Has anyone watched the HBO Rome series? I like it. It’s fun to hear them speak a few Latin words here and there; also, there’s lots of graffiti to read, most of it bawdy. One thing puzzles me: when they address each other, the men say ‘dominus’ and not ‘domine.’ Is this an error?
Salve! I haven’t missed an episode…I absolutely love it though I do think their take on Roman life and society is derived more from other movies like Fellini’s Satyricon and the Brass’ Caligula than any accurate social history. I think it’s well written and well acted and their entire cast is perfect. I can’t imagine a better Caesar than Ciaran Hinds. Their sets (I believe they built an entire replica-city) are incredible as well as the costumes.
The servants do refer to their masters incorrectly as “dominus,” the vocative being called for instead. I haven’t noticed much Latin used outside of the graffiti and documents…at least none that isn’t still the same in modern Italian (like Marc Antony always remarking “bene”).
Anyway, I’m excited now that they released the first season on DVD. I hear the next season is coming out the beginning of next year. I’m looking forward to it…though I’m still sad that Deadwood is going away. (iam quoque ploro) 
.
Chris
cdm2003,
I agree on the costumes: they’re awesome, and it must take multa pecunia to clothe all the actors. I like the use of actors who don’t look exactly like their marble bust counterparts, and Brutus looks unlike anyone I could have imagined (for some reason, I see a brute with a black beard). Ah well, on to disc three…Vale.
PS Octavian isn’t Augustus, Rome’s first emperor, nonne?
Octavian was in fact Augustus’ given name.
Ha! Until the series, I always thought of Brutus as a big guy with a black beard as well…I think that comes from having seen too many Popeye cartoons as a kid. 
I’ve been thinking long and hard on this…if the series continues, they’ll need an elder Octavian. I’ve been trying to think of British and Australian actors who I’d like to see fill the role but can’t think of anyone…though with Deadwood over, Ian McShane is available. 
However, of all the imperators matched up with Hollywood actors over the years, I can’t think of any better match than when Nero was played by Peter Ustinov in Quo Vadis. I burst out laughing every time I think of him demanding his tear-jar and harp.
Chris
Here’s a list of men who have played Julius Caesar (taken from IMDb and other sources). I haven’t seen “Rome” (no cable) but I find Ciaran Hinds a bit “Brutus” for the role of Caesar. I like Rex Harrison’s acting in Cleopatra (1963), but perhaps Hannes Messemer and Colm Feore (“Empire” 2005) look more like Caesar (I couldn’t get a shot of Colm Feore without glasses). Who’s your pick?
Rex Harrison
Hannes Messemer
Ciaran Hinds
Klaus Ma. Brandauer
Tim Dalton
Colm Feore
Claude Rains
Jeremy Sisto
Warren William
Louis Calhern
John Gavin
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I haven’t see Rome, but judging based on appearance, I like Colm Feore and Ciaran Hinds best (the haircut really does it for Hinds). Timothy Dalton would be my third pick; none of the other actors look all that Roman to me.
I thought Caesar was bald (at quite an early age already)? I don’t where I’ve heard/read this, but somehow I seem to remember this.
Hey, what happened to my images!!! 
I was beginning to wonder the same thing.
Well, I had to upload images from other sources (Maybe the IMDb blocked the images?). Anyway, Colm Feore definitely looks more like Caesar.
Well, Hinds took some getting used to but now I can’t think of anyone better. Colm Feore does not do it for me…he didn’t in Empire and is probably better at playing the sort of Roman character as he did in Titus. I liked Rex Harrison in Antony and Cleopatra as well but I think he, along with Claude Raines, are a little indisposed of these days. 
Now, thinking of Titus perhaps Anthony Hopkins should play the elder Augustus?
Chris
BTW…I think you left out another important actor who also has experience playing Romans…
Fwiends…Womans…Countweemen!
Well, I had a chance to see the first two episodes with some friends. The rendition of Cicero will make me smile for, oh, several weeks. The opening credits are pretty nifty, though I want to pause them to read the graffiti. I was stunned to see the taurobolium, though I’m not sure it was ever performed merely as a prelude to divination.
Speaking of Rome and TV, has anyone seen Empire. I think it was a series in Canadia or something. I don’t know, I only have the DVD. It’s pretty good. Colm Feore was the C. Iulius in that one. I thought he was pretty good… a bit hairy… but good nonetheless.
I’ve also heard that Caesar was bald early on in life. Doesn’t Caesar mean hairy? I think so. hehe.
-Jon
One of the graffiti I remember is “Appia amat omnes” on the wall of her house.
P.S.Cicero’s way of speaking reminds me of Mr. Collins in Pride and Prejudice.