I apologize for impatience!

[jan]

I hope the moderator will forgive me for hitting the post message button so often. I omitted the word Gentleman's Quarterly magazine by mistake in which I am pointing out that the cover story of Today's Top Ten Actors include Leonardo di Caprio but not Colin Farrell.I had read in an entertainment magazine that Leonardo was not planning to play the role of Alexander after all, but knowing Hollywood and its rumors, that is probably just some idle gossip.I think that Benoit Magimel might be considered if he were to get some muscle on his body, as I find him very plausible in that role. He has quite a lot of credibility as an actor. But he is French!

[birdlover]

Hi Jan,


I saw their list and there are definetely a few actors I could easily replace with Colin Farrell. The reason Colin is not on that list is the failure of 'Alexander' at the box office. He did get critical acclaim for the film "A Home At The End Of The World", last year. But not many saw that film. The rest of his films have been more supporting roles (he was still good in most of those).




Most of the other actors on that list have had recent sucessful films, including Gael Garcia Bernal, who many have no idea who he is. I am not too sure he belongs on that list. A few of them on that list are the flavor of the moment.
But it's all a matter of opinion...theirs.



I do agree with most of the actors on that list, especially Russell Crowe. He is the best of the bunch. But, I admire Colin's work. He makes interesting choices of roles including 'Alexander'.

I am not sure what this all has to do with ATG, but I just contributed my 2 cents. I hope people won't get upset with me.


Dara

[Lucian]

Leonardo is a fine actor, but he is just not right for this specific role. I don't think in the end anyone really is, it's a "cursed" role, no one has been able to play it correctly, because Alexander was nowhere and everywhere in his mind and in the world. Quite frankly that might say something about Alexander's "greatness" no one can be him, but him.

[ruthaki]

As a historical fiction writer (writing about Alexander's time) I like to find a real living person in order to 'tag' my character in my writing. I have searched everywere (mainly in Greece of course) to 'find' Alexander. I think I 'saw' him once in the train depot at Thessaloniki. A young bright-haired northerner, compact build much like I imagined Alexander to have been. And then, last year -- a waiter working in a taverna on Thassos Island. He looked exactly like the profile on my Alexander ring, but he was much too tall. However, he was a dead-ringer enough that my friend and I went back a few times to eat there just so I could gaze upon him. You are right. It's a tough role to fill for an actor. And I definitely don't believe Leonardo is going to fill the bill!!

[kenny]

Lucian.I agree with everything you say,,, Similarily.Anyone playing or Impersonating Elvis look rediculous as with Alexander there were only ever one of these people.KennyP.S I saw Kirk Douglas in Spartacus and The Vikings at the weekend now that guy could have got close.

[ruthaki]

Oooh, Kenny! Kirk??? With those bared teeth. Nah!

[jan]

Hi Dara, I agree that Colin is a good actor as I like him in Tigerland and in Recruit. He may be just fit for number 15 in a list of promising young actors. I believe your assessment to be correct, that it is due to the failure of Alexander that he now needs a comeback with another film.Also I agree that nobody anywhere could ever fill the boots or sandals of Alexander as each one of us has our own individual interpretation, depending upon our own particular beliefs. Unfortunately, Hollywood movies are stereotypes in which the actor is who is the focus rather than the character. I was pleasantly surprised that finally I could see some of Howard Hughes in Leonardo, but it took a while for that to happen.I actually like Benoit Magimel for his physical appearance and his ability to appear straight and tall enough to be a commander. I have seen only one of his films however, and it is a stereotype too.And Kenny is partially correct that Kirk Douglas had the natural bearing. We will just have to nourish our own images, I guess.

[kenny]

Janet HailThanks for the long overdue compliment,,, Am I rising from the ashes of The Lizards to fly with you amongsth the eagles,,, LOLIm glad you agree with Kirk Douglas,,, I thinks its fair to say a lot of those actors from those periods stlii leave toadays actors out in the cold.The Charlton Hestons, Richard Widmark and the Burt Lancasters leave todays crowd found wanting. The new boys just dont have the samme screen presence.We all can accept John Wayne was no great actor but he was a giant among movie history.Kirk Douglas carries some great speachjes off in Spartacus he also had athletisism Cheek and real screen presence to be honest I cant think anyone before or since more suited to Alexander.regards kenny

[jan]

HI Kenny, You are making me chuckle too. I also like Alan Ladd and when I first began reading about ATG, I thought he would have been the right choice, but I have since changed my mind as I think that ATG is much taller than authors describe. Shane was a beautiful movie, and Alan Ladd still stands tall in my mind.

[ancientlibrary]

So, I have a GÇ£wikiGÇ¥ installedGÇöa complete installation of the software that runs Wikipedia, running on a very robust and capable server. Does the Alexander community want it? LetGÇÖs talk it over.(If you don't know Wikipedia, check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Great and browse around.) MY OPINION I think Wikis are a great way to work through a topic, a great way to leverage what everyone knows. In contrast to the articles here, a Wiki allows more than one author to contribute, and everyone to GÇ£write what they know.GÇ¥ IGÇÖve been itching to work on my interestsGÇöAristander, Alexander in Anatolia, etc.GÇöand want an outlet. IGÇÖm sure some others here feel the same. WouldnGÇÖt it be great to leverage all our skills and interests, and bring in new people? WouldnGÇÖt it be great if the articles included quoted texts from Susan, links to Livius and photos from travelers? Although Pothos does seem to have a number of core contributors, I havenGÇÖt seen it expanding its authorship. Can this be a way to greater interaction?MY QUESTIONS*Do people think this is a good idea?
*Are people interested in contributing?
*Are Pothos authors interested in contributing articles to the Wiki? Contributors would lose absolute control over who edited their work.
*Are Pothos authors interested in editor status? (Ability to lock articles, move pages, ban users, etc.)
*What copyright should the material bear? I favor a true GÇ£copyleftGÇ¥ solution, like Wikipedia. We could, however, do a site-specific GÇ£copyleftGÇ¥ solution.
* Should edits require registration? Approval? I favor starting it free and seeing what happens.
*What other policies should be basic? I favor WikipediaGÇÖs GÇ£neutral point of viewGÇ¥ and special prohibition on ethnic warring, etc. I think the rein should be held tight, which I think the smaller size will make easy.MY PLANOne way or the other, I am starting a classical wiki. IGÇÖd like to start with Alexander, but my ultimate hope is to have a true GÇ£Wiki Classical Dictionary.GÇ¥What do you think?