This movie is based upon the life of the Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca, who in the third century B.C. (218 B.C., specifically) famously led an army of elephants through the Alps in an attempt to attack Rome. More specifically, this movie is being adapted from the novel, "Hannibal," by Ross Leckie about Hannibal.
When his father is killed by the Romans, Hannibal (Diesel), a young man from the ruling clans of the city of Carthage on the Mediterranean shore of North Africa, makes an oath of vengeance against Rome. Dedicating his life to fulfilling that challenge, Hannibal becomes a general by the time he's in his mid-20s, and with an army of 100,000 committed to his goal, he sets out to bring Rome down, first by conquering Spain, and then by setting loose a surprise (and famous) attack on Italy by way of the Alps, with an array of forces that included war-trained elephants. This movie shows how far a son can be willing to go to avenge the death of his father.
Vin Diesel advised The Times Online that he will soon be meeting with Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard about directing this historical epic. David Franzoni is set to write the screenplay for the movie who also wrote Gladiator and recently King Arthur. Diesel said that he is "really excited about" Hannibal and that he expects the film "to be amazing. We'll have battles, elephants..."
Last edited by lau_timmy on Dec 28th, 2004 at 12:11 PM
Gender: Male Location: Welfare Kingdom of California
Hollywood has become the slaughter house of storytelling historic characters. Troy, King Arthur, Alexander, And now Hannibal. They need to stop making crap and doing something original....if there is still something original to produce.
i dont know if it is possible to get any more original type films of that genre, well that other film "kingdom of heaven" seems somewhat promising, even though it has Orlando Bloom, the other actors involved may just give a good performance to make me forget that the guy over there is legolas
Noobs like Diesel? He's been starring in major motion pictures since 1998. Of course, this criticism is coming from someone who has probably never seen "Pitch Black", "Knockaround Guys", or "The Iron Giant". I could defend Vin until I am blue in the face, but people's ignorance and apparent penchant for being "en vogue", hating him, are just too strong for anything I'd suggest.
Anywho, I'm not much on historical figures, but this could ultimately prove Diesel's thesbian range, and maybe get some of the prejudicial haters off his back.
Gender: Male Location: The Faroe Islands - Thorshavn
He is an ass actor, cheese lines is his trademark, he not looking like the hardass i movies, he is looking like the dumbass, he is always the same person
What? What? The are letting Vin Diesel play one of the greatest historical figures ever? A great man, tactical genius? What? This is a travesty in my eyes. As a history student I am horrified.
Personally the story of Hannibal and the great Scipio Africanus is one of my favorites, and while I have noting against Vin, I shudder to imagine what could go wrong, the ruination of a great tale, much like the ruination of Carthage by Scipio The Younger and his troops....
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From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
i know Vin Diesel has got that Whole Raspy voice going, but he's gonna come off as lame and third rate as the rock in the Scorpian King. you know, the ethnic looking guy in ancient times with an American accent?
Sigh. Quite probably true. All the movies I have ever seen him in, he doesn't have a great range of accents "This is my tough guy" - "This is my tough guy with a heart" "this is me not being a tough guy, but you couldn't tell, because it sounds the dame as my tough guy and tough guy with a heart"
I think they should go another way entirely. Personally I would like to see Ian Mckellen as Scipio, even if he is a bit older then Scipio would have been, but eh, Hollywood will take plenty of liberties as it is.
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From even the greatest of horrors irony is seldom absent.
when all else fails all the have to do is get an actor who alread has an accent or at the ver least one who has had extensive training. cuz action movie acting is way different from the true art
if someone can pick the rock to play a southern sheriff
in a movie,then vin can play an historical figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!
give vin a chance,you don't know what he can do!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Scipio's father or uncle should be ian mckellen caus scipios uncle and father got hurt in the battles that hannibal lead like cannae i think his uncle died and he rescued his father.
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"only the dead have seen the end of war."-Plato
“A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer."Mitch Hedberg R.I.P.
Cheese lines are not his trademarks. the cheese lines are the writing of the the script. Vin diesel is soley an action star. Just like arnold, stallone, and willis of there era. Diesel is an action star of this era. Action stars always play the same character. They are being hired to portray that badass image. If you expect any more from an action star then you are expecting to much. Vin is actually a decent action star, he can understand a character, though he cant do to much to illuminate that character on film, he is still aware.
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Last time I checked Hannibal wasn't black. You say Vin Diesel only plays a tough guy with cheesey lines, yet you probably love Arnold, Stallone, etc. When will this type of ignorance end?
KMC Community Forums
Dec 28th, 2004 12:06 PM
THe Roman who kicks Hannibals arse 
