Golden Swallow, a Chang Cheh film (DVD)

A sword-fighting love triangle, there were several ludicrous plot elements.  The fake blood didn't even try to look like blood.  Meh.

Fellini's Roma (DVD)

It's a wonderful movie for Rome lovers, sort of an autobiography for Fellini.  It doesn't have much of a plot or story but I enjoyed it.

Hercules directed by Pietro Francisci starring Steve Reeves (DVD)

 I loved this classic from 1957.  Amazingly hot Hercules, gorgeous Amazons and Golden Fleecers, all very innocent.  This movie is fun.

Caligula (Bob Guccione and Penthouse Films Production) the Unrated Edition (DVD)

My roomie wanted to know why I was watching a porno in the living room.  I've always been told this movie is amazing, but I didn't think it captured the delicate edge that Caligula and the Senate danced on.  Instead, it was silly, loud and naked.

Agora directed by Alejandro Amenabar (DVD)

I found this movie about female philosopher Hypatia in the very late Roman period in Alexandria, Egypt a bit dumb and slow.  I didn't sit through it.

Demetrius and the Gladiators directed by Delmer Davies (DVD)

This is the sequel to The Robe, an excellent Christian epic.  Demetrius is the slave who ends up in possession of said robe, and he goes through a crisis of faith that finds him a gladiator in the arena.  While this movie was not as good as The Robe, the fight scenes are excellent.

The Fall of the Roman Empire directed by Anthony Mann (DVD)

Not bad, but not as good as many other Roman epics, although it has some pretty good action scenes.  Sophia Loren is distracting in her amazing beauty.  The ending is really good.

Mankiewicz' Julius Caesar from Shakespeare (DVD)

Tense atmosphere, good actors. 

The Robe (DVD) directed by Henry Koster with Richard Burton

One of the best Christian epics I've ever seen.  Great movie from start to finish.

Troy: Ancient Myths and Unsolved Mysteries (DVD) by National Geographic

Fairly entertaining, with interesting footage of early archaeological digs.  As with many of these programs, I find the "recreations" to be distracting and somewhat silly.  The story would have profited from more scenes at the dig itself, showing the various pieces of evidence that lead historians to believe we are digging at the real Troy.

The First Empires - The Story of Civilization (Egyptian and Greek) DVD

This Kultur DVD is part of a series, and I've seen some of the other videos.  I'd say they're good for a teen interested in this kind of stuff.  Lots of footage of ancient sites.

Joseph K. Mankiewicz' Cleopatra starring Elizabeth Taylor (DVD)

It's always neat to see what artists do with ancient history.  In this case, the costumes and art direction both won Academy Awards, although they're the elements of the movie that are the least "real." They're certainly beautiful, but I didn't really get the major chemistry that was supposed to have developed between Taylor and Burton during filming.  While many of the elements of the story were historically accurate, I thought that including Cleo and Antony's children in the story might have helped explain why they felt eternally connected.  In my opinion, the passion between them isn't convincing in the movie.

Elizabeth (History Channel DVD)

Unfortunately, another program ruined by the narrator.  Much of the narration is set in the actual Privy Council, castles and manor homes, and the Tower Green, which is a great idea that helps draw the viewer into Elizabeth's world, but the narrator himself is over-dramatic and too much in evidence.

In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great (PBS DVD)

Four episodes long, this DVD had hits and misses.  The beauty of the rugged terrain and the local music used in the production were some of the hits, as well as the sense of fun and wonder that the host injected into ancient history.  On the other hand, the host Michael Wood could be too talkative.  Perhaps other historians and experts could have taken the edge off.

Secrets of the Parthenon DVD (PBS Nova)

Short and cool, neat.  I stayed fascinated, and learned a lot.

Spartacus, directed by Stanley Kubrick (DVD)

This movie seems slightly goofy and very innocent by today's standards, but it originally shocked audiences with its sexual suggestions.  I still think it is a classic.  The music is great.

The Great Epochs of European Art (DVD by Kultur)

This is a series of videos, and I watched The Art of the Ancient Greeks and the Art of the Romans.  I liked it because there are moments when you can enjoy looking at the beautiful things in silence.  The narration is learned, although I suspect the translation from German suffers a bit.  The Greek section showed some lovely graceful statues that had been discovered underwater within the last 60 years.

Spartacus: Blood and Sand (DVD, historical fiction, starz)

I gave up after four episodes, surprised that I lasted that long after the overwhelming dumbness of the first episode.  My friend said, "it's the UFC with gladiator costumes," which is accurate, but leaves out the corny soft-core porn. 
I hardly expect television and movies to stick with what we actually know about historical characters, but I do expect them to have better music and a lucid storyline.  The series is kind of like a graphic novel or a cartoon, but just no good.  I didn't care.