spartacus!” starts.
Life of Brian: No, it’s not about that funny-looking blonde OJCL President’s life; it’s about the imagined life of a different, bowl-cut rocking blonde guy (Graham Chapman, aka Brian Cohen). It’s where we derive “Romanes eunt Domus”, a masterclass of syntactical prestige I still aspire to.
Pompeii: Man vs. Volcano. Gladiator vs. Senator. Vishnu Kasturi vs. the author of this article. All of these are fights whose outcomes are painfully obvious, but anyone would still love to see. If you wish to witness the first two battles, watch this movie.
Centurion: Your everyday gory, action-packed war movie, featuring Gauls and Romans. Everyone knows how those battles turn out… (If you don’t, ask your Latin teacher)
The Eagle: Like Centurion, except in Britain this time (and with Channing Tatum)
Hercules: When examined with a careful, older-than-10-year-old eye, the plot and major details crumble. But the songs are fire. I highly recommend having the soundtrack handy on your phone so that whenever you need a lift, you can just jam to some “Zero to Hero” and feel like you’re Hercules (the real one).
25 OJCL TORCH: Voices Fall MMXVI https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjB6MPV-L3RAhVMNiYKHUL8A4EQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fmagistrabush.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F09%2F23%2Fjcl-t-shirt-contest%2F&psig=AFQjCNHBUl5DxFMgey96R-DH1Oh37W6Q0A&ust=1484356401987376