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Celtic Radio Community > The Celts > Celtic Movies


Posted by: MacAibhistin 25-Aug-2004, 09:17 PM
I was sitting here trying to think of all the Celtic movies I've seen and there are not many I could think of. Here are a few of my favourites and not so favourites. Does anyone have anything to add to the list?

1. Braveheart - my all time favourite
2. Margaret's Museum - super!
3. The Secret of Roan Inish - loved it!
4. Rob Roy - cool movie, but a bit intense in places, even for me!
5. Waking Ned Devine - still makes me laugh!
6. Excalibur - not necessarily historical, but great acting!

Thumbs down
1. All of the Highlander movies - I know they are a cult classic, but it seemed like they missed a lot of potentially neat Gaelic elements
2. First Knight - I just couldn't get into it


Has anyone seen the new King Arthur movie? I haven't, so I'd love to hear any opinions!

Thanks,
Rory MacA


Posted by: MDF3530 26-Aug-2004, 07:23 AM
There's one movie that I really liked called "The Nephew". It's about a young, half-Irish, half-African American male who comes to Ireland to scatter his mother's ashes and meet her family.

Posted by: MacAibhistin 26-Aug-2004, 04:33 PM
Oh yeah. I did see that and totally forgot about it. Seems to me there was some nice Gaelic snging in that movie. I'll have to check that one out again.

Thanks,

Rory

Posted by: MacAibhistin 28-Aug-2004, 11:54 PM
Okay, this looks bad. Judging by the number of vies and replies, few people have any Celtic movies to add. How about you lads and lassies in the Celtic nations of Europe. Don't you folk have any Celtic movies to discuss?

Posted by: greenldydragon 29-Aug-2004, 12:22 PM
King Arthur was a very entertaining movie, and there was some good acting, but I don't think it could be called a real celtic movie. There is nothing really mentioned about the celts (except if you count the picts) in the movie. I enjoyed it immensely and the battle scenes were great.

Posted by: MacEoghainn 29-Aug-2004, 01:06 PM
Here are some I like:

This Is My Father (Irish)
Ryan's Daughter (Irish)
The Hasty Heart (Scottish)
The Three Lives of Thomasina (Scottish)
Rob Roy, the Highland Rogue (Scottish)
A Man Called Peter (Scottish)
How Green Was My Valley (Welsh)
The Quiet Man (Irish)
The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain (Welsh)
Tunes of Glory (Scottish)

MacE

Posted by: WizardofOwls 29-Aug-2004, 06:34 PM
I liked Far and Away with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. Yeah, I know Tom's fake Irish accent comes and goes, but Nicole is beautiful as usual and the plot is actually descent, at least IMHO! Also love watching the Riverdance video over and over...

Posted by: Silverhand 29-Aug-2004, 10:18 PM
Didn't see "The Brothers McMullen" but I liked the soundtrack. Likewise with Roan Inish.

Posted by: MDF3530 29-Aug-2004, 11:02 PM
My favorite movie set in Scotland couldn't really be classified as a Celtic movie. The movie is "Trainspotting", which I think is Ewan McGregor's best role. My friend, a big fan of the "Star Wars" movies, said it was kind of weird hearing him use his native burr after he saw "Trainspotting" for the first time, instead of that Queen's English accent he used in "Star Wars".

Posted by: whistlenrun 04-Sep-2004, 07:40 PM
I would recomend The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain, its a great movie. I love it. I would have to say its one of my favorites. It has a lot of very funny parts and shows the stubborness of our(celtic) people.
Sláinte

Posted by: Aaediwen 05-Sep-2004, 03:52 AM
Call me a sucker for fantasy smile.gif And call me a softie if you will, but I've got a hallmark feature in my collection 'Magical Legend of the Leperchauns' Interesting little Romeo & Julietish tale with a happy ending. Just what happens when the sidhe go to war...

Got 'Secret of Roan Inish' on order. Should arrive Tuesday.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 05-Sep-2004, 06:34 PM
The Secret of Roan Inish is a WONDERFUL movie, Aaediwen! I think you'll like it! Have you seen it before?

Posted by: Aaediwen 05-Sep-2004, 07:26 PM
Seen it once. Fell in love with it within the first 30 minutes.

