Masada (1981) User Reviews

An inspiring saga

[rleroe · 9/10 · 26 September 2007]

Long-last on DVD, Masada depicts the true story of the Jewish struggle atop Masada following the A.D. 70 destruction of Jerusalem. While visiting the site in 1989 I was told that Peter Strauss asked to spend a night atop the mount, then the Israeli Air Force flew overhead scaring him considerably. The film wisely starts with a documentary showing the significance this site has today. Peter O'Toole is superb and the script is well-written. You expect the Roman General to be the "bad guy" and you discover otherwise. Much of the conversation is quite clever, especially from the Roman bureaucrats and the political intrigue. You'll want to read about the archaeological excavations and to visit Masada after seeing this wonderful movie. This is from the golden age of TV mini-series.

Terrific O'Toole in flawed but worthwhile miniseries

[mistressmalevolent · 8/10 · 29 September 2007]

By casting Americans as the Jews and Brits as the Romans the original intention must have been to make the Romans the bad guys, but despite a highly effective "bad guy" supporting performance by David Warner (who won an Emmy for this) the Romans come across as reasonable and fair-minded and with the exception of a radiant Barbara Carrera the Jews come across highly unsympathetically as religious fanatics and terrorists. This is largely due to casting the cream of British theater acting as the Romans and comparatively weak US television actors as the Jews, the best of whom is Peter Strauss, who although a decent actor, has his limitations shown up in every scene he shares with O'Toole, who is at the top of his game throughout. O'Toole's penultimate soliloquy at Strauss's house is wonderfully written and breathtakingly accomplished; it is so powerful, and his disgust at the fate of the Jews so profound, that the closing real-life scenes at Masada are greatly diminished in impact and fail to achieve their intended emotional effect, coming across instead as banal and jingoistic. Still, well worth your time and money

Wonderfully detailed

[Gregorso · 9/10 · 10 November 2009]

Peter O'Toole (who starred in another great desert epic, Lawrence of Arabia) is wonderful as the general who knows peaceful negotiation is better than war, but is forced by political wrangling above and below his rank to try to crush the Jewish resistance group. The Romans learn that it is one thing to conquer a country, but it's altogether another thing to occupy it. And don't we still see that to the current day? In another telling analogy, if it considered valiant to kill yourself (& family) just to defy your enemy, what does that say about modern suicide bombers? I recall a bit of controversy when this film came out. Some critics worried that the mass suicide at Masada was too evocative of Jim Jones' cult suicide in Guyana.

There's lots of interesting historical detail about ancient social classes, technology, military strategy - even an example of early political satire shows! This is not just "Hollywood spectacle". The characters are realistically portrayed going through real human struggles. As I recall, the sole historical account of Masada comes from Josephus, a Jew serving Emperor Vespacian. Josephus supposedly got the inside story from one of the few Jews who didn't commit suicide. Therefore, 80% of the film and most of the characters are probably fictional, created to add drama. Even so, everything supports the main story and brings the event to life. The only bit that is too exaggerated is the opening credits in the first part, set in the present day, which comes across like nothing less than an advertisement for the Israeli army.

Oh, and the musical score is fabulous! I remember faith-healer and Christian evangelist Maurice Cerullo had a massive fund-raising campaign to help produce this film. For an adequate donation you got a commemorative bronze movie medallion.

Magnificent Spectacle

[Gunn · 10/10 · 1 December 1999]

Masada is amazing, in part, because it is a true story and also because it is truly a fascinating drama. Originally filmed as a mini-series, at 6 plus hours, it has been released in short (movie length) form but don't bother with that edition. Even though it (the six hour video set) is quite long, not one minute will bore you. It is a story of the military...in a battle of wits against (Jewish) patriots. The cast is superb, with Americans playing the Jews and British actors as the Romans. The lowly soldiers speaking in "middle class" dialect while the officers sound more aristocratic...a really nice touch. Peter O'Toole has never been better in his role as Flavius Silva commander of the Roman regiment dispatched by Rome to capture the Jews holding out at Masada...a huge, almost impregnable mountain fortress. Anthony Quayle and David Warner also do some of their best work ever. Peter Straus as Eleazar, leader of the Jews is passionate in his convictions and the rest of the cast shines also. The mind games they utilize on each other are fascinating and make for engrossing drama. It is truly one of the best mini-series, or historical epics ever put to film. The newly released 4 video set consists of 90 mins. per video so one can enjoy Masada over four evenings. Note: As of 2007 it is now available on DVD. The viewer will feel it is time well spent.

