Skanderbeg

One of the most beautiful old movies with national heroes. The true story of Skanderbeg who stopped the Ottomans from crossing into Europe for more than 25 years. A beautifully made film for the time and great soundtracks.

Gjergj Kastrioti Skënderbeu is national hero of us and we're very thankful to all that made this film possible. The successor of Alexander of Macedon and Phyrrus of Epirus, Skënderbeu returned to his forefathers land to led the battels for freedom against the Ottomans. I'm grandson of two great-grandfathers who fought against the Greek chauvinists in southern Albania (Epir that means E Pirros) and they've fallen to protect Albania. To end this write, I have to say that Albania will never be in the hands of the invaders and we will get our lands back again!

This movie is a great one. Unlike "Troy" or "Alexander" this one has its own goods. There are the scene fights, small love lines, and magic if you ask me. This historic movie about the Albanian hero "Skenderbeu" is what a family movie should be about. Is educational and not very violent, and as far as my opinion I think of it as a PG-13 movie. Would be great if Hollywood creates a version of this movie, I, my self believe it wold be great to experience something with the great technology at hand now and compare it with the 1970's version of this movie. There is anything about this movie that all the other movies should have, meaning. There is clearly a very good history line behind this movie. Starting in the beginning with a abduction of the Albanian brethren to the day when "Skenderbeu" betrays the Turks and gets back to its place, Albania.

It's a shame that no Albanian made a comment about our hero...

Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu (1405 - January 17 1468), better known as Skanderbeg, is the most prominent figure in the history of Albania. He is also known as the Dragon of Albania and is the national hero of the Albanians. He is remembered for his struggle against the Ottoman Empire, through the work of his first biographer, Marin Barleti.

The movie definitely needs a remake or something like this because it was shot in '53 and most of cast is Russian or Romanian or Belgian as far as i remember. (this is due to strong communist friendship with them) The movie quality is poor, sound also. (even though it has a magnificent score performed by the national radio television orchestra)

Biography

Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu (1405 - January 17 1468), better known as Skanderbeg, is the most prominent figure in the history of Albania. He is also known as the Dragon of Albania[1] and is the national hero of Albanians. He is remembered for his struggle against the Ottoman Empire, through the work of his first biographer, Marin Barleti.

In English, his names have variously been spelled: George, Gjergj, Giorgio; Castriota, Kastrioti, Castrioti, Castriottis, Kastriotes, Castriot, Kastriot; Skanderbeg, Scanderbeg, Skenderbeg, Skanderbeu, or Scander-Begh.

His father was a lord of the Kastriotis family. Gjon Kastrioti[5], descended from an ancient family from Mat, and controlled a principality including Mat, Krujë, Mirditë and Dibër.[6]. Voisava, Skanderbeg's mother, was from the Tribalda family[5], a princess[7] from Polog valley[8]. Although he fought in the service of the Ottoman Empire, Skanderbeg soon switched sides and fought against the Ottoman Empire until the time of his death.

IT IS NOT THE TOOL BUT THE CRAFT - ROLAND EMMERICH

The movie tells about the legendary almost mythical exploits of George Castriot Scanderbeg against one of the most ruthless and greatest empires of the world, the Ottoman Empire. I gave this movie a 7 however because it does not portray Scanderbeg's true image. He was not a mountain dweller rather he was a Prince of very noble blood, and it said in the chronichles of the Musachi Princes and in the biography of Jacques Lavardine that Scanderbeg's family could trace back it's roots up to 30 generations, and that they were directly tied to the legendary Phyrrus King of Epirus descendant of the Achilles the Epirotan, and from there stems the powerful race of the Epirotans a semi pelasgian-illyrian tribe. This background is not in the movie, partly because those information came only in the last 20 years, which makes me wonder when will Hollywood write a script about the true story of what can be called the last warrior king and erudite in the same fashion as the Arthurian legends(only this one we know for sure to be real) and many other valorous comandants of the history of mankind.

We had Troy, Alexander and even Hercules, now it's time to write about the great Scanderbeg and how he saved Europe from the Ottoman threat by fighting with them alone(with minor support from the Pope) for more then 25 years.

This is a must see movie, I don't know if they have managed to put subscripts, but the music is certainly amazing, and considering hat this was done with the help of the russians because albania was too poor to afford such a movie I think that overall for the time, for the knowledge we had about Scanderbeg, or I should say the widespread common knowledge that we had about him, this is truly a remarkable movie with it's artistic elements.

The guy who plays Scanderbeg is also the best match they could find. I'm sure the counterpart of him would be Russell Crow today.