Review of Agora (2009) by Josh S — 16 Mar 2011
This movie blew my mind, and gave me a new hero, Hypatia of Alexandria. In 4th AD, she deducted that the earth was round, and it and all the planets all revolved around the sun. She also invented the hydrometer.
She was a philosopher, scientist, mathematician and astronomer. Unfortunately, she had that awful curse called being a woman, so she gets no credit nor respect once the Christians and Jews show up in her front yard to wipe out the Pagans (she said she believed "in philosophy") and fight amongst each other.
It took until the 17th century for some dude to rip off her ideas! Also, the men are horny and want to rape the knowledge right out of her. I was really enraged watching it that I'd never heard of this woman, she's one of those unsung geniuses like Tesla, but she's a woman to boot.
The acting, the sets, the fight scenes, the writing are all top-notch. I have no idea where the movie came from or why nobody seems to have heard of it. Anyway, I was really blown away and inspired by it.
It also reminded me of the important lesson is that some things never change, be it 4 A.D. or 2011. Also, interesting trivia: she taught her "disciples" (had she been a man she'd probably be a prophet) in a library and area called an Agora, which means a place of assembly for public speaking.
Therefore, that's where agoraphobia (the fear of speaking of or appearing in large spaces) was born. The film is a historical drama, but from what I've researched, so far most of it is true, and it doesn't even show half of what her mind was capable was.
I hope people see this movie.
This review of Agora (2009) was written by Josh S on 16 Mar 2011.
Agora has generally received positive reviews.
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