Posted by: CelticRose 10-Sep-2004, 06:53 PM
I would recommend The Seventh Sign. It is about Selkies and a very beautiful movie. I think it was filmed in Ireland. I have The Secret of Roan Inish and love that movie as well as Braveheart and Rob Roy.

The Brothers McMullen is a very good movie, but I would not classify it as Celtic. It is more about a family of Irish American brothers. Seen it many times as I really like the movie. Would recommend you all seeing it just the same.

There are many other movies I have seen about Ireland, but the names escape me now..............shucks! Where is my brain when I need it?! cool.gif

Posted by: talleyrand 10-Sep-2004, 08:50 PM
A friend of mine always talked about http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0101605/ but I haven't seen it yet. Sounds good, just haven't had the opportunity to see it yet.

Posted by: CelticRose 10-Sep-2004, 11:20 PM
Oh The Commitments has my favorite actress/singer in it, Andrea Corr. She is the lead singer of the Irish band...........The Corrs! I saw them in concert recently.......awesome!

Posted by: phoenix07 15-Sep-2004, 01:36 PM
i havent watched loads of celtic movies..braveheart is my favorite along with rob roy.. the The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain was good too
ive watched the first knight right after i finished King Arthur in the movies & i found it confusing... but i preferred King Arthur to the other one..the battle scene was great..& the costumes are much professional than First Knights where u think richard gere is wearing some black versace leather trousers...
i'm still looking into ordering some movies like "mists of avalion" though some didnt recommend orderin it..

Posted by: Keltic 15-Sep-2004, 02:31 PM
QUOTE (talleyrand @ 10-Sep-2004, 10:50 PM)
A friend of mine always talked about http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0101605/ but I haven't seen it yet. Sounds good, just haven't had the opportunity to see it yet.

Talleyrand,

I've seen it a number of times and I'm probably due to watch it again soon. It is a great movie. Andrew Strong who plays "Deco", has an amazing voice (Joe Cocker-ish). If you do watch it, you will be amazed when listening to "Deco" sing that he was only 16 when he did the movie. He also doesn't look it.


Posted by: stoirmeil 10-Nov-2004, 09:01 PM
Gregory's Girl. Not celtic per se, maybe, but one of the sweetest and funniest things I've ever seen, and I doubt it would be itself or as good if it had been made elsewhere. Not a standard teen fluff-angst film -- it's scottish all right. smile.gif

Posted by: Haldur 20-Dec-2004, 10:30 PM
Aaediwen brought over a movie from his collection entitled "Songcatcher" that he noted as a great movie! We didn't get a chance to watch it but we did watch "Dune" which was an awesome flick! Songcatcher stars Aidan Quinn and Janet McTeer and was released in 2000. From what I hear, it has an excellent soundtrack complete with Scottish and Irish ballads! It's my next new movie to view!

Here's a link about the movie: http://imdb.com/title/tt0210299/

Some of my faves:
Rob Roy
Waking Ned Divine
Braveheart
Gangs of New York

Posted by: Colin 21-Dec-2004, 11:04 AM
A few good suggestions already, I would add

In the name of the Father
The Boxer
Evelyn
Michael Collins

All of which show some of Ireland's hard times in adjusting post-Celtic rule.

My personal favs riped right from Celtic lore
LOTR: Fellowship of the rings
LOTR: The Two Towers
LOTR: Return of the King


The Matchmaker
The Quiet Man
I don't know if it counts as it was current day Irish brothers in Boston, but Boondock Saints was areally cool movie
Waking Ned Devine
Darby O'Gill and the Little People
Kidnapped
Mrs. Brown
Tunes of Glory
Timeline

You can also find a listing of films that contain kilts in them at www.kiltmen.com


Posted by: WizardofOwls 30-Dec-2004, 07:54 PM
A Celtic movie to AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE: Druids
A HORRID movie!

Posted by: Aragorn 31-Dec-2004, 10:40 AM
Darby O'Gill and the Little People ...an older movie but a good one I also love Rob Roy. Braveheart rocks...can always watch that one.

I guess I need to watch Waking Ned Devine

Posted by: Celtic cat 12-Mar-2005, 10:25 PM
What is "Waking Ned Devine"? Was Billy Elliot an Irish movie? Of course, even though I sound typical now, Braveheart is the ultimate movie and I still cry. I also concur with liking "The Quiet Man", we watched it in high school.

