The Russian/Kazakh movie Mongol is coming to the US on June 6. Here is the official site. The movie Mongol is about Genghis Khan and has already won many awards, including being nominated for an Oscar. I am excited that they have a Mongol leader that actually looks authentic! Because of the topic, I am sure there will be lots of violence and blood so I am not seeing anything lower than a PG-13 rating. Since it is a foreign film, they will probably give the movie an “R”.

I wrote earlier that I watched the Russian movie Alexander Nevsky and liked it. I thought it interesting how the Germans were depicted in the movie. I didn’t mention the star of the movie Alexander Nevsky played by Nikolai Cherkasov. Nikolai Cherkasov later played Ivan the Terrible and Franklin D. Roosevelt. (in the movie Stalingradskaya Bitva.)

I didn’t think him too handsome in Ivan Groznyy, but he looks like an Adonis in the movie Alexander Nevsky. Maybe it is the bright shining glow around his face and the breeze blowing his golden locks. As he is the hero, he is supposed to be the most handsome and the most virtuous of all. I hero like that would not be popular in today’s movies.

Alexander Nevsky was a real Russian hero and was later made a saint.

Speaking of depicting old conquerors in modern media. . .

I promise that the reason why I love studying about Barbarians and Mongol hordes has nothing to do with them being sexy. I promise! The fact that they are sexy is only secondary. Besides, they probably smelled bad and I don’t like men that are too hairy. What do you think?

Here is the sexy King Alaric of the Goths. I can’t find the glam rocker looking Alaric from the History Channel. He “sacked” Rome.

If only Atila the Hun really looked this good! This is Gerard Butler, who is famous from the movie 300, playing Atila the Hun back in 2001. The move was great if not historically accurate.

This is Geiseric of the Vandals. Not too sexy, but oh well! Hollywood and the video games do a much better job depicting savage warriors. They can even make Genghis Khan look sexy, except for that John Wayne movie.

Remember this? John Wayne was the least sexy Barbarian.

I found my favorite History Channel documentary, The Barbarians, on You Tube. The entire documentary on the Goths is offered on You Tube guilt free! The History Channel has an account on You Tube. Now I no longer have to wait for Barbarian Week!!

You can also get the Vandals, the Lombards, and the Franks online. I won’t tell you where though! I am afraid that if I tell you they will disappear!

I think that this is one of the best pre-World War II documentary that the History Channel has done. (the Black Plague one is my favorite!) I love the costuming, though the acting is poor. The “sack of Rome” scene is particularly cheesy. There are about 10 “Barbarians” who look like my Dad and my brothers dressed up in Gothic costume filming a pillaging scene in my backyard. There is one Roman looking statue, that they probably bought at Home Depot, that is knocked over to represent the destruction of Rome. Then they break pottery and “stab” a civilian, even though you can tell that the sword went to the side of the man under his arm. I think they should have used more of their budget on the pillage of Rome.

The costuming was amazing. The man who plays King Alaric is the coolest King I have ever seen. I love his armor and his crown. Geiseric is not what I pictured however. Of course, the Romans always look good. You can tell that a historian was behind the costuming and casting. I wish those historians would help out Hollywood movies who never quite get it right. The History Channel’s Anne Boleyn and Leonardo da Vinci were the best I have ever seen. Of course, they didn’t have to act.

The History Channel needs more documentaries like the Barbarians. They are for history nerds like myself who are never satisfied with historical movies. (Britain does a much better job than the USA does though) Gangland, Modern Marvels, and The Universe are getting annoying. I want to see ancient battle scenes! (I will admit that the Modern Marvel episode on cheese was quite interesting. The one on toilets or the one on hamburgers. . . .ummm. . . no. . .) I HATE Wild West week! I love 300 (thought the documentary was better than the movie) and when they do Mysteries of the Bible.

Now I know that when I need my History Channel fix, and they are doing nothing but showing the history of toilets or of alien sightings for 24 hours, I can find the good documentaries online!