Marvel’s First Gay Superhero May Be Hercul

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• THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014/2:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014 / 2:41 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY BLOCKBTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"DANIEL WALBER","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OUT TAKE IS A BI-WEEKLY LUMN ON QUEER REPRENTATNS FILM. IT NS ON ALTERNATG THURSDAYS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OK, I’LL REPHRASE THAT. THERE’S SOMETHG UNNIABLY HOMOEROTIC ABOUT THE VERY NCEPT OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK. IT WAS TE BACK WHEN THEY WERE LLED “PEPLUM” MOVI (A WORD FOR TUNIC), AND ’S ABSOLUTELY TE TODAY. FROM 1958’S “HERCUL” WH STEVE REEV TO THE NEW “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL” STARRG KELLAN LUTZ, AND EVERYTHG BETWEEN, THE GENRE LIV AND BREATH THROUGH THE MCLED BODI OF OFTEN SNTILY-CLAD ACTORS. WE’RE THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS, ACTUALLY. ZACK SNYR’S ENTIRELY RIDICULO “300” WAS A SENSATN 2007, AND SCE THEN WE’VE GOTTEN SUCH DIVERSE ENTERTAMENTS AS TARSEM SGH’S “IMMORTALS” AND TV’S “SPARTAC.” AND NOW, 2014, WE’RE ANTICIPATG “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL,” THE ROCK’S “HERCUL,” “POMPEII” AND “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS THE EYE N SEE, GIANT SHOUTG MEN ELABORATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OLD WAVE OF PEPLUM MOVI, BACK THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S, WAS AN ENTIRELY UNTENTNAL GAY PHENOMENON. THE ABSURDLY SUCCSFUL ACTN MOVI, MA PRIMARILY BY ITALIAN STUDS, BEME CULT HS AMONG A VERY PARTICULAR AND THEN-IGNORED SEGMENT OF THE DIENCE. NONE OF THE ORIGAL “HERCUL” SERI PRENTED AN EROTICIZED PROTAGONIST AS SUCH, BUT THEY WERE EROTICIZED ANYWAY BY THE GAY MUNY THAT TOOK THEM , A MUNY THAT AT THAT TIME WAS STILL VERY MUCH A CLOSETED AND ABED MORY THE UNED STAT. THE PEPLUM BOOM WAS SET OFF BY THE SUCCS OF THE 1958 “HERCUL,” JT OVER A BEFORE THE STONEWALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NONE OF THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR PROTAGONISTS TO BE SEXUAL OBJECTS. THEY WEREN’T MA FOR WOMEN, CERTALY, AND THEY VERY EVINTLY WERE NOT SHOT WH THE MALE HOMOSEXUAL GAZE MD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW. NOT THAT MAJOR RELEAS ARE EVER MA WH GAY PEOPLE SPECIFILLY MD AS A TARGET DIENCE, BUT THE WIR CULTURE HAS ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE EXIST. NOT THAT THE DOMANCE OF THE STRAIGHT MALE GAZE IS GONE, BUT THE EXISTENCE OF BOTH GAY MALE AND FEMALE SIRE IS REGNIZED BY MOVI. SO, HERE’S THE QUTN: WHILE THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS ACCINTALLY STUMBLED TO GAY SIRE, IS POSSIBLE THAT THE NEW BATCH OF BIGGER-BUDGET HOLLYWOOD SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI ARE VG ?