Very impressive, outstanding mini-series

[CinefanR · 10/10 · 7 March 2012]

Brilliant historical epic, and one of the finest productions I've had the pleasure to watch. Dealing from multiple points of view with perplexing issues such as honor, courage and patriotism, the series gets into the intricacies of military strategy and politics. 'Masada' is a fascinating character study, a most compelling commentary on the futility of war and a love story all together.

Outstanding performance given by Peter O'Toole and excellent acting from David Warner, Barbara Carrera and Anthony Quayle. O'Toole is the main star in any setting; he steals the show and his presence is overwhelming. O'Toole's Silva is so complex and believable, it's impossible to match.

Outstanding music score.

Excellent script, with strong character development and psychology, historical detail, complexity of themes and good dialogues. I was also impressed with the tact and sensitivity displayed given the subject matter, an intelligent approach that didn't diminish the emotional impact whatsoever.

Six-hour long series, and not a single minute to get bored. A cleverly built anticipation will keep your eyes on the screen.

Good 2-disc DVD release for its price. A must-have! However, it's about time for a properly restored and subtitled edition, and maybe some extras.

Brilliant, mini-epic *SPOILERS*

[naseby · 10/10 · 16 January 2009]

Although TV movies often show they are just that, this four-part series, despite the talky atmosphere at times was really excellent. It had a great and talented cast, though notably, the Americans were the good-guy Zealots and the British the bad-boy Romans. Peter O'Toole (The commander, Flavius Silva) is Irish, he sounds British, of course. The Roman invasion of Judea in prompts Eleazer (Peter Strauss) and his 'renegade' Zealots to take refuge in the virtually impregnable Masada mountain/rock fortress in the middle of what is now the Negev desert, by the Dead Sea. It was formally a Herodian retreat.

Flavius Silva is tasked with the Emperor Vespasian's (Timothy West) verve to capture the Zealots. Even though Judea is under Roman rule, the last vestige of a free Judea is atop a rock and must be dealt with.

The first major fight the Romans have on arrival is the heat of the daytime desert, which is telling upon the Romans, much to the amusement and gloating of the Zealots on the rock.

Silva lays claim to a slave girl as his mistress, (Barbara Carrera) arguing the morals of her people's just cause to have a free Judea, at the same time as stating she hates the Romans, she hates the Zealots too. Anthony Quayle as Rubius Gallus plays the brilliant part so well, as Silva's chum and wise engineer, 'the only man for the job'. He informs Silva that the only way to assault the fortress is to bring a large part of a rocky outcrop over and place it against the Masada fortress as an assault ramp for a siege tower to move up against the fort walls. Silva trusts his friend and implements the plan. He makes sure it's built out of sight of the Zealots though, in spite of Gallus's mention that Eleazer wouldn't be able to do anything about it even if he saw it coming.

Adding to Silva's woes, Emperor's minion, Pomponius Falco (David Warner) arrives, as he puts it 'to take the burden' off Silva. He's actually trying to take the glory, being the Emperor's sycophant. He informs Silva he has the Emperor's stamp to end the siege, at least more quickly, or to accelerate himself quickly up the ladder more like! "I've seen good men slit their wrists over him," remarks Gallus - who, when he cops an arrow in his neck whilst surveying the ramp, gives Falco the excuse he needs to take command of the siege over Silva. "That was your irreplaceable officer." says Falco, who had no love lost with Gallus. Silva though, shows his mettle and ousts the little worm, after Falco has barbarically - get this - put jews in the catapults and fired them up the mountainside!

With all the main distractions dealt with, Gallus, on his death-bed managed to utter a few last words to his engineers to complete the task. So much so, that the ramp is completed and the siege tower ready to ascend it.

