Film and Television Meet the Stone Age
Creating a prehistoric setting for a tabletop RPG is a big task, especially when the aim is to capture the raw, visceral essence of a time long gone. Movies and TV shows that delve into this era often serve as a fertile ground for inspiration. However, not all portrayals are created equal in terms of historical accuracy, storytelling quality, and thematic depth. In this blog post, let’s look at the prehistoric movies and tv shows that have influenced Born from Ice.
Recommended (The Good Stone Age Films)
Iceman (German: Der Mann aus dem Eis) (2017)
Critique
This German-Italian drama is inspired by the discovery of Ötzi the Iceman, a well-preserved mummy found in the Alps. The film takes a relatively grounded approach, focusing on the final days of a man living 5,300 years ago. While it incorporates some speculative elements to flesh out the story, it largely tries to stick to what is known about the time period. Its historical commitment makes it a lesser-known but essential entry in pop culture’s portrayal of prehistoric life.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s focus on a single individual’s struggle for survival against the elements, as well as interpersonal conflicts, resonates strongly with the themes of Born from Ice. The movie doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of life in a prehistoric setting, making it a compelling source of inspiration.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
Critique
This documentary directed by Werner Herzog explores the Chauvet Cave in France, home to the oldest known cave paintings. Herzog’s poetic narration and the breathtaking cinematography make this a compelling, mesmerizing watch. It gives a sense of wonder and reverence for the ingenuity of our ancestors.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film serves as a fantastic resource for understanding the aesthetic and spiritual aspects of prehistoric life, elements that have been woven into the cultural fabric of Born from Ice.
Quest for Fire (1981)
Critique
This film is a genuine attempt to portray prehistoric life, albeit with some liberties taken for dramatic effect. It has garnered a cult following over the years and did influence how people view the Stone Age. However, it was always billed as science fantasy and as such includes some anachronisms, and some of the anthropological theories it’s based on have been debunked.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s exploration of early human social dynamics, especially regarding the quest for resources (fire, in this case), provides a compelling narrative that aligns with the themes of Born from Ice.
Alpha (2018)
Critique
This film takes us back 20,000 years to tell a story of survival and the domestication of dogs. While it offers a visually stunning experience with a straightforward family-friendly story, it does take some liberties with historical facts about the domestication of wolves for the sake of storytelling. But, it’s generally respectful toward the prehistory it is trying to present.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The themes of human-animal partnerships and the struggle against nature are core elements in Born from Ice.
AO: The Last Hunter (Ao, le dernier Néandertal) (2010)
Critique
This French film focuses on the life of a Neanderthal man and his journey across Europe. While it takes some liberties with history, it does attempt to provide a grounded portrayal of prehistoric life. As a dramatic narrative, it’s engaging and emotionally resonant, offering a humanizing glimpse into the life of our ancient relatives.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s focus on the Neanderthals, their culture, and their ultimate fate offers compelling narrative elements that have influenced the game’s design.
Korg: 70,000 B.C. (1974)
Critique
This short-lived Hanna-Barbera TV series aimed to provide a historically accurate portrayal of Neanderthal life. For a 1970s TV show, Korg does a surprisingly good job of avoiding glaring anachronisms, even if it simplifies many aspects of prehistoric life. Given its age and the limitations of television at the time, it’s an entertaining watch but can feel dated.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The family dynamics and everyday struggles offer relatable and engaging themes that I aim to incorporate into Born from Ice.
Iceman (1984)
Critique
Not to be confused with the 2017 film, this drama explores the life of a prehistoric man who is thawed out in modern times (well, modern for 1984). The film takes a speculative approach but does so with respect to the scientific understanding of the time.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s focus on the ‘fish out of water’ narrative isn’t directly applicable to Born from Ice, but the film certainly deserves to fit in the milieu of inspirational material for the game.
Journey to the Beginning of Time (1955)
Critique
This Czechoslovak adventure film is a childhood staple for many, and while it doesn’t strictly fall into the prehistoric setting of the late Stone Age, it’s worth mentioning for how it captures the spirit of discovery. It follows a group of boys who travel back in time, encountering various prehistoric creatures and landscapes, essentially providing a tour of Earth’s history. The movie was groundbreaking for its time, especially in its use of special effects to bring prehistoric creatures to life. While not aimed at being a scientific documentary, the film does a commendable job of showcasing the various eras of Earth’s history, from the time of the dinosaurs to the Ice Age. It’s a fantastical journey, but one that sparked the imagination of countless young viewers and perhaps even inspired a few to become paleontologists.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
What’s truly inspiring about “Journey to the Beginning of Time” is its spirit of adventure coupled with a sense of awe and respect for history and prehistoric life. It captures the excitement that comes when imagination collides with education.
Not Recommended (Prehistoric Films that Try but Don’t Quite Work)
The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986)
Critique
Based on Jean M. Auel’s book of the same name, the film tries to be accurate but often delves into speculative fiction as it attempts to portray the interactions between Neanderthals and homo sapiens. While it has been criticized for its less-than-accurate portrayal of prehistoric life, it does offer a unique perspective on early human societies. It’s just not that great of a movie, despite the popularity of the book source material.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s focus on social dynamics and survival, especially the clashes between different human species, offers valuable narrative hooks that have influenced the game’s design.
10,000 BC (2008)
Critique
A commercial success but a historical mess, this film mixes elements from different eras and geographies into a hodgepodge of inaccuracy and fantasy. The poor plot, weak characters, and CG that looked dated even when the movie came out are all reasons it’s often cited as a “how-not-to-do-it” example in discussions about prehistoric films.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
If anything, this film serves as an example of what we aim to avoid in Born from Ice.
