"For all practical purposes, 1999 to 2008 seems to be the peak of historical TV series and movies: Troy, Master and Commander, The Patriot, Gladiator, Deadwood, Kingdom of Heaven, Apocalypto, Passion of the Christ, Flags of Our Fathers, Letters from Iwo Jima, Band of Brothers, Enemy at the Gates, The Last Samurai, and even foreign films such as Downfall and Malena."
"Rome is undoubtedly the standard against which every such series is still judged. Beautifully created by John Milius, two soldiers-Lucius Vorenus, played by Kevin McKidd, and Titus Pullo, played by the now-departed Ray Stevenson-find themselves at the end of an order and beginning of the next. As the republic of Rome was dying to give birth to an ever greater empire, America after 9/11 was getting into its own imperial adventures."
1999–2008 represented a high point for historical films and television, with works like Troy, Gladiator, Kingdom of Heaven, Apocalypto, and Band of Brothers. These productions blended artistic freedom with fidelity to source material, prioritized aesthetic craft, and avoided overt contemporary ideological posturing. The series Rome set a standard with characters Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo navigating the republic's collapse and the rise of empire. The Roman narrative highlights recurring questions of power, loyalty, public image, and prudence in political action. Caesar’s bloodstained march into Rome exemplifies how political performance and perceived propriety can matter as much as deeds. The era’s media paralleled early-2000s American imperial choices.
Read at The American Conservative
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