The main feature of the siege tower is, that it has a battering-ram mounted at the top of it, with metal plates in the front for protection. Gallus informed his men that the tower must be sent up the ramp at a certain time of day, so that the Zealots would have the sun in their eyes as the tower approaches them. On the day of the assault, the tower ascends the ramp and the scene, with special effects is very well-handled with the suspense, action and incidental music. One thing that amazes you is, that the Romans have the slaves 'pull' the tower up the ramp. (Blocks are sunk into the ramp and with pulleys, the tower is 'pulled' up the ramp - it seems a major engineering feat of the day and shows the Romans' resilience and determination in the field). "If I'd been here a thousand years, I'd have never thought of that.". said Falco earlier.

As Eleazer and his 'rebels' are astounded by this shocking new tactic, he seems dumbfounded and unable to grasp the situation. Then he informs the rest of the Zealots to strip beams from Herod's old palace and put the earth between the beams, behind the stone wall that is the ram's target (To absorb the blows like a sponge). After a battle between Roman archers on the tower and Eleazer's, the ram reaches the walls and is pushed against it. Eleazer's new wall is absorbing the blows well. This stops the wall from shattering. The Romans are now perplexed. "We haven't been supplied with a wonder worker to raise Rubius Gallus from the dead, so I'm open to suggestions!" says Silva to his officers. After much debating, they set fire to the exposed beams of Eleazer's wonder walls. But then, the wind changes and it blows against the assault tower. The Romans sound the recall, intending taking the fort in the morning. The Zealots rejoice, but Eleazer knows, that it may only be putting off the inevitable for a while. "Remember who built it," says one of Silva's officers, "The iron (front) plates won't melt before the wind changes." Silva replies: "And they can't build another wall in the same place, the fire will keep them away." On Silva's men entering unopposed, there is an eerie silence. The Zealots have all taken their lives rather than be taken or killed by the Romans.

This had a good script, though it is part-taken from a book, 'The Antagonists', some heady wheeling and dealing and corruption from the Roman side whilst, quite rightly, really, showing the Zealots as spirited and stubborn in the face of aggression. So much so, that Masada now serves as the 'swearing in' ceremony of the Israeli Defence Forces. A great mini-epic.

Brilliant! Why isn't this on DVD?

[sharlyfarley · 10/10 · 29 March 2006]

Honor is due all around. First, credit must go to Joel Oliansky, who developed Gann's slender book into full-range drama with wit and wisdom. Boris Segal directs a huge cast so well, and so unobtrusively...You never wonder where you are, or which side you're listening to; there are so many characters that are memorable, even if they only have two lines...It's the best performance of Peter Strauss's career, and one of O'Toole's crown jewels. Jerry Goldsmith can furnish haunting melodies and epic marches. In short, nobody in this miniseries has fallen down on the job...

Except for ABC, who took more than a decade to get it out of the vault and onto videotape, and still hasn't gotten "Masada" put on DVD.

The strongest kind of drama is when you can sympathize with both sides; Silva has been saddled with irrational orders for a military conquest (sound familiar?) where none is possible - or even necessary. Eleazar knows only one thing for sure: "No man should be another man's slave." But Rome must prove a point. Rome cannot allow defiance to succeed; the Jewish zealots cannot submit to Roman enslavement. "You can take their victory from them." Mesmerizing...and well worth your time.

One of the best mini-series ever!

[Scott-12 · 15 November 1999]

This is quite simply one of the grandest epics you can see. I first saw this on TV when I was young. Every night it was on I was glued to the TV, completely enthralled by the story. When I finally got the multi-tape set recently, I wasn't sure if I would still be affected the same now that I am older, but it was everything I remember. Fabulous story. Fabulous actors.Incredibly moving musical score. Incredibly realistic set because it was actually filmed at Masada. The whole thing was just breath-taking. And the story is so powerful it will have you walking around for days just weeping from the emotions it brings out. If you can find the 6 1/2 hours to sit down and watch it in one sitting, you will not be disappointed.