Posted by: irishdancinggoddess 15-Jun-2005, 02:18 PM
I know a real celtic movie:

The Mists of Avalon--very celtic

Posted by: cofeeguru 22-Feb-2008, 01:40 PM
Hey all, I know this thread hasn't been touched in a while, but I have to recommend "The Field" with Richard Harris and Sean Bean. It's an excellent example of tradition and how it can turn into an obsession. Don't expect a happy movie, but it's one you can sink your teeth into.

Posted by: Camac 24-Feb-2008, 11:56 AM
I have been reading through this topic and I am quiet amazed by the praise I've seen for Braveheart. As a Fantasy movie it is well done but for historical accuracy it is a piece of garbage. The only accurate part in the movie is the method by which he was killed.

Camac.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 13-Mar-2008, 12:26 PM
Hey and lets not forget classics like Leprechaun starring Jennifer Aniston rolleyes.gif

Posted by: Lady of Avalon 21-Mar-2008, 08:50 AM
QUOTE (Camac @ 24-Feb-2008, 01:56 PM)
I have been reading through this topic and I am quiet amazed by the praise I've seen for Braveheart. As a Fantasy movie it is well done but for  historical accuracy it is a piece of garbage. The only accurate part in the movie is the method by which he was killed.

Camac.

I agree too, it is a well made movie but a lot of speculation about the personal life of this great scottish hero. I have read a lot about this man and the one book that left me a bit shaken is that he was involved somehow with the Knights Templar,
I'll have to look up my numerous books to find the title of it.

And this man suffered a gruesome death in the hands of his executioner.LOA

Posted by: Camac 21-Mar-2008, 10:10 AM
LOA

If you wish to read another version of Wallace (though somewhat romanticized) and have not already done so read "Blind Harry"s Wallace. William Hamilton of Gilbertfields translation.

Camac.

Posted by: Lady of Avalon 21-Mar-2008, 02:13 PM
Camac, Thank you very much for the title i took note of it. LOA

Posted by: Camac 21-Mar-2008, 06:31 PM
LOA

Blind Harry's Wallace is in verse form and Hamilton's translation is from 1722. If you wish you can order it through Amazon.ca. Its actually cheaper than in a book store.

Camac.

Posted by: scotborn 22-Mar-2008, 12:39 PM
QUOTE (Colin @ 21-Dec-2004, 12:04 PM)

My personal favs riped right from Celtic lore
LOTR: Fellowship of the rings
LOTR: The Two Towers
LOTR: Return of the King


Lordof the rings is not celtic lore, it comes from anglo saxon lore and mythology.

Lordof the rings is not celtic lore, it comes from anglo saxon lore and mythology.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 27-Mar-2008, 12:54 PM
QUOTE (Celtic cat @ 12-Mar-2005, 11:25 PM)
What is "Waking Ned Devine"? Was Billy Elliot an Irish movie? Of course, even though I sound typical now, Braveheart is the ultimate movie and I still cry. I also concur with liking "The Quiet Man", we watched it in high school.

Waking Ned Devine is a funny movie.

It involves a small towns folks trying to collect a winning lottery ticket left by the winner who died of shock when he won.

Filmed on Isle of Man but takes place in Irteland.

Posted by: scotborn 27-Mar-2008, 03:26 PM
anybody ever seen the commitments, its about an irish group of misfits who start a 'black soul' group.

Posted by: stoirmeil 29-May-2008, 11:14 AM
For more serious and less fantasy or romantic fare, I recommend The Wind That Shakes The Barley, In the Name of the Father, My Left Foot and an odd little film called Shergar, about a racehorse that was stolen for ransom by the IRA and no trace of it was ever found. This movie offers a somewhat idealized view of what might have happened to it. Some suspense and terror/violence, but also a beautiful film: horses, young people, and Ian Holm's role is lovely too. Filmed on the gorgeous Isle of Man, where a lot of "Irish" footage is shot.

Posted by: WizardofOwls 29-May-2008, 08:29 PM
I saw The Water Horse recently. It is about the monster in Loch Ness. i loved it. Also, the Wicker Man was pretty good. Set in America but deals with Celtic lore.

Posted by: UlsterScotNutt 14-Jul-2008, 09:12 AM
Just watched Irish Jam, funny comedy. Filmed in Cornwall.

