The Eagle (2011)

**Oldhiker** · 14th February 11, 05:46 PM

The Eagle a good movie but like so many not 100% accurate. Go and enjoy the movie and forget about the details

In my limited Gaelic knowledge, they were speaking good Scottish Gaelic. I was able to pick out lots of words. OK the subtitles helped LOL. My only issue was the Picts did not speak Scottish Gaelic. The Gaels were newbies to the island of Britain compared to the Picts. Nobody knows what language the Picts spoke.

**Dale Seago** · 14th February 11, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by Oldhiker

The Eagle a good movie but like so many not 100% accurate. Go and enjoy the movie and forget about the details

In my limited Gaelic knowledge, they were speaking good Scottish Gaelic. I was able to pick out lots of words. OK the subtitles helped LOL. My only issue was the Picts did not speak Scottish Gaelic. The Gaels were newbies to the island of Britain compared to the Picts. Nobody knows what language the Picts spoke.

Well, I'd give 'em props for at least speaking a non-English language having a historic association with the northern part of the island.

If someone really wanted to pick linguistic nits, for the period represented the Gaelic would have been Old Irish.

And no, we don't know what language the Picts spoke with absolute certainty; but there seem to be some pretty cogent arguments going around that it was very likely a "P-Celtic" language. This book actually approaches that possibility from the direction of a genetic study more than, as you might expect, archeology/cultural anthropology/philology.

**Woodsheal** · 14th February 11, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by Dale Seago

And no, we don't know what language the Picts spoke with absolute certainty; but there seem to be some pretty cogent arguments going around that it was very likely a "P-Celtic" language. This book actually approaches that possibility from the direction of a genetic study more than, as you might expect, archeology/cultural anthropology/philology.

The image of the Picts as primitive, dark little Neolithic chaps is apparently derived from Robert E. Howard's "Conan" and "Bran mak Morn" stories!
As Dale states, current academic thought leans towards the Picts as being P-Celtic speaking Celts (not Q-Celtic Gaels) fairly indistinguishable from the British tribes to their south.
My son saw "The Eagle" over the weekend and was pretty much underwhelmed, but I still want to go...!

**Hothir Ethelnor** · 14th February 11, 07:39 PM

The film was good on many levels but could have been 10 minutes shorter. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the Highlands immensely but I did begin to wonder when the story would pick up again.

**creagdhubh** · 14th February 11, 07:51 PM

The film isn't too bad - lots of action obviously. I went to see just for the simple fact that a good portion of the scenes were filmed in the Ft. William and Lochaber area (as in parts of Braveheart and Rob Roy) - the spectacular scenery of my bonnie homeland alone was well worth the 8 dollars, however, it still doesn't compare to actually being there. I'd recommend it to others.

Cheers,

**skauwt** · 14th February 11, 08:23 PM

deleted

**Dale Seago** · 14th February 11, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by skauwt

is it anything like the recent film Centurion
http://www.imdb.com/rg/VIDEO_PLAY/LI.../vi1334445593/

I'm wondering the same thing, as I haven't seen this new one yet. Saw Centurion and, despite some improbable elements, I liked it; but I won't get to see The Eagle for a while because my girlfriend wouldn't want to (and we'll be spending this weekend together at her place), and a week from tomorrow I'm going to Borg up and get a structural upgrade on one hip. I'll only be in the shop for a couple of days, then home with my g/f at her place for a couple of weeks while the new components integrate with the original frame. But it will likely be a week or two before I can drive, so easily as much as 3 weeks after I'm Assimilated before I can see the flick.

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

The image of the Picts as primitive, dark little Neolithic chaps is apparently derived from Robert E. Howard's "Conan" and "Bran mak Morn" stories!

That's the first portrayal of them as being that way that I can recall from my own adolescence. Loved Howard's stories though!!

As I mentioned earlier, the Romans seem to have thought of the Picts as "some sort of Germans" because they were big, fair-haired folk.

**Burly Brute** · 14th February 11, 09:02 PM

At first I thought it was going to be a movie that portrayed any non-Romans as savage sub-human beasts, mostly with the first invasion. However, as it progressed and there was more interaction with Esca and the Highlanders, it seemed as though it gave them a more decent point of view. I will say that Esca seemed to tie the Romans and the Picts together, both leaders were big on bloodshed and sacrifice, whereas Esca seemed to be the more "human" element in which he wanted life to continue on and stop the domination. Although, the Picts had good cause, as well as the rest of britons, being that the Romans were just trying to conquer e'erything.