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELIEVE OR NOT, ’S HAS A LOT TO DO WH SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE BODY OF HERCUL (OR SAMSON, OR MACISTE, OR GOLIATH OR WHOEVER) WAS THE PRIMARY VISUAL DRAW OF THE ITALIAN PEPLUM FLICK, THE SOURCE OF THE ACTN. LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY PERSONAL FAVORE ANACHRONISTIC MS, 1963’S “HERCUL AND THE MASKED RIR.” THE FILM IS SET SPA THE 16TH CENTURY, BEE WHY NOT? HERCUL IS A BLON, HULKG GYPSY PLAYED BY ALAN STEEL, BUT THE PLOT IS MOSTLY ABOUT DON JUAN (THE ALMOST-AS-BEEFY MIMMO PALMARA). ACTUALLY, HERCUL HAS VERY LTLE TO DO EXCEPT ACT AS DON JUAN’S SUPPORT, SHOWG UP TO THROW THGS AROUND AND FLEX FOR THE MERA. ALAN STEEL, AS HERCUL, PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS AN ACTN MOVIE ABOUT SOMEONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE PLENTY OF MOVI WHICH HERCUL IS MORE CENTRAL TO THE PLOT, BUT THE ATHETICS ARE THE SAME. THE MERA IS OBSSED WH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MCLEMAN, AND THE WAY THAT HE MOV, BUT ’S DONE WHOUT EVEN A HT OF SELF-AWARENS. IN “THE FURY OF HERCUL” (1962), BRAD HARRIS AS HERCUL ACTUALLY SHOWS UP TO EVERY FIGHT SCENE WH AN EXTRA LAYER OF BODY OIL. THIS IS EVEN TE OF THE STEVE REEV FILMS, CLUDG THE 1958 ORIGAL. HIS MCL UPSTAGE THE ACTUAL SPECIAL EFFECTS, NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS AN ENORMO MAKHIFT DRAGON THAT FALLS OVER AFTER A VERY SHORT FIGHT WH THE YOUNG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LEGACY OF THE OLD FILMS IS THEREFORE ONE OF GIDDY, NOCENT OBSSN WH THE MALE FORM. IT’S ALMOST REMISCENT OF PROFSNAL WRTLG, ANOTHER MCLE-OBSSED CULTURAL FORM THAT OFTEN CHOOS TO IGNORE THE EROTIC POTENTIAL OF S GREASE AND S TIGHT BRIGHTLY-LORED BRIEFS. AND PROFSNAL WRTLG IS STILL AROUND, LOUDLY. HAVE THGS CHANGED THAT MUCH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LOOKG OVER THE LAST , THE EVINCE IS MIXED. “TROY” WAS ABSOLUTELY PLIC THE EROTIC PRENTATN OF S MA CHARACTERS. IT FEATUR BRAD PT’S BODY, OFTEN RTG RATHER THAN FIGHTG, AND OCSNALLY MOSTLY-NAKED A TENT OF FURS. THAT’S TO SAY NOTHG OF THE RT OF THE ST. IT’S A SHAME THE MOVIE WAS SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, THE FLUENCE OF ZACK SNYR’S “300” CHANG THGS A B. NOT NTENT TO SIMPLY E THE EXAGGERATED MASCULY OF THE BODYBUILR PHYSIQUE AS A SPECIAL EFFECT, SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE ED ON THE MALE FORM. THE RULT IS A GROUP OF SPARTANS THAT PHYSILLY OVERWHELM, A FEVERISH FANTASY OF MASCULY. THE STUM REVEAL FAR MORE SK THAN ALMOST ANYTHG AN OLD HERCUL MOVIE, AND SNYR TOSS A FEW MOMENTS OF ACTUAL NUDY JT TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE NOTICED . IN A SENSE, “300”IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MORN SWORD AND SANDAL FILM THAT BOTH MATAS THE ACTN POTENTIAL OF THE EXCSIVELY BUILT MALE FORM AND RPORAT A NSCNS OF S EROTIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN AGA, THE SNYR’S EPIC OF WEIRD VLENCE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER IAS. IT’S EQUALLY TERTED THE GROTQUE, OPPOSG THE ENGEERED ADONIS OF SPARTA WH AN ARMY OF CREASGLY HORRIFIC PERSIANS. WHEN EPHIALT, MA REPULSIVE BY THE FILM WH PALPABLE GLEE, FALLY ENTERS THE PERSIAN ROYAL TENT TO BETRAY THE SPARTANS, HE IS MET BY A SICKLY Y THAT SEEMS TO INTIFY TRANSGRSIVE SEXUAL AND GENR IAS WH EVERYTHG DISGTG ABOUT PERSIA. THIS IS OPPOSED TO A SPARTAN GENR BARY OF ENRAGED MALE MCULATURE AND A LONELY LENA HEAY TO STAND FOR EVERYTHG FEME ABOUT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE ASSUM THAT THE SEQUEL WILL BE AK TO THAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RT OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF PEPLUM THIS YEAR? THIS WEEK WE GET THE NEW “HERCUL” AFTER ALL, A MOVIE WHICH SEEMS STED TO FALL SOMEWHERE THE MIDDLE. THE TRAILER HTS AT ELEMENTS