The Field, same director and producer as My Left Foot, filmed in County Galway. Bulls Stone Cottage is on the Clifden Road in Leenane, Connemara, drove right by it.

Far and Away, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, good scenes in the beginning, County Galway, Wicklow, Kerry, Dublin, even Maam Cross, County Galway, junction R336 and N59, ask me how I know!

Posted by: Fionna Machumhail 29-Sep-2008, 02:54 PM
QUOTE (scotborn @ 27-Mar-2008, 04:26 PM)
anybody ever seen the commitments, its about an irish group of misfits who start a 'black soul' group.

Oh yeah! Saw it first time when it first came out on home video way back when...it's still one of my favorites, not to mention the great music.

In addition to many already mentioned here....I watched the tale end of Into the West yesterday. I'd seen it before years ago, but would love to watch it in its entirety again. Beautiful scenery and I loved the story.

Posted by: Aaediwen 29-Sep-2008, 06:41 PM
Dancing at Lughsana is an interesting movie smile.gif Caught it on Netflix streaming. Was definately worth the time smile.gif

Posted by: flora 30-Sep-2008, 04:06 PM
AMC channel had Quiet Man on again. Isn't that an oxymoron?

You can't beat John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and a good irish fight.

Flora

Posted by: Camac 06-Oct-2008, 06:43 AM
QUOTE (flora @ 30-Sep-2008, 05:06 PM)
AMC channel had Quiet Man on again. Isn't that an oxymoron?

You can't beat John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, and a good irish fight.

Flora

flora;

You left out the best character. Micheleen (sp) played by Barry FitzGerald.



Camac.

Posted by: englishmix 04-Apr-2009, 10:49 AM
Who has see the movie "Seachd: The Inaccessible Pinnacle"? I want to, and I am trying to find it.

Here is a caption:
"The truth is in the story. When a young man, Angus, visits his dying Grandfather in hospital he cannot hold back his boyhood quest for the truth - the truth behind the death of his parents and the truth behind his Grandfather's ancient, incredible, fearful stories. Stories from the whole swathe of Gaelic history of poisoned lovers, bloody revenge, water-horses and Spanish gold. His Grandfather hijacks Angus' life for one last time leading him to one of Scotland's most treacherous mountains, The Inaccessible Pinnacle, and an ancient truth he never expected to find"

Here's a video preview link:
http://www.seachd.com

Check it out, you won't be disappointed - I think.

Posted by: RJBUBBAMACK 03-Sep-2017, 10:27 PM
My favorite period of history was the time of King Arthur. It has always interested me and I like to watch all the cheesy movies just to watch how bad some of them are. I haven't seen Braveheart, but I have wanted to for a long time. I will put that at the top of my watch next list.

Posted by: Robert Phoenix 06-Jun-2018, 07:31 PM
Recently saw the 1996 movie Lock ness with Ted Danson on TV. I had never seen it before and I found it quite entertaining. Ted plays an monster type hunter who, disgraced by his lack of bigfoot evidence, sets out to disprove the loch ness monster in order to help save his reputation. Story line is pretty usual stuff about finding love in unusual places but all and all n entertaining movie. Also would like to mention Sing Street (great 80's music movie) and Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan and was nominated for 3 academy
awards.

Posted by: CelticRadio 21-Jul-2018, 08:12 PM
I was reading a Top Ten movie list for Celtic type movies and came across a move that I have never seen before. In fact, I don't know how I missed this because apparently it was one of the most watched series in 2001.

It is called the Mists of Avalon and it is about the King Arthur stories, Merlin, Uther, Lancelot. Tried to find it on streaming and it is no where to be found.

So, purchased the DVD from Amazon and watched the first hour. It is very long over 3 hours. A good movie I am enjoying it.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0244353/

Posted by: McRoach 11-Sep-2018, 08:33 PM
Yes it's Disney and a Cartoon but I enjoyed the Pixar movie Brave.

Posted by: Robert Phoenix 14-Oct-2018, 09:33 AM
Several new movies coming out. First is the Robert the Bruce story on Netflix. I haven't watched it yet but there are mixed reviews on that one. The second one is the movie Black 47. A movie about the irish potato famine starring Hugo weaving. Here's the trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6znv9iBGX6w
And don't forget our favorite Scottish princess Merida makes a wee bit of an appearance in the new Wreck it Ralph movie. Just remember she's from the "other" studio.

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