Masada

[CinemaSerf · 7/10 · 7 June 2023]

I remember watching this mini-series on the BBC and throughly enjoying every minute (I was 14!). It marries historical fact, legend and drama creating a cracking action adventure that sees nine hundred Jewish people take refuge in the eponymous and impregnable mountain fortress, fleeing the brutal regime of the Vespasianic legions under the command of Peter O'Toole's ("Silva"). The other principal casting maybe isn't the best - Peter Strauss didn't work for me at all and the seriously wooden Barbara Carrera also stretches the imagination just a tad, but the pace of the story builds well as the besieging Romans face all the desert environment and the Jewish freedom fighters can throw at them. There is an inevitability about it - the engineering prowess of the army soon starts to sound a death knell for the brave souls gathered above, and there are some strikingly brutal examples of just how ruthless the occupying forces could be - a whole new set of uses for catapults, for example. A solid cast including Sir Anthony Quayle, David Warner and Dennis Quilley give the proceedings extra gravitas and O'Toole manages to resist any temptation to ham it up delivering a strong, considered, performance as the reasonably minded general/governor who has long since tired of fighting never ending wars. It takes 6½ hours, give or take recaps etc., which might explain why it is rarely seen nowadays, but it is a taut and compelling grand scale historical epic that is well worth sticking through (and visiting should you ever get the opportunity).

What a spectacle! Absolutely brilliant!!!

[marcin_kukuczka · 10/10 · 24 October 2004]

The movie is based on the book THE ANTAGONISTS and shows the story of the Jewish defense from the Roman oppressor. The story seems to be quite short and not the main focus of the film. Jews led by Eleazar stay in a huge fortress of Masada on the Judean Desert which is their only safe place away from the Roman Empire. Romans are forced to conquer them.

The movie shows human soul, psychological aspect of humanity, even of the "triumphant Roman leaders". This psychological aspect is revealed in both main characters: the Jewish leader Eleazar, portrayed wonderfully by Peter Strauss (one of his really best roles), and Flavius Silva (great Peter O'Toole), the leader of the 10th legion attempting at finishing the conquest and returning to Rome. Both of them are full of doubts. They change over the movie, develop like all of us do.

Silva doubts the logic of the whole campaign, which is especially emphasized at the end when he says desperately "What victory!? We have won a rock on the shore of the poisoned sea!" A rock that has cost thousands of innocent lives. He is also an honorable man. When Pomponius Falco takes over the leadership and occurs to be brutal, Silva tries his best to prove that this way of dealing with the enemy is "not Rome!" He even meets with Eleazar to justify these deeds.

Eleazar is a good Jew. He cares for his people but there is one thing which makes others confused. He doubts in the existence of God. However, deeply in his heart, there is a place for Him. Peter Strauss stresses this memorably when he goes to pray in order the Romans to stop killing the innocent Jews. In fact, he proves to love his people and that is, most appealingly, a better knowledge of God than any other...

The character that needs mentioning is Sheva (Barbara Carrera). She, in fact, is not very sure if she loves Silva or not. On the one hand, she wants to stay with him. On the other hand, her people seem to be more important. Finally, she decides to leave him. Her love is divided and demands a difficult choice. VERY PSYCHOLOGICAL!

In this comment I concentrated mostly on the psychological aspect. Yes, I admit that it appears to be the most significant factor for me. There are, of course, other factors that make me love this movie: the whole story, the locations, the music, the stars... EVERYTHING! But you will have a chance to appreciate all these aspects when you decide to see MASADA.

Finally, the end is unforgettable: "Take them their victory! Then they will remember..." Truly impressive script! One of the best lessons of life! 10/10 for the whole movie!

The final reference to modern Israel appears to be particularly touching!

YES, WE REMEMBER MASADA AND THE GROUP OF BRAVE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT AFRAID TO REMAIN THEMSELVES AND RETAIN THEIR DIGNITY.

Epic TV film about the breathtaking fortress held defiantly against the might of the Roman Empire by a group of freedom fighters

[ma-cortes · 7/10 · 23 April 2017]

In 66 CE, set in Judea , a group of Jewish rebels, the Sicarii, overcame the Roman garrison of Masada with the aid of a ruse . After the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE, additional members of the Sicarii fled Jerusalem and settled on the mountaintop after slaughtering the Roman garrison . According to Josephus , the Sicarii were an extremist Jewish splinter group antagonistic to a larger grouping of Jews referred to as the Zealots led by Eliazar (Peter Strauss), who carried the main burden of the rebellion . Josephus said that the Sicarii raided nearby Jewish villages including Ein Gedi , where they massacred 700 women and children . In 73 CE, the Roman governor of Iudaea , Lucius Flavius Silva (Peter O'Toole , the only cast member who didn't fall ill) , headed the Roman legion X Fretensis and laid siege to Masada . The Roman legion surrounded Masada, built a circumvallation wall and then a siege ramp against the western face of the plateau .

