MovieChat Forums > Stone of Destiny (2008) Discussion > Should have been a TV movie

Should have been a TV movie

posted 16 years ago by northy666
8 replies | jump to latest

Let me immediately point out that I'm a card-carrying SNP member and obviously pro-independence, so this isn't a matter of politics... the film just didn't warrant a cinema release in my opinion.

I'm not massively familiar with the actual history, but the characterisations were disappointingly shallow. If the film's characters are completely accurate then I'd suggest that the film-makers attempt to capture the essence, rather than the reality, of their characters in future because these were not interesting to watch.

The politics of this film were simply cringe worthy. No shades of grey, just black and white polarised views on Scottish independence. Personally, I think unionism is plain wrong, but the truth is that we live in a country which carries a range of constantly evolving political opinions throughout the cross-section of society. What this country doesn't have (except during drunken SNP Xmas parties) are people standing around talking in grandiloquent language about "this most ancient of lands" etc. That's parochial nonsense which holds back progress and does Scottish politics no favours except to those who seek to hold us in the union.

Then again, maybe this project is just another bone being thrown towards Scottish patriotism. An attempt to recognise the current desire for change but to temper it with the "reality" that we may win some political battles against the remnants of the British Empire but we'll never win the war. Anyway, I'm not saying people shouldn't watch it, but this was a TV movie, no more and no less.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] nephihaha 15 years ago

On the contrary, the reason it won't appear on the TV, or get good reviews in the papers is that most of them are based in London or owned by unionists.

Most of the negative reviews were based round the film's politics - not based around the film's artistic merits.

I think they were daft to give it back. If they had served a prison sentence, then they may well have brought around the success of the SNP decades sooner.

[–] scootb73 15 years ago

Try looking at it the way its meant to be,its a film meant to entertain!

I loved it,so did the wife and were both proud Scots that have always voted SNP,yes its based on true events but its a movie,if it was meant to be 100% factual,it would be a boring documentary!!!!

[–] angelos01 15 years ago

I totally agree. Boring boring boring. 3/10

[–] dyerfantastic 15 years ago

I have to disagree with you mate, i thought the movie was great it contained no cheesy speacial effects, no car chases, no violence just a movie showing what anyone who believes in something so much that they are willing to die for it could achieve.

this movie was made for two things to entertain people also to make people aware of the history of the stone as for some strange reason people in scotland dont get taught scottish history at school we get taught the battle of hasting and straight onto the egyptians.

even the acting in this movie was great the way the captured the essence of the characters with the way they spoke which was beautiful people speaking from the heart and not having to worry about offending people which if you go to certain parts of glasgow you will still find people speaking like that.

unlike braveheart which in my oppinion should never have been made as it was a load of rubbish the best thing about it apart from the end credits was the music which any half decent bagpipe music will make true scotsman cry because they it makes them feel patrotic. this movie is really historyly accurate as it is based on the book by Ian hamilton who is the real guy who planned and helped take back the stone of destiny.

ALBA GU BRATH

[–] Unicorn-9 14 years ago

"this movie was made for two things to entertain people also to make people aware of the history of the stone"

Indeed: I think that people are reading far too much into what's just an entertaining little heist movie with a slight historical bent. It's a popcorn movie, not some grand political screed intended to destroy the British government.

[–] ElenaSaley 14 years ago

I live in Ukraine, so I`m very far from English political passions. I was amazed by the movie. Acting, storyline are well done and really entertaining. It was interesting for me to watch this movie also because of my country`s history. We, ukrainians also forgot who we are, since 18th century we were under Russian empire, and when USSR broke it was really surprising movement among the people, the uprising of forgotten national identity. What was done is of course not enough, we may have the independence but what the mostly important we must keep alive pride of our country. That`s what I saw in the movie: passion for freedom, national pride, belief that one can change world a bit and so on.

Even if do not mention the politics, it is very lovely movie, fun and entertaining.

[–] maenad-3 13 years ago

Elena, we Ukrainians who immigrated to the US were brought up on Grand Duke Volodymyr and Knyahynya Olha, Ihor, Svyatoslav, Monomach, Mazepa, Khmelnytskyj, the Kozaky, Taras Schevchenko, Lys Mykyta, Dovbush, etc. Consequently, I have been imbued with a love of freedom and thrill to the stories of the ancient past. Maybe it is seen with rose-coloured glasses, but we need the inspiration to unite us, to make us proud, to live beyond the everyday tedium. When I hear bandurysty singing about Bayda, my heart soars. So I am very much in synch with all the peoples who have been trampled by other, more powerful nations, like the Greeks who fought against the Turks, the Irish who combatted the English, the Scots who "with Wallace bled," the Palestinians who are struggling against Zionist oppression. This film struck a very responsive chord in my heart, as it did in yours.