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Masada (1981)
Released By: KOCH Vision   Rating: Not Rated   In Theaters: N/A
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Studio: KOCH Vision
Genre: Action-Adventure
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Boris Sagal
Language: English
Official Website: N/A
Theatrical Release: N/A
Home Video Release: N/A
Cast: Anthony Quayle, Barbara Carrera, David Warner, Peter O'Toole, Peter Strauss
Published ID: 284832
UPC: 741952648291,
Plot: Wits and weapons clash in this 1981 epic chronicling a rebellion by Jewish Zealots against Roman rule. After Jerusalem falls to the Romans in 70 A.D., nearly a thousand Jewish rebels led by Eleazar ben Jair (Peter Strauss) withdraw to a mountaintop fortress 30 miles southeast of Jerusalem. There, fed by defiance and an unlimited supply of cistern water, they make their stand against Roman rule, now and then conducting surprise raids against Roman positions down below. Whenever the Romans retaliate, Eleazar goes them one better. He and his men burn grain supplies, poison wells and generally make life miserable for the Roman 10th Legion, encamped in the baking desert surrounding the fortress. Frustrated, the Roman general Cornelius Flavius Silva (Peter O'Toole) brings in a brilliant siege master, Rubrius Gallus (Anthony Quayle), to devise a way to breach the mountaintop stronghold. When Gallus begins construction of an earthen ramp up the mountainside, rebels rain down arrows on the Roman workers. Flavius then uses Jews from nearby villages to build the ramp. Meanwhile, Flavius makes several attempts to persuade the rebel Jews to surrender, promising they will live in peace and prosperity under Roman rule. But the Jews are adamant; they want only one thing: freedom, or, at the very least, limited freedom under a Roman-appointed Jewish governor. But after Roman Emperor Vespasian vetoes peace plans, the ramp continues to rise. When it is finished, the Romans pull a massive battering ram on wheels--another of Gallus's stratagems--up the ramp, and the stage is set for the final battle deciding the fate of the Jews. This film had at least three incarnations: as a 6-hour, 34-minute TV series in 1980, and then in trimmed-down versions in 1981 and 1984. Although the filmed-on-location Masada is based on history, parts of it are fictionalized. ~ Mike Cummings, All Movie Guide
IDDateTimeTitleReviewHelpfulVotesTotalVotes
Watch This Mini-Series
Added 7/16/2009
I had not seen this mini-series in many years. It was just as good as I remembered. It is exceptionally well acted, well written and, as far as I can tell, historically accurate.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series
Added 5/5/2009
Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series
This is an amazing mini-Series, excellent quality great to have to view many times with family and friends.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Masada
Added 4/24/2009
Execellent movie, if you want history this is the movie you want to watch. I have been to Israel and went up Masada via cable car and it is nice to see a Masada on film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
I am presently watching and enjoying this movie.
Added 4/21/2009
This is well acted and a great tv miniseries for anyone who is a history buff. It is fairly accurate historically and shows the Israelites determination to be a free people. As a Christian, much of what is shown in the movie are the roots of my faith. I would recommend this, absolutely.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Entertainment or Propaganda?
Added 4/20/2009
Being a student of Roman history, the butchery of the facts in this DVD is quite appalling, but I suppose it's no worse than Disney's version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. In any event, the melodramatic script is preposterous Hollywood fluff. Anyone who knows anything about the Romans would cringe at O'Toole's scripted part as a Roman governor.

Aside from the fact that the story is ridiculous, and that this is blatant Israeli propaganda, I have to give at least two stars because the Roman uniforms were fairly accurate and the scenes with the siege engine were first rate; also, a smattering of the dialogue was actually passably good.

Acting wasn't bad either. The poor actors made do with what they were given. All that was missing was Charlton Heston.
0 out of 3 people found this helpful.
Watch This Mini-Series
Added 7/16/2009
I had not seen this mini-series in many years. It was just as good as I remembered. It is exceptionally well acted, well written and, as far as I can tell, historically accurate.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series
Added 5/5/2009
Masada - The Complete Epic Mini-Series
This is an amazing mini-Series, excellent quality great to have to view many times with family and friends.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
Masada
Added 4/24/2009
Execellent movie, if you want history this is the movie you want to watch. I have been to Israel and went up Masada via cable car and it is nice to see a Masada on film.
0 out of 0 people found this helpful.
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