Posted on 04/28/2004 9:29:31 AM PDT by Hal1950
Flush from the success of The Passion Of The Christ, Mel Gibson is looking back in time once again to produce an epic about Boudicca, who led Britain against Roman conquerors.
Dubbed Braveheart with a bra, the film will chronicle Boudiccas rise from peasant girl to a military leader who united the Celtic tribes of Britain.
Gibsons production company, Icon, appears keen to cash in on further historical tales, after The Passion netted hundreds of millions of pounds at the box office.
The film will be directed by Gavin OConnor who told the Hollywood trade paper Variety: What drew me is that she was driven by personal revenge.
Her goals were never political and never went beyond avenging her slain husband and child.
She managed to bring together all of these warring tribes to stand against the Roman Empire.
It is a masculine story with a female point of view.
Brian Klugman, who co-wrote the script with Lee Sternthal, said: We spent over a year researching Queen Boudicca, Celtic Britain and the Roman Empire, and another year writing the script.
If true, then a Celtic Skeeter would only be available for fighting June through August. It gets cold over there.
I could've sworn it was because her two stepdaughters had been raped.
I thought it was good, but they managed to work in some digs at Bush - the manipulative and power hungry Roman senator taking command by saying "our national security is at stake" and saying "you are either with us or against us". It was so over the top that I doubt it will effect anyone.
Do female Celtics know about shrinkage?
Natasha Henstridge anyone?
The rapacious Romans, however, had other ideas. With a style adopted in the next millenia by tyrants such as Hitler and Castro, the Roman governor stole the remaining Iceni lands, flogged Queen Boudicca, and raped her daughters (adding insult to injury). Needless to say, Boudicca was incensed. She took up weapons and rallied her people. Within a short time they had marched on the Romans -- and defeated them, in battle after battle. The fury of a Celtic people, led by an enraged queen, outmatched even the well-trained, organized Roman military. Boudicca's army was so effective, they burned and pillaged a swath of Roman lands ranging from Colchester all the way to Londinium (present-day London). With 100,000 pissed-off Celts behind her, Boudicca was a force to be reckoned with.
In 62 AD, Boudicca fought her last battle against the Roman scum. For once, Roman military strategy (with perhaps a good dose of luck thrown in as well) outfoxed the queen's forces, and she was defeated. Rather than suffer the humiliation of being led through Rome in the traditional triumphal procession, Boudicca and her daughters killed themselves (an act the Romans could respect, as they held that suicide was often preferable to capture).
Though her final battle was lost, Boudicca had proven that native tribes could sure give the Romans a run for their money. Indeed, the Romans never really conquered all of the British Isles. Scotland was never subdued (Hadrian's Wall was built to make sure the Scots didn't invade the Romans), and they never even set foot in Ireland (though they knew about it, and called it "Hibernia"). And to this day, Boudicca's name is commemorated by the adjective we use to describe a lively, spirited woman: bodacious. Source.
And to this day, Boudicca's name is commemorated by the adjective we use to describe a lively, spirited woman: bodacious.
Boudica
Britain's warrior queen is beautiful and serene, but spirited and strong-willed. As the story begins she is full of pride and love for her people -- especially her two daughters and her jaded warrior husband, Prasutagus. After his death, her daughters are raped in front of her by jeering Roman soldiers and she herself is brutally flogged and humiliated. Her response, as she sets out to reap revenge, earns the unswerving respect of her Iceni warriors.
Alex Kingston
Alex Kingston (Dr. Elizabeth Corday on E.R.) grew up outside London, and made her stage debut at the age of five, playing the Angel Gabriel in a nativity play. She landed her first professional role at the age of fifteen on the British television series Grange Hill. Kingston won a place at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then worked in repertory theatres across England before joining the acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Company.
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