This is an interminable , but still good version , adapted from Ernest K. Gann's novel titled ¨The antagonists¨ during the first Century AD about a handful of Jews fighting to retrieve their freedom , recreating faithfully the siege of the impregnable fortress . The series is formed by 4 episodes , but there is an abridged rendition from the original TV presentation . This is a sort of would-be Jew epic with propaganda and jingoist overtones . The main cast is frankly well , though they give rating interpretations . The Jewish leader is well played by Peter Strauss , he is nice and as tough and two-fisted as a brave Zionist guerrilla should be ; while the Roman commander who feels of the loneliness colonial administrator , finely performed by Peter O'Toole , ponders the badness and goodness of the attacks . Support cast is pretty good , plenty of known and prestigious secondaries , giving enjoyable acting , as American actors are playing the Jews and British actors are cast as the Romans , such as : Barbara Carrera , Anthony Quayle , Paul L. Smith , David Warner , David Opatoshu , Joseseph Wiseman , Denis Quilley , Alan Feinstein , Clive Francis , Warren Clarke , Nick Brimble , and Timothy West as emperor Vespasiano , among others. This ¨Masada¨ film displays a rousing and imaginative musical score by the great Jerry Goldsmith . And an evocative cinematography by Paul Lohmann , being shot on location in Israel, where the historic events took place . The series was compellingly directed by Boris Sagal .

Masada is an ancient fortification in the Southern District of Israel situated on top of an isolated rock plateau , akin to a mesa , being the Zionist headquarter for a group of Jews freedom fighters . It is located on the eastern edge of the Judaean Desert , overlooking the Dead Sea 20 km east of Arad . Herod the Great built palaces for himself on the mountain and fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE . After the sack of Jerusalem Jews fled to Masada to get their freedom and their homeland . According to Josephus , the siege of Masada by troops of the Roman Empire at the end of the First Jewish–Roman War ended in the mass suicide of 960 people, the Sicarii rebels and their families hiding there.

I thought it was masterful history and Peter O'Toole's greatest performance!

[Eagle1280 · 10/10 · 11 April 2002]

This story brings out the idealist and the need for faith in me whenever I view it. The historical accuracy and the sheer information provided about the Roman Empire, the province of Judea circa 70AD, and the Roman Legions, are truly astonishing. Every semester, whenever I teach World Civilizations I at Essex County College in Newark NJ, I always include a classroom viewing of the 2 hour version for my students (and lament not time enough to show the full saga). Peter O'Toole's performance as the competant but troubled Flavius Silva I humbly believe is his masterwork and the life he places in his character is thought provoking and emotionally stirring. The music, the material, the true story and the detail from building the ramp to the costumes and location re-create what actually happened better than any textbook or lecture could. By the way, Barbara Cararra almost steals the show from Peter O'Toole and her acting performance also deserves special mention. I proudly own the full saga on VHS and eagerly await the DVD edition. This is a must-see for anyone interested in Roman, Israeli, or general history.

Spectacular! Best mini-series

[p_aybarra · 9/10 · 1 October 2000]

Peter O'Toole and Peter Strauss were both great. This is probably one of O'Toole's better performances. Great story, excellent cast, spectacular locations, great performances from Barbara Carrera, Anthony Quayle, and David Warner. This mini-series is definitely well worth your time. This is based on the book, The Antagonists, by Ernest K. Gann. I read it, and the "sequel", The Triumph. Read both books, if you can find them. The Triumph is the story of Flavius Silva after Masada. Almost as entertaining as the movie.

DVD

[tiberiuskha · 10/10 · 24 July 2002]

I wish Masada was out on DVD for region "2" soon. It is a fantastic mini series with a superstar cast. It is historically acurate in detail. And has a climatic ending resulting on our reflection of life in general.To "surrender or to deny"???

