Recently Been Watching...

[Leman (Andy)]

Seven Kings Must Die

Watched this last night on Netflix. I know the Saxon oblong shields, the leather clothes etc, etc, are somewhat historically innaccurate, but nevertheless it was great fun, and featured my birthplace on the Wirral in the final conflagration. I may even have played on the battle site as I lived in the Dibbin Dale. Don't want to say too much about the plot as many may still be planning to watch, but it does round out Uhtred's story quite nicely.

[martin goddard]

I agree Andy
A great series.
It influenced the choice of period for LONGSHIPS (9th century).
I particularly liked the numbers of actors in it.  More than Sharpe.


martin

[Colonel Kilgore]

I finally managed to see Dune the other day. I enjoyed it, and there seem to be a fair number of similarities with the Star Wars series. I see that Dune 2 (already made) is due out in 1st March.

And Gladiator 2 will be out on 22nd November- I have high expectations after the original!

Simon

[Leman (Andy)]

Just watched an unusual independent film on Prime, Spitfire over Berlin, dedicated to the RAF reconaissance photographers. Almost entirely set above the clouds. Unusual and quite moving.

[Leman (Andy)]

History Hustle - with Dutch history teacher Stefan

This is a YouTube channel and one of his specialities is looking at lesser known activities in WWII. He presents the majority of his programmes in English, and if possible on location. Recently he did a lot on Yugoslavia during the war. Today I watched three of his programmes: why didn't France fight to the bitter end in 1940; Operation Nordwind, the last great German offensive in the west; clearing the Colmar Pocket prior to crossing the Rhine in Alsace. Although not much of a WWII gamer, I can see plenty of scope in these programmes for preparing games away from the more familiar territory of Normandy etc, especially the use of late war French troops in eastern France.

[martin goddard]

Information brought to gamers is always a good thing.
Thank you Andy.

martin

[sukhe_bator (Neil)]

My old work colleague Angus Konstam talking about Pirates... What that nautical cove doesn't know after all these years of research isn't worth knowing. Well worth looking up his works.

Neil

[Smiley Miley 66]

I found a series on Sky History with AL Murray doing it.
Why do the Brits win Every War ?
So I will give that a watch over the next few days ?
Miles

[martin goddard]

Britain has done well in wars so far, but I think we will have problems winning any war in the future.

Do Suez, Afghanistan and Korea count as wins?

martin

[Sean Clark]

Al Murray is an excellent historian. His new book on Arnhem is brilliant as his podcast with James Holland.

I watched the Lee Miller film starring Kate Winslet. Miller has a war photographer post Normandy. Her pictures from the concentration camps were some of the first to record the Nazi atrocities. Recommended...but not a cheery film.

[Leman (Andy)]

The AWI was not a great success, perhaps made up for by 1812. It's why the US make such a big deal about New Orleans. Nothing like winning a battle after the peace treaty for the war you just lost has already been signed.

[Sean Clark]

Ken Burns has an AWI series in the works. Not sure if it's out this coming year or 2026.

[martin goddard]

That sounds very promising Sean

martin

[Leman (Andy)]

Before Dawn - An Australian WWI film,but not the desert or Gallipoli. I think this is based on a book about a unit on the Western Front. Mostly small action trench raid stuff, but also Aussies under artillery bombardment. All post-pickelhaub stuff, with the only largish attack coming near the end. Basically the story of how one young volunteer comes to terms with the necessary brutality of war. I thought it was pretty well done and really showed the importance of good NCOs, and officers not being too petty about regulations, which helped to bond the unit.

[Leman (Andy)]

Anyone watching King David on Prime. Looks ok, although I haven't finished episode 1 yet. Appears to be all sorts of potential for backstabbing.