pothos.org

By Jeannette Walls
MSNBC
Updated: 1:39 p.m. ET Sept. 30, 2004Queer Eye for the Macedonian GuyA source says studio executives got nervous about love scenes in Colin Farrell's new movie, "Alexander."Is GÇ£AlexanderGÇ¥ too gay?The opening date of the Oliver Stone epic about the Macedonian conqueror has been pushed back from Nov. 5 to Nov. 24, and an insider says one reason for the delay is that execs at the studio want to cut some of the filmGÇÖs male-on-male love scenes. GÇ£Alexander was almost certainly bisexual, and [director] Oliver Stone wanted to portray that," says the source. "So there are scenes between Colin [Farrell, who plays Alexander] and women, but thereGÇÖs also some passionate scenes between Colin and Francisco Bosch.GÇ¥ Bosch plays Bagoas, a Persian eunuch, who many historians believe was AlexanderGÇÖs lover.
GÇ£Some of the suits at Warner Bros. think that the movie-going public just isnGÇÖt ready to see that," the insider reports. GÇ£ThereGÇÖs some pretty heated arguments going on over it.GÇ¥A spokeswoman for Warner Bros. tells The Scoop she knows nothing about any such controversy, and declined to look into it, explaining GÇ£we wouldnGÇÖt talk about anything involving the process of making a movie.GÇ¥

Ah, but if the rumours *are* true and Stone does have to edit the movie, you know when the DVD comes out there will be a "director's cut." :-)Can't see what all the fuss is about, myself. Even Colin played a gay role recently. Why should Warner's have such a propietary interest in Alexander's sex life? Unless, that is, they're trying for a PG rating. Forget I said that - imagine what that would do to the battle scenes!

Remember, they also did Troy and you saw how much male love was in that one.

well i'm mad as hell! men in those times had a beautiful relationship where they learned from one another, also respected one another's honor. what is it with the MODERN civilation that doesn't get it! we allknow about the 'LEGIONS OF LOVERS' that was was well known in their time. if this is the reason well, i'm hoping oliver stone, who is no strangewr to controversary will step up to the plate. however, the times then were different and if hollywood shows their ignorence, it's up to the forum people to rebel. after all the truth is still the truth no matter what. tina dunlap

well i'm mad as hell! men in those times had a beautiful relationship where they learned from one another, also respected one another's honor. what is it with the MODERN civilation that doesn't get it! we allknow about the 'LEGIONS OF LOVERS' that was was well known in their time. if this is the reason well, i'm hoping oliver stone, who is no strangewr to controversary will step up to the plate. however, the times then were different and if hollywood shows their ignorence, it's up to the forum people to rebel. after all the truth is still the truth no matter what. tina dunlap

"Men in those times had a beautiful relationship?" Soem might have had, but haven't you read the poems about lovers in floods of despair because the object of their affection is running around with other men,and generally behaving like a heartless, gold-digging little tart?However, this confirms my suspicions that there will be no b-on-b between Alexander and Hephaestion, although we may get hints that they were not just best pals. What a waste of two such lovely boys. :)Tre, I think there is a difference in the marketing - Colin Farrell can play a modern gay man in some fairly low key film, but Alexander has world-wide marketing potential, and, as we have seen, it isn't just middle America who finds the thought of Alexander involved in a same-sex sexual relationship, even with a eunuch, problematic. Even if they are fighting against the evidence.Or perhaps the scenes are just too HOT.Linda

Suits me fineAs me for one am not at all interested in Lexandser having sex wirth men,in todays society it bears no relevence and serves no purposose only for the gay lobby to say homosexuality is normal that thewy can hold up our king to excuse a behaviour, a behaviour that was it noremal our human race would have been extinct within a generation.If anyone wants to wonder about ASlewxanders sexuality let them read the texts and the sourses and to fined it fot thgem selves and to put it into context where it belongs.The film should be about Alexander his achievements and really the superstar achievements tha5t he made.To go into his wsex life to me is what most writers and journalists do today,they try to dig dirt on dead people who are not here to defend them selves.kenny

Well, I think the point is that this film would put the sexual behaviour in the context where it belongs - in the culture of the time - as it would also show attitudes to women, slavery, etc as part of that time. How sexuality is expressed or perhaps also developed is a product of society as well as nature. But Stone is not being allowed to do even that, which is imposing modern morality - the morality of those people who believe homosexuality is somehow evil (not the "gay" lobby) - on those times. Kenny, you are entitled not to be interested in this aspect of Alexander, just as some others are entitled to be interested. There are of course people, myself included, for whom this aspect of Alexander is of interest. The fact he was good at fighting and strategy, and was a remarkable warrior and conquorer is of interest, but I wouldn't say he was as great a human being as, say Leonardo Da Vinci, or Plato, or Shakespeare, in what he contributed to the development and enlightenment of humanity. But he was and is undoubtedly fascinating.As for "normal" behaviour - society is complex, and using those sorts of arguments you get into sticky areas. Sex isn't just about procreation - all the men I mention before had some homosexual element to their characters. Indeed, Plato struggled with the place of these who loved their own sex, and what their place was in society. But plenty of gay people have children - either by design or accident. Life isn't that simple, and people should live,love and be happy.In any case, back to the Man himself, if you read the texts, there is pretty strong evidence there of bisexuality - I can't think of any credible historian who denies this.Linda

More bally-hoo just to whet the appetite! Probably Oliver Stone is finetuning his film, and making last minute adjustments. But it certainly got lots of attention, didn't it? According to Yahoo movies, it is not the trailer that is getting the most attention. As all it is is another historical extravaganza, nobody cares about the romantic edge so much as the battle scenes! But a lot of action is taking place for book sales in the month of October, it would appear. Don't forget Steve Pressfield's Virtues of War is coming out Oct.22.

Oh for Pete's sakes! Considering all the overt sex in Hollywood movies (and excessive over-the-top violence) a little love between two devoted (male) friends would be a refreshing change. ruthaki