Gritty Man-Films Set in the Dark Ages or Earlier

[Concat]

Hoping to find more to watch. I can't get enough. And I'm not talking about Troy or Gladiator. I don't really care for PG-13 blockbusters. I need the grit. Fiction, non-fiction, sword and sorcery, Vikings, cavemen... doesn't matter. I just really dig atmospheric period pieces. Nice cinematography, coming of age, violent avante garde, you name it.

Here's a list of my favorites. Hoping a kindred spirit will see this and give me some good recommendations.

Beowulf and Grendel
Valhalla Rising
Black Death
13th Warrior
Aguirre: The Wrath of God
Conan the Barbarian
Quest For Fire

[Decado]

Surprised Gladiator doesn't float your boat.

Braveheart
Centurion
Ironclad
Rob Roy
The Warlords
Flesh+Blood
Outlander (has sci-fi elements, though)

[csdot]

Kingdom of Heaven directors cut

[Taipan]

Originally Posted by Decado

Surprised Gladiator doesn't float your boat.

Braveheart
Centurion
Ironclad
Rob Roy
The Warlords
Flesh+Blood
Outlander (has sci-fi elements, though)

Awesome list. I really enjoyed Outlander and Centurion. I need to see Ironclad, the Warlords and Flesh + Blood.

You guys should check out Wolfhound, from Russia.

[EricJ]

My tastes are a little more refined:

[Taipan]

I need that on blu.

[Wraithform]

Brotherhood of the Wolf . . . only I don't think it has a Region A Blu release.

Excellent film though.

[Concat]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

And I should mention that I do like Gladiator and the other blockbusters, it's just that I know them all already Am trying to find those hidden gems.

I watched Valhalla Rising, which has totally polarized audiences, and I thought it was amazing. Reminded me of Aguirre: The Wrath of God. I guess I just really dig those desolate landscapes, ugly grim people and the slow pacing punctuated by abrupt violence.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is a great film too.

I watched Ironclad about a week ago. I thought it was decent, but I get bored when movies turn the characters into caricatures. They were all just sort of archetypes of what we expect. The devoted Templar, the mad king, the criminal/comic relief, the young and green solider, the womanizer... just such narrow personalities with depth that never goes beyond those archetypes. Just oh so very Hollywood. They've been at it since Akira Kurosawa.

I have to check out Rob Roy, The Warlords and Flesh+Blood. Only ones I haven't seen.

[Concat]

Oh and Wolfhound... that looks like it might be pretty cool.

[psicon]

Pathfinder - It's not that good, but it is gritty and violent.
Solomon Kane - I liked this one a lot.

[Porkchop Express]

Can't think of any dark ages type movie that have not already been named. For non dark ages, try 13 assassins or Spartacus: Blood & Sand

[Concat]

13 Assassins was fun. I dig Takashi Miike.

Solomon Kane and Pathfinder were ok.

God maybe I've seen everything and I'm just chasing the dragon :P

[Indy007]

Originally Posted by csdot

Kingdom of Heaven directors cut

Not really a gritty man film to me. Ridley can do better.

[csdot]

Originally Posted by Indy007

Not really a gritty man film to me. Ridley can do better.

are we talking about the same movie?

Kingdom of Heaven (2005) KillCount - YouTube

[Indy007]

Originally Posted by csdot

are we talking about the same movie?
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) KillCount - YouTube

Absolutely. Compared to stuff like Braveheart this film is nothing. The battle of Hattin for starters was reduced to almost a footnote. Edward Norton was the only bright spot really. Oh I suppose I enjoyed all the costumes and it avoided CGI overload.

I studied the Crusades at University so I suppose that doesn't help my opinion of it either.

Ironclad- now that is gritty!

[Concat]

Originally Posted by Indy007

Ironclad- now that is gritty!

True... but CGI gore? Not so gritty. Just distracting.

Plus they fictionalized the ending. They have this real, nonfictional gritty ending, and they change it so the delicate audience leaves happy. Booooring :P

[csdot]

Originally Posted by Indy007

Absolutely. Compared to stuff like Braveheart this film is nothing. The battle of Hattin for starters was reduced to almost a footnote. Edward Norton was the only bright spot really. Oh I suppose I enjoyed all the costumes and it avoided CGI overload.

I studied the Crusades at University so I suppose that doesn't help my opinion of it either.

Ironclad- now that is gritty!

the film fits the criteria of what the OP was asking regardless of what your opinion is. they didnt ask for the most historically accurate (like Braveheart is? please.) films we could think of.

[P@t_Mtl]

Movies never are historicaly accurate and expecting them to be make's me go

95% of people don't go see these movies for an education, they go for the entertainement. Braveheart take's so many liberties with William Wallace's life that I kept expecting one of the soldiers pulling out an AK-47 during the battle scenes. I mean if they will go that far why not push it a little further?

Kingdom Of Heaven is just like Braveheart, a movie, not historical facts. Want to know about history? Pick up a book but don't expect to find it in a movie, they are not made for that purpose.

[Concat]

To be fair, KoH loses points for casting good looking people.

[Indy007]

Originally Posted by csdot

the film fits the criteria of what the OP was asking regardless of what your opinion is. they didnt ask for the most historically accurate (like Braveheart is? please.) films we could think of.

Orlando Bloom was one of the least gritty men they could have chosen though therefore I don't think it does fit the OPs criteria really. I think more of elegance and majestic filmmaking with this film rather than grit if that makes any sense. Too many beautiful shots of people, landscapes and buildings to be a true 'Gritty Man-Film'.

I flippin know Braveheart's history is a load of pants but what an enjoyable pair of pants to get into!