In The Footsteps of Alexander by Michael Woods

[jan]

I have finally obtained a copy of the film released on PBS here in the USA, In The Footsteps of Alexander, by Michael Woods. Michael in person reminds me of Tony Blair a bit, don't you think?I am in Heaven today! I loved this movie! I recommend it highly to anyone who is as interested in Alexander as Michael. I appreciate his following the trail of Alexander and taking us to all the many places that he and his crew visited.I write in more detail on this film on Alexander-Macedon and KarnakEternal site. I am aware that many on this website have seen it. I just checked the search engines to find how much discussion has been made on this film.Thanks so much to Michael for filming this before 9/11! I now understand why Manfredi and Sam know so much and find me worth it! I agree.

[Jenna Corinth]

His name is actually Michael Wood, no 's' at the end.

[jan]

Thanks! That will help when I make a computer search.

[jan]

I also just told the group at O'Brien and Stone in fast-lane productions my opinion of this film. My style is not quite the same there as I don't know if Kenny reads that site or not!

[jona]

Wood's movie is something you must see, of course. But it is imperfect. "Our" Nick has climbed to the summit of Aornus and once told me that in the village on the top, no one knew anything about a British camera team. Personally, I travelled around the rock, asking people what they knew about Europeans visitors. Everybody recalled two Swedish or German ladies, and I even met their guide, but no one had ever heard of a BBC team.Another detail: I recently visited the place where Darius was killed, and I can assure you that Wood's identification of a certain well as the only likely place is simply wrong. It is an artesic region, there can be wells on all places. Wood makes nice TV, but it is entertainment, not history.In the accompanying book, Wood's translations are sometimes disastrous; e.g., "king Darius abandoned his men" instead of "Darius' men abandoned the king", putting upside down the meaning of the Astronomical Diary about the battle of Gaugamela. I am seriously worried about the quality standards of the BBC.All this being said, Wood's documentary has some beautiful images that everyone should see. I love the crossing of the Hindu Kush.Jona

[kenny]

Jona For Once
I agree,, I thyought michael Wood attitude towards Alexander Very blazey to say the least,, i dont think he likes Alexander and portrayed his as a con artiste and drama queen.But the programe as a whole gave some dimension to Alexanders massive journey,, Several time Wood struggled and could not graspe why or how Alexander did his things.Janet hail why bring me into the chat?
Kenny

[jona]

"Jona For Once, I agree"Let's keep it that way, Kenny. I'm still hoping to organize some sort of pothos meeting in London, in the second half of March. I hope that we can have a guided tour along the cuneiform tablets (if the keeper allows us this kind of tourism) and perhaps have dinner with several pothos members. I'm also trying to invite professor Speck (Oxford) and Van der Spek (Amsterdam): the first has identified the Persian Gate, the second is my collegue in cuneiform studies. I think it may be a nice meeting, and I sincerely hope that you can be there too. We are always disagreeing, but I sincerely like you enthusiasm.Jona

[kate]

Hi Janet,Glad to hear that you liked Michael Wood's series. I've been a fan of his for about twenty years since he first did a series of "In search of ..." programmes for the BBC. The early ones on historical figures such as Eric Bloodaxe were done on the cheap, but Wood's enthusiasm for history made them a pleasure to watch. I don't know if you can still get hold of them, but he has done several other history based series. He did one on "In search of the Trojan War", which was fascinating. Not sure if there was a video of that one, but there was a book with some lovely illustrations. He did another called "Civilisations", which was on video and more recently one on the Incas. At the moment the BBC is running a new series of his called "Myths and Heroes" starting off with the Queen of Sheba.Cheers,
Kate

[jan]

Hi Kenny, I always enjoy your humorous attitude.In this film, Michael Wood uses my social security number in such a way that really made me sit up and take notice. It is fortunate that he did because it made me understand something about the movie Towering Inferno that I had not quite fathomed until I saw this documentary.I was quite taken in by the column which Michael stands near as it is very important to my good health and my own conviction. You do not believe me, but this movie convinced me of the value of my own personal search. I have been in a state of real gratitude to Michael ever since.I have not been to Persepolis, have not seen images of it until after I learned of it through my methods and that is why this is so important to me.

[marcus]

Hi Jona,I think you're being a bit unfair to Michael Wood (and to the BBC). Wood might have got the identification of one or two places wrong, but he was hardly the first, and no doubt will not be the last - I don't think you can accuse him, or the BBC, of low quality when he might well have been following the standard identifications of the day.I don't remember any incorrect translations in the book, but one thing is for sure - he didn't translate those passages himself. So someone else must have got it wrong. Also, this was history for a lay audience, and there have been much worse blunders on TV, of that we can be sure. And, to be sure, his mistakes are no worse, and there are no more of them, than there are in quite a few academic books about Alexander!All the bestMarcus

[Me]

In The Footsteps of Alexander by Michael Wood is what got me into Alexander the Great in the first place. It has lead me to Arrian, Curtius, etc. I have watched it at least 60 times. I've got 6 book on Alexander the Great sitting on my nightstand right now that I am reading; all because of this movie!