An epic if slightly preachy miniseries

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 17 June 2016]

This four part series tells to story of the siege of Masada; a seemingly impregnable mountaintop fortress were a small band of Jewish fighters attempted to hold off the might of the Roman Tenth Legion. The Zealots, under the leadership of Eleazar Ben Yair retreated to Masada after an uprising has been put down by the Romans; from here they strike out on a number of raids. Eventually Eleazar tries to negotiate a peace with Roman leader Lucius Flavius Silva. Silva thinks his terms are reasonable and takes them back to Rome; unfortunately politics gets in the way and he is ordered back to Judea. Here he lays siege to Masada and with the guidance of Rubrius Gallus, an expert in siege warfare, orders the building of a massive ramp and a siege engine topped by a giant battering ram. This will be a mammoth undertaking and while his men swelter in the heat the Zealots taunt them; the Romans are on minimal water rations and the Zealots and their families have so much water they can swim in it. This leads to rising tensions in the Roman ranks, not helped by the fact that Silva has taken a Jewish lover and is constantly drinking. Inevitably though the ramp is completed and the people of Masada must make a decision about what to do next; they know they can't defeat the Romans at this point.

I really enjoyed this series; the story is told at a moderate pace, it isn't rushed but nor does it feel boring. We are introduced to the key characters early on and it is inevitable that one will grow to care about what happens to them as the story unfolds. Peter O'Toole dominates proceedings as Silva; a general who respects his enemy while also being frustrated by him. The rest of the cast, which includes Peter Strauss as Eleazar, Barbara Carrera as Silva's lover Sheva and Anthony Quayle as Gallus does a solid job. Since it was made for television in 1981 it isn't surprising that the violence is less gory than one might expect of a more modern production; this isn't a problem though; in fact it means it can be watched by those who don't like gory scenes. While the series was impressive I think it could have done without the prologue and epilogue where we see modern Israeli soldiers taking part in a ceremony at Masada while a less than subtle narration makes it clear that we are meant to be sympathising with the doomed Zealots in the fort not the besieging Romans… perhaps because we spent more time with the Romans I found them to be more sympathetic, especially Silva and Gallus. That said these scenes didn't spoil the series; they were only a few minutes out of six hours.

Excellent dramatic presentation of a tragic real life event

[Harlekwin_UK · 8/10 · 31 May 2018]

The drama presented here is well structured and well acted. Peter O'Tool and Peter Strauss bring a sense of depth to their characters and are more than ably supported by the rest of the cast. Production looks perhaps a little dated compared to modern standards.

The series was filmed in Judea, lending a authenticity to the shots.

We were lucky enough to visit the Holy Land in 2017. Part of our trip was to Masada. Knowing just a little of the historic context makes the drama more fulfilling but a worthy watch without it.

DVD available

[gicuz · 8 March 2018]

I found a dvd edition by amazon prime. Euro17,00. This confirm the existence of a DVD release.

Good One

[Tweetienator · 7/10 · 30 March 2022]

In the 80s we got some fine historical TV shows - Roots and Shogun among others. Masada belongs to that line of entertaining works that take us back in time. The show tells us the story of the desperate struggle of the Jews against the Roman Empire and the dramatic end of an uprising - the siege and final stand at the Masada citadel. A decent production and a great cast, make Masada a gem for everyone who likes to watch movies or shows based on historical events or times - Masada beats most modern "historical" themed shows or movies of the last few years easy, who are nothing else as people in different costumes and historical settings having the same soap opera time over and over again, on top exercising issues and cliches of modern day characters.

Television as it Should Be, Could be, USED to Be--With One Notable Flaw.

[kayaker36 · 8/10 · 8 January 2008]

This mini-series, finally out on DVD, has a lot going for it. Director Boris Sagal's thirty year career in television went back to the earliest days of commercial broadcasting. Some affecting melodies are contributed by Jerry Goldsmith, another Hollywood veteran whose pen has given us dozens of memorable movie themes. But most unique is the script: literate, with touches of real erudition. Nice to be reminded what network television was like before the Great Dumbdown.

Jewish Peter Strauss from Albany, NY gives a sincere performance as the leader of the Zealots. Unfortunately he comes off as too sensitive, too Ivy League, to be credible as a man who could command 900 people to commit suicide.