OF THE “300” STYLE, EXAGGERATED FIGHTG MECHANICS TO PLEMENT THE EXAGGERATED PHYSIL PRENCE OF KELLAN LUTZ. BUT THIS IS ALSO GOG TO BE A LOVE STORY, AND ONE BUILT AROUND A MAN OM THE “TWILIGHT” STABLE OF BEEFK. LUTZ HAS ALREADY BEEN THE EROTIC OBJECT FILMS DIRECTED AT A PRIMARY FEMALE DIENCE, AND ONE N ONLY ASSUME THAT HIS STG WAS AT LEAST RMED BY THAT. THE MEDIA IS OBSSED WH HIS WORKOUT ROUTE, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO THAT IMPLY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE END OF THE DAY DO THIS MEAN ANYTHG? WOULD BE A VICTORY IF MAJOR STUD ACTN FILMS MORE EXPLICLY BEGAN MARKETG THEMSELV TO GAY MEN? I SUPPOSE ’D BE NICE, BUT I’M HARDLY GOG TO START MPAIGNG FOR MORE SHIRTLS LUTZ AS A CIVIL RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NVERSATN TO BE HAD AROUND MALE NUDY POPULAR CULTURE. IN MANY PLAC ’S TABOO, TOO MUCH OF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE MALE BODY N BE JT AS EROTILLY APPROPRIATED AS THE FEMALE. INTERTGLY, THE SAFT PLAC FOR MALE NUDY ON SCREEN APPEAR TO BE EDI OF RIDICULE AND THE SUPPOSEDLY HYPER-MASCULE WORLDS OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK, WRTLG, ETC. YET THAT’S A BLISSFUL IGNORANCE, ONE WHICH FALLS APART THE MOMENT YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH GAY MEN LOVED THOSE STEVE REEV MOVI. AND IF A FILM IS NSC OF THAT, I’D LIKE TO THK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE TERTG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED: THIS! IS! (STILL!) SPARTA! HOW "300" LOWERED THE BAR FOR SWORD & SANDAL MOVI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS
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THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY {FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}{FONT:NORMAL 800 1.2REM/1.25 "GRAVY",SANS-SERIF;TEXT-TRANSFORM:NONE;LOR:HER;DISPLAY:LE-BLOCK;PADDG-BOTTOM:6PX;POSN:RELATIVE;TEXT-TRANSFORM:UPPERSE;}{BACKGROUND:#FFFFFF;BOTTOM:0;NTENT:'';DISPLAY:BLOCK;HEIGHT:2PX;LEFT:0;POSN:ABSOLUTE;RIGHT:0;-WEBK-TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;TRANSN:ALL 0.2S EASE;WIDTH:100%;}{LEFT:51%;RIGHT:51%;WIDTH:0;}MOVIBY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014/2:41 {HEIGHT:HER;DISPLAY:-WEBK-BOX;DISPLAY:-WEBK-FLEX;DISPLAY:-MS-FLEXBOX;DISPLAY:FLEX;POSN:RELATIVE;-WEBK-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-MS-FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;FLEX-WRAP:WRAP;-WEBK-ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-ALIGN:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-ALIGN:CENTER;ALIGN-EMS:CENTER;-WEBK-BOX-PACK:CENTER;-WEBK-JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-MS-FLEX-PACK:CENTER;JTIFY-NTENT:CENTER;-WEBK-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;-MS-TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;TRANSFORM-ORIG:CENTER;} IMG{HEIGHT:100%;WIDTH:100%;OBJECT-F:VER;}{HEIGHT:574PX;WIDTH:1020PX;}BY DANIEL WALBERJANUARY 9, 2014 / 2:41 PM{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"NEWSARTICLE","HEADLE":"THE OUT TAKE: 'HERCUL' AND THE RISE OF THE GAY BLOCKBTER","THUMBNAILURL":","DATEPUBLISHED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","DATEMODIFIED":"2014-01-09T19:41:25.000+0000","IMAGE":{"@NTEXT":","@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1920,"HEIGHT":1080},"URL":","THOR":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","NAME":"MTV"},"MAENTYOFPAGE":{"@TYPE":"WEBPAGE","@ID":"},"PUBLISHER":{"@TYPE":"ORGANIZATN","@ID":","NAME":"MTV","URL":","LOGO":{"@TYPE":"IMAGEOBJECT","URL":","WIDTH":1280,"HEIGHT":720}},"CREATOR":"DANIEL