Epic Motion Picture

An Epic Motion Picture is a motion picture that is an epic story.

• Context:
  • It can (often) feature an Ensemble Cast and lavish production elements, including Extravagant Settings and Lavish Costumes.
  • It can range from being a Period Piece Epic Film to being a Fantasy Film Epic Film.
  • It can be characterized by an expansive Film Score that enhances its dramatic effect.
  • ...
• Example(s):
  • Historical Epics Films, such as:
    • Ben-Hur (1959 film), known for its grand scale and historical setting.
    • Lawrence of Arabia (1962), portraying the life of T.E. Lawrence and his adventures during World War I.
  • Fantasy Epic Films, such as:
    • The Lord of the Rings (film series), a fantasy epic that combines grand storytelling with spectacular visuals.
    • Avatar (2009 film), set on the alien world of Pandora and depicting a conflict between humans and native Na'vi.
  • Modern Epic Films, such as:
    • The Departed, showcasing the dramatic intensity and complex narrative typical of epic films set in modern contexts.
    • Titanic (1997 film), a romantic epic centered around the tragic voyage of the RMS Titanic.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Independent Films, which often feature smaller scale and more personal stories.
  • Documentary Films, focusing on factual content rather than embellished narrative or grand visuals.
  • Epic Poem, which is a literary form and not a visual medium.
  • Epic Novel, which is a written narrative without visual or auditory components.
  • ...
• See: Ensemble Cast, Genre, Epic Poetry, Hero, Period Piece, Adventure Film, Film Score.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/epic_film Retrieved:2024-4-17.
  • Epic films have large scale, sweeping scope, and spectacle. The term is slightly ambiguous, sometimes designating a film genre and at other times simply big-budget films. Like epics in the classical literary sense, it is often focused on a heroic character. An epic's ambitious nature helps to set it apart from other genres such as the period piece or adventure film.

    Epic historical films would usually take a historical or a mythical event and add an extravagant setting, lavish costumes, an expansive musical score, and an ensemble cast, which would make them extremely expensive to produce. The most common subjects of epic films are royalty and important figures from various periods in world history.

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