Tall, exotic Barbara Carrera is captivating as Sheva, the Roman general's Jewish concubine--her indefinable accent so appealing. It's emphasized that she is from sophisticated Alexandria and has nothing in common with the Jewish defenders of Masada, who are a scruffy collection of ultra-orthodox fanatics and out-and-out thugs. Yet there is no chemistry between her and O'Toole. It is as if each found the other physically repellent. Granted, Silva wanted to behave toward her in a civilized, gentlemanly way--as is proper for a Roman patrician. But that is a virtue here taken too far. He is so dispassionate that any sense of male and female is lacking. Before him is a young and beautiful woman, his for the taking, yet all he does is talk, and talk, and talk.

She, too seems to have a submitting problem--at least so far as Silva is concerned. The more they come to know each other, the colder she acts! It's no surprise that in the end Sheva chooses to return to the same shadowy world from which she came.

How to get the willies

[donnabarr · 10/10 · 30 July 2008]

If you're watching this in the early years of the 21st century, and you've been part of or watched 1/2 the history of the 20th, be prepared for a bad case of the willies.

Spoiler alert (some reference to field action): Soldiers pushing into olive groves. Farmers and children with no weapon but stones. Military units champing at the bit to go home. Resistance refusing to give up, and even the children setting traps for the occupiers. Here we go again.

Those of you from the '70's will see the burning and scattered thatch and think of the Zippo Wars.

More up to date than ever. And Peter O'Toole in one of his most magnificent turns as the commanding general of the tenth legion. The rest of the cast puts in superb performances. Nobody phoned it in.

Timothy West makes a wonderful Vespasian.

Only one question: why didn't O'Toole receive the reward for Best Actor?

Accuracy of costume complete, right down to the lack of stirrups on the saddles. The Romans never had 'em.

Too long winded - needed serious editing

[phd_travel · 4/10 · 1 June 2013]

This miniseries lacked proper editing and has the most long winded screenplay. There are endless conversations in Royal Shakespeare Company accents between the Roman soldiers and legions about nothing significant. If it had been about half the time it would have been more exciting. Every scene is dragged out and there are many repetitive parts.

Peter O'Toole looks a bit tired and not too military in bearing. His mistress is played by a lovely Barabara Carrera. Peter Strauss is earnest and at least they gave him dark hair to be more convincing.

It felt as long as the siege. It is interesting to find out what happened in the end but don't be afraid to use the fast forward button.

History comes alive

[gcapp-1 · 11 April 2005]

**Spoiler Warning** This series was very informative and spellbinding. It gave me insight to the Romans' technological abilities, for example, the assault tower which could be adjusted to tilt straight up while being drawn up the ramp.

The engineer who designed it would have been quite at home in the US Army Corps of Engineers, in terms of using science and engineering know-how to accomplish military objectives. His dying words included vital information about the moon, reminiscent of D-Day being planned for the right tides and moonlighting for the Normandy assault.

One person commented about the zealots blowing a good deal. This is the nature of zealots: to want it all, or at least to have more than they now have. The zealots didn't want Rome in their land at all, not now, not when Christ came (Judas Iscariot was a zealot). Eleazar was willing to cooperate with Rome, asking for home-rule during his hillside late-night meeting with Silva. Silva could not get the Caesar to agree.

It must have been galling, when Silva was sitting in with the Senate, to have critical questions asked about him but he could not speak to them because he was a guest, not a member of that legislature.

I eagerly await this series' uncut release onto DVD for Region 1. I don't have the VHS, simply because I expect a DVD release. If the miniseries "The Martian Chronicles", "V" and such merit a DVD release, then the true history of "Masada" is at least ten times worthier.

Lawrence of Masada

[TheFearmakers · 9/10 · 27 February 2019]

It doesn't get much better than suffering along with Peter O'Toole as a vulnerable Roman general weeding out a small yet tight band of Jewish rebels that, because of the nature in which this true life story winds up, are still considered Zealots (albeit more like idealists), a label usually only pinned on Christians...

As the leader of that group, TV miniseries staple Peter Strauss uses a booming Shakespearian stage voice, seeming more driven on behalf of history than the story at hand...

And not only while yelling down to the five-thousand-strong Roman army waiting beneath he and his 900 followers' mountaintop fortress of... MASADA - which is, like anything lasting six-plus-hours, a hit and miss venture...

The hits have mostly to do with O'Toole's Cornelius Flavius Silva, making judgments outside his tent or philosophizing inside with either sneaky friend-turned-foe David Warner or sexy slave love-interest Barbara Carrera...

