The Agony and the Ecstasy
The movie, The Agony and the Ecstasy, was fairly accurate to history. Of course, there are a few changes made in the movie to increase the entertainment value. In the film it is implied that Michelangelo had a relationship with one of the Medici sisters. However, there is no such account given in the historical record, so we presume it to be Hollywood-ized romance. The historical truth is that Michelangelo was a devout Christian, with no record of an intimate relationship. It appeared that a lot of time was spent in studying the era of the time to create the costumes, especially those of church officials. They wore very detailed and symbolic robes and gowns.
As far as the Sistine Chapel looked, it was well done in that it looked comparable to the one in real life. In the storyline, Michelangelo's work is delayed three times, as the Pope doesn't have funds to pay him. In our research though, we could not find any evidence of the three uncommisions. European wars were accurate and actually had the Pope in the battle field, which was accurate because he was known as the "Warrior Pope". We found it interesting that Pope Julius II called Michelangelo 'Buonarroti'; nevertheless, it is part of the painter's name. In the film, Michelangelo gets upset and destroys some of his work which is also true. Church officials criticized Buonarroti's work saying that the pictures painted were indecent. As far as the main character, Charlton Hesston looked way too good for a man who never bathed or shaved. We found the Pope and Michelangelo's love/hate relationship quite entertaining! ("When will you make an end?" "When I am finished!" - A funny 4 year long argument). The best entertainment was Michelangelo's fall from the ceiling. It was extremely dramatized and very amusing! Some themes throughout the movie were: 'the world is not alone' which was brought to our attention when Michelangelo sits pondering atop a mountain. The clouds are shaped in the form of God; thus 'the world is not alone'. It was also symbolic when Michelangelo was struggling and not satisfied with his work. So he takes time off (actually fleeing) to consider what would really be of useful meaning for the painting of the Sistine Chapel 'Meditation brings inspiration'. Michelangelo really focuses on the fact that "God created man in his own image"- (that's why Michelangelo painted his models nude).
The movie, The Agony and the Ecstasy, was fairly accurate to history. Of course, there are a few changes made in the movie to increase the entertainment value. In the film it is implied that Michelangelo had a relationship with one of the Medici sisters. However, there is no such account given in the historical record, so we presume it to be Hollywood-ized romance. The historical truth is that Michelangelo was a devout Christian, with no record of an intimate relationship. It appeared that a lot of time was spent in studying the era of the time to create the costumes, especially those of church officials. They wore very detailed and symbolic robes and gowns.
As far as the Sistine Chapel looked, it was well done in that it looked comparable to the one in real life. In the storyline, Michelangelo's work is delayed three times, as the Pope doesn't have funds to pay him. In our research though, we could not find any evidence of the three uncommisions. European wars were accurate and actually had the Pope in the battle field, which was accurate because he was known as the "Warrior Pope". We found it interesting that Pope Julius II called Michelangelo 'Buonarroti'; nevertheless, it is part of the painter's name. In the film, Michelangelo gets upset and destroys some of his work which is also true. Church officials criticized Buonarroti's work saying that the pictures painted were indecent. As far as the main character, Charlton Hesston looked way too good for a man who never bathed or shaved. We found the Pope and Michelangelo's love/hate relationship quite entertaining! ("When will you make an end?" "When I am finished!" - A funny 4 year long argument). The best entertainment was Michelangelo's fall from the ceiling. It was extremely dramatized and very amusing! Some themes throughout the movie were: 'the world is not alone' which was brought to our attention when Michelangelo sits pondering atop a mountain. The clouds are shaped in the form of God; thus 'the world is not alone'. It was also symbolic when Michelangelo was struggling and not satisfied with his work. So he takes time off (actually fleeing) to consider what would really be of useful meaning for the painting of the Sistine Chapel 'Meditation brings inspiration'. Michelangelo really focuses on the fact that "God created man in his own image"- (that's why Michelangelo painted his models nude).