Documentaries
Voyage of Time: Life’s Journey (2016)
Critique
Directed by Terrence Malick, this documentary-style film explores the history of the universe, including the time of early humans. It’s more of a poetic meditation on existence than a historical account but is beautifully crafted.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s expansive scope and poetic approach to the story of life provide a more thematic form of inspiration, particularly when considering the larger existential questions posed by a life in prehistoric times.
First Man (2017)
Critique
This documentary explores the evolution of humans from the first primates to modern man, providing a detailed overview of human history.
Out Of The Cradle (2018)
Critique
This documentary provides an engaging and scientifically grounded account of human evolution.
Walking with Cavemen (2003)
Critique
This BBC documentary series provides a detailed look at human evolution, blending scientific facts with narrative storytelling.
Related Influential Films and TV
Apocalypto (2006)
Critique
Directed by Mel Gibson, this film isn’t set in the prehistoric era but rather during the decline of the Mayan civilization. Its historical accuracy has been a subject of debate, but it is a well-crafted film that offers a brutal depiction of an early society.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
Though not set in the same time period, the film’s high-stakes storytelling and portrayal of a civilization in decline provide intriguing thematic elements that have found their way into Born from Ice.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Critique
Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece is not strictly a prehistoric film but starts with a segment called “The Dawn of Man,” depicting early hominids.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s thematic depth and exploration of humanity’s origins offer a more abstract form of inspiration, particularly when considering the spiritual and existential themes in Born from Ice.
Primal (2019 Animated TV Series)
Critique
This animated series by Genndy Tartakovsky is a brutal, dialogue-free story of survival in a prehistoric world filled with fantastical creatures. Its historical accuracy is not the focus, but its storytelling is compelling.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
While the fantastical elements don’t align with the game’s more grounded approach, its focus on raw survival and brutal combat offers thematic inspiration.
Conan the Barbarian (1982)
Critique
Though set in a fantastical world, Conan offers a brutal, primal form of storytelling that captures the imagination. Its impact on pop culture is massive, inspiring countless games, movies, and TV shows.
Inspiration for Born from Ice
The film’s focus on brutal combat and survival in a harsh world resonates with Born from Ice, although the game aims for a more historical non-fantasy setting.
Comedy or Anachronistic Prehistoric Films and TV (Your Mileage May Vary)
His Prehistoric Past (1914)
Critique
One of the earliest films to delve into prehistoric life, this silent comedy directed by Charlie Chaplin is a product of its time and not a historically accurate portrayal. This film serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come in our understanding and portrayal of prehistoric times.
One Million Years B.C. (1966)
Critique
This film is famous for its anachronisms, featuring humans coexisting with dinosaurs. Despite its historical inaccuracies, it has had a lasting impact on pop culture, particularly due to Raquel Welch’s iconic fur bikini.
Early Man (2018)
Critique
This animated comedy from the creators of Wallace and Gromit is, well, not at all accurate. While entertaining, it doesn’t contribute much to the understanding of prehistoric life. But it is an adorable film from Aardman, and worth the watch.
Creatures the World Forgot (1971)
Critique
This low budget British Hammer film delves into the life of a prehistoric tribe but is far from accurate, leaning into a lot of the problematic thinking regarding “primitive man” that still surrounds the topics of prehistory. Its main contribution to pop culture is as a cult classic of its genre.
The Croods (2013)
Critique
This animated family film is more fantasy than history, featuring an array of fantastical creatures.
Caveman (1981)
Critique
This comedy starring Ringo Starr is far from a historically accurate portrayal of prehistoric life. Its impact on pop culture lies more in its humor than its representation of early humans.
Year One (2009)
Critique
This comedy starring Jack Black and Michael Cera plays fast and loose with history for comedic effect. While not a critical success, it has found a home in pop culture as a goofy take on early human history.
Three Ages (1923)
Critique
This silent film comedy directed by Buster Keaton is more a product of its time than a historically accurate portrayal. Its impact on culture is significant, especially as one of the earliest films to explore prehistoric themes. Similar to His Prehistoric Past, this film serves as a reminder of how far we’ve come in our understanding and portrayal of prehistoric times.
The Flintstones (TV Show 1960s)
Critique
This iconic TV show is more a reflection of 1960s America than of prehistoric life. However, its impact on pop culture is undeniable, making “cavemen” a household term.
So there you have it, a cinematic journey through time that has shaped the world of Born from Ice. Each film, whether historically accurate or a product of pure imagination, offers a unique lens through which to view our distant past. While Born from Ice aims to be as grounded and scientifically accurate as possible, these prehistoric movies and tv provide a creative spark to the imagination, offering stories large and small, realistic and silly and strange, to help inform the science and history. After all, RPG’s ultimately are about storytelling, and storytelling thrives on a blend of reality and imagination. From the harsh survivalist tones of “Quest for Fire” to the speculative humanity of “AO: The Last Hunter,” these cinematic gems offer a kaleidoscope of ideas, themes, and narratives that enrich our understanding of what life could have been like tens of thousands of years ago. They serve as both inspiration and cautionary tales for the world-building of Born from Ice, reminding us that while it’s important to strive for authenticity, it’s equally crucial to ignite the imagination. This delicate balance between historical fidelity and creative freedom is what makes Born from Ice not just a game, but an immersive experience that allows players to explore, survive, and most importantly, tell their own stories in a world born from the last ice age, yet teeming with life and adventures waiting to be had.
