Description
Book SynopsisConstantine Santas encourages us to wonder why film critics have so routinely dismissed the epic film. In The Epic in Film, he argues that blockbuster and artistic are not mutually exclusive terms, and, perhaps more importantly, epic film is an inherently profound genre in its ability to tap into a nation''s, and sometimes humanity''s, dreams and fears. Why do we see dozens and dozens of films based on the King Arthur legend? Why would a presidential-hopeful borrow a phrase, Read my lips, from Clint Eastwood''s Dirty Harry? Why do war epics proliferate in times of war or national crisis? Why are epics as a whole the most popular movie genre? Start with an individual quest of some kind undertaken by an attractive hero or heroine, add the weight of a nation, and perhaps humanity, into that character''s struggle, sprinkle some awe-inspiring special effects and a general sense of largesse, and don''t forget the happy ending; and there you have a recipe for a film that can contain the deepe
Trade ReviewThis book is useful for scholars looking for a discussion of epic using classic films. * The Journal of Popular Culture *
In this new, ambitious examination of epic films, Constantine Santas artfully argues for the viability and surprising longevity of this narrative form. . . . Santas whole-heartedly studies the epic in all its components, values, history and modernizations to educate film-buffs and academics, alike. . . . Santas argues with penetrating details. * Film & History: An Interdisciplinary Journal, Fall 2009 *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 1 The Classic Epic Form Chapter 4 2 The Mythological Epic Chapter 5 3 The Religious Epic Chapter 6 4 The Historical Epic Chapter 7 5 The Women-Centered Epic Chapter 8 6 The Comic Epic Chapter 9 7 The Anti-Epic Chapter 10 8 The Information Age Epic Chapter 11 9 The International and Art House Epics Chapter 12 Appendix: Selected DVD Editions Chapter 13 Selected Bibliography