The latter, while nice to look at, seems exactly what her character is - fiction placed within a biopic, and that especially includes Strauss's Eleazar ben Yair - only God knows who led these particular Israelites to hold their ground while antagonizing the opponents below (the teleplay's based on a historical novel THE ANTAGONISTS)...

For example, in one scene, the rebels splash loudly in a pool within their unreachable haven - of endless food and water - while the beleaguered Romans are allowed only three drinks per day...

Meanwhile, Strauss's guttural rants are narrowed into clever (yet sometimes unrealistically fathomed) mind-game tactics...

A good thing because not only does O'Toole... a veteran of LAWRENCE OF ARABIA... fit the desert terrain, he can handle the stage-like dialogue naturally while another ARABIA veteran, Anthony Quayle, is a wise and patient Roman engineer, progressively building an earth-massed ramp to reach the fortress where a monstrous construction, looking like a Trojan Horse with a ram's head, awaits to finish the job.

Too much time's spent trying to rationalize why things will end in a mass suicide, taking away from the Romans... whose conversations are never dull and always intriguing... Including one of two CLOCKWORK ORANGE actors, Clive Francis (Joe the Lodger), giving orders to his men to work harder and harder, like Warren "Dim" Clarke and STRAW DOGS baddie Ken Hutchison, disgruntled gladiators seeking a mutiny...

It's through their grounded eyes we truly experience the hellish task that's far more interesting and entertaining than the anticipation the Jews felt as it grew and grew, and that's the problem: For while one side is on the right side of history, Peter Strauss and friends (played by American actors while the Romans are British) are simply too perfect and hauty to really feel for and/or relate with. Either way, Peter O'Toole gets nearly the entire plot handed to him - that he gives back to the audience on a gold platter within an otherwise silver-plated production.

A mini-series with enough material for an hour documentary

[jtpaladin · 1/10 · 6 April 2005]

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!! The Masada story is interesting only as far as so many cultures, societies, religious groups, etc. have all had some sort of similar experience, especially under the yoke of the Roman Empire.

The bizarre thing about the uprising surrounding Masada was the simple numbers involved. How the Zealots thought they could defeat the most powerful military in the civilized world is unclear.

While no group was thrilled with Pax Romana, at the very least, the Jews had a great deal of control over their internal affairs including their religious matters. In fact, Judiasm was a protected religion in the Roman Empire. This was in great contrast to Christians who were persecuted throughout the empire, were not a protected religion, and blamed by authorities for all sorts of things. Sadly, because Christianity was considered a cult of Judiasm, the Jewish authorities gave orders to all Synagoges around the empire to support the local Roman authorities to help hunt down and slaughter every Christian that could be found.

When the Romans were not actively persecuting Christians, the Jewish authorities still gave the order to kill as many Christians as possible.

So, what the heck does this extra info have to do with Masada? Only that you can't feel a lot of sympathy for the Zealots. Here they had a relatively semi-autonomous existence, working with the Romans to eliminate "enemies of the state" by finding and killing Christians, and running the govt. without much interference from the Romans. Then, the Jews decide to break their agreement with the Roman authorities, slaughter the garrison, fight a protracted war where innocent civilians are killed by both sides, and at the end of the Masada battle, everyone commits suicide.

The Romans destroy Jerusalem, including Solomon's Temple, and the population is sold off into slavery. Not a very well-crafted strategy by the Zealots. Actually, just plain stupid and the more you think about the innocent loss of life, the more you think that not only was the mini-series bad but the very premise of the story was idiotic.

I remember seeing this mini-series when it came out on TV and it was bad back then and it's still bad after all these years.

mini-series second to none

[sebaeyza · 25 February 2003]

"Masada" is a great epic that goes far beyond the trite boundaries of this kind of films, in that it deals with key moral issues brought forth to the mind by the experience of warfare in a very reflective and convincing way. It gives insight to the inner struggle of a Roman general in his quest for confronting and eventually understanding the contradictions that lie beneath the logic of man's constant fight for power and control, and how it slowly rots his spiritual capacity. For instance, he asks himself: Who is really the winner? Who the loser? How do you kill faith? ... The final 10 minute-plus-monologue of the brilliant O'Toole maybe well be one of the finest moments in the history of film! Simply breathtaking! Check it out!