WALBER","ARTICLESECTN":"MOVI"}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OUT TAKE IS A BI-WEEKLY LUMN ON QUEER REPRENTATNS FILM. IT NS ON ALTERNATG THURSDAYS. {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A B {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}OK, I’LL REPHRASE THAT. THERE’S SOMETHG UNNIABLY HOMOEROTIC ABOUT THE VERY NCEPT OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK. IT WAS TE BACK WHEN THEY WERE LLED “PEPLUM” MOVI (A WORD FOR TUNIC), AND ’S ABSOLUTELY TE TODAY. FROM 1958’S “HERCUL” WH STEVE REEV TO THE NEW “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL” STARRG KELLAN LUTZ, AND EVERYTHG BETWEEN, THE GENRE LIV AND BREATH THROUGH THE MCLED BODI OF OFTEN SNTILY-CLAD ACTORS. WE’RE THE MIDST OF A RENAISSANCE OF SORTS, ACTUALLY. ZACK SNYR’S ENTIRELY RIDICULO “300” WAS A SENSATN 2007, AND SCE THEN WE’VE GOTTEN SUCH DIVERSE ENTERTAMENTS AS TARSEM SGH’S “IMMORTALS” AND TV’S “SPARTAC.” AND NOW, 2014, WE’RE ANTICIPATG “THE LEGEND OF HERCUL,” THE ROCK’S “HERCUL,” “POMPEII” AND “300: RISE OF AN EMPIRE.”{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AS FAR AS THE EYE N SEE, GIANT SHOUTG MEN ELABORATE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE OLD WAVE OF PEPLUM MOVI, BACK THE LATE 1950S AND EARLY 1960S, WAS AN ENTIRELY UNTENTNAL GAY PHENOMENON. THE ABSURDLY SUCCSFUL ACTN MOVI, MA PRIMARILY BY ITALIAN STUDS, BEME CULT HS AMONG A VERY PARTICULAR AND THEN-IGNORED SEGMENT OF THE DIENCE. NONE OF THE ORIGAL “HERCUL” SERI PRENTED AN EROTICIZED PROTAGONIST AS SUCH, BUT THEY WERE EROTICIZED ANYWAY BY THE GAY MUNY THAT TOOK THEM , A MUNY THAT AT THAT TIME WAS STILL VERY MUCH A CLOSETED AND ABED MORY THE UNED STAT. THE PEPLUM BOOM WAS SET OFF BY THE SUCCS OF THE 1958 “HERCUL,” JT OVER A BEFORE THE STONEWALL {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}NONE OF THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL OF THEIR PROTAGONISTS TO BE SEXUAL OBJECTS. THEY WEREN’T MA FOR WOMEN, CERTALY, AND THEY VERY EVINTLY WERE NOT SHOT WH THE MALE HOMOSEXUAL GAZE MD {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THGS ARE DIFFERENT NOW. NOT THAT MAJOR RELEAS ARE EVER MA WH GAY PEOPLE SPECIFILLY MD AS A TARGET DIENCE, BUT THE WIR CULTURE HAS ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT GAY PEOPLE EXIST. NOT THAT THE DOMANCE OF THE STRAIGHT MALE GAZE IS GONE, BUT THE EXISTENCE OF BOTH GAY MALE AND FEMALE SIRE IS REGNIZED BY MOVI. SO, HERE’S THE QUTN: WHILE THE OLD PEPLUM FILMS ACCINTALLY STUMBLED TO GAY SIRE, IS POSSIBLE THAT THE NEW BATCH OF BIGGER-BUDGET HOLLYWOOD SWORD AND SANDAL MOVI ARE VG ?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}BELIEVE OR NOT, ’S HAS A LOT TO DO WH SPECIAL EFFECTS. THE BODY OF HERCUL (OR SAMSON, OR MACISTE, OR GOLIATH OR WHOEVER) WAS THE PRIMARY VISUAL DRAW OF THE ITALIAN PEPLUM FLICK, THE SOURCE OF THE ACTN. LOOK NO FURTHER THAN MY PERSONAL FAVORE ANACHRONISTIC MS, 1963’S “HERCUL AND THE MASKED RIR.” THE FILM IS SET SPA THE 16TH CENTURY, BEE WHY NOT? HERCUL IS A BLON, HULKG GYPSY PLAYED BY ALAN STEEL, BUT THE PLOT IS MOSTLY ABOUT DON JUAN (THE ALMOST-AS-BEEFY MIMMO PALMARA). ACTUALLY, HERCUL HAS VERY LTLE TO DO EXCEPT ACT AS DON JUAN’S SUPPORT, SHOWG