# What Makes A Movie An "Epic"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 26, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285 "2007-07-26T20:29:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/21 "2007-07-29T18:32:05Z")
I’d define an epic as being 1. A dramatic film, 2. Lasting over two hours, 3. With considerable money and effort put into the film’s visual production, and which 4. At least in part relies on wide, external shots, such as battle scenes, external crowd shots, or other such scenes. I would exclude all comedies by definition. “The Lion King” has most of the basic elements of an epic, but is a very short movie; “Children’s epic” would be a fair description. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/22 "2007-07-30T00:50:23Z")
I don’t see how the length of the film is necessary to qualify it as “epic”. I think if it has the necessary wide scope, spectacle, and “big” imagery, it should be enough. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/23 "2007-07-30T11:40:54Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] I’d define an epic as being 1. A dramatic film, 2. Lasting over two hours, 3. With considerable money and effort put into the film’s visual production, and which 4. At least in part relies on wide, external shots, such as battle scenes, external crowd shots, or other such scenes. I would exclude all comedies by definition. “The Lion King” has most of the basic elements of an epic, but is a very short movie; “Children’s epic” would be a fair description. [/QUOTE] But excluding comedies would mean you have to exclude _It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World_, I just cannot agree with that. Be that as it may, I exclude animation, you exclude comedy, we still don’t have a consensus. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/24 "2007-07-30T13:13:19Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] But excluding comedies would mean you have to exclude _It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World_, I just cannot agree with that. [/QUOTE] (Shrug) Different strokes for different folks. It honestly never would have crossed my mind to put the word “epic” together with “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/25 "2007-07-30T15:08:35Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] (Shrug) Different strokes for different folks. It honestly never would have crossed my mind to put the word “epic” together with “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” [/QUOTE] it occurred to [somebody:](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It's_a_Mad,_Mad,_Mad,_Mad_World) > [@wikipedia](#): > > The film followed a Hollywood trend in the 1960s of producing “epic” films as a way of wooing audiences away from television and back to movie theaters. Television had sapped the regular moviegoing audience and box-office revenues were dropping, so the major studios experimented with a number of gimmicks to attract audiences, including widescreen films. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Helen\_s\_Eidolon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helen_s_Eidolon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/26 "2007-07-30T15:10:10Z")
[QUOTE=Beware of Doug] In classical literature, an epic must have 12 chapters [/QUOTE] Where did you get that? ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2007, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/27 "2007-07-30T16:12:05Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] Be that as it may, I exclude animation… [/QUOTE] Why don’t you go watch those ones I mentioned and then see if you still say that? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/28 "2007-07-31T18:00:05Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] I would exclude all comedies by definition. [/QUOTE] What about satire? \*\*Paths of Glory, Monsieur Verdoux \*\*and \*\*The Great Dictator \*\*were pretty epic. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/29 "2007-07-31T18:26:42Z")
Excuse me Krokodil, but how is “Paths of Glory” a satire? Is that what you meant to say? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/30 "2007-07-31T18:38:41Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Why don’t you go watch those ones I mentioned and then see if you still say that? [/QUOTE] Well, I may be delayed, I got rid of my TV. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/31 "2007-07-31T20:53:31Z")
[QUOTE=well he’s back] Excuse me Krokodil, but how is “Paths of Glory” a satire? Is that what you meant to say? [/QUOTE] It holds the human foibles of powerful men (The French officers) up to ridicule. That’s what satire is. You don’t think I meant “parody,” do you? Very different thing. Satire isn’t necessarily hilarious; sometimes it’s biting and sarcastic. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/32 "2007-07-31T21:04:30Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] I think not, I think that part of what makes a movie an epic is a breathtaking sweep of history with sweeping vistas, crowds of extras, and a sense of historic importance. [/QUOTE] And if you rip out Donny Osmond’s singing, that pretty much describes “Mulan.” ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/33 "2007-07-31T21:59:30Z")
[QUOTE=amarinth] And if you rip out Donny Osmond’s singing, that pretty much describes “Mulan.” [/QUOTE] 😃 I doubt it not. What’s missing _for me_ is the actual effort that went into filming the work. Yes, I know how much work goes into an animated film. I love animated films. However, a studio in Burbank can create an animated movie set in China, Russia, under the sea, on the moon or in a sewer, then go home every night. However, a film crew, until recently, had to actually go to Tunisa, or Morroco, or Africa, or New Zealand and film on location to get that sweeping vista and scope. For me, that makes a difference. The new technology of CGI is also worth mentioning. If the vistas of _Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow_ were the same for you as the ones in _The Bridge on the River Kwai_, then I guess we’ll just have to agree that an epic is whatever the individual thinks it is. ---
**Author:** ![sturmhauke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@sturmhauke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sturmhauke)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/34 "2007-08-01T20:02:29Z")
[QUOTE=BMalion] However, a studio in Burbank can create an animated movie set in China, Russia, under the sea, on the moon or in a sewer, then go home every night. However, a film crew, until recently, had to actually go to Tunisa, or Morroco, or Africa, or New Zealand and film on location to get that sweeping vista and scope. For me, that makes a difference. [/QUOTE] Tolkien didn’t have to go anywhere to write Lord of the Rings. Does that mean it’s not an epic story? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/35 "2007-08-01T20:07:01Z")
[QUOTE=sturmhauke] Tolkien didn’t have to go anywhere to write Lord of the Rings. Does that mean it’s not an epic story? [/QUOTE] I was only asking about movies. But, according to that logic, if it’s an epic story, so is _Curious George_. ---
**Author:** ![JoeSki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b487fb/32.png) [@JoeSki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoeSki)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/36 "2007-08-01T21:22:31Z")
How’s this for a definition? Epic: A story that spans a significant amount of time and space? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-movie-an-epic/413285/37 "2007-08-01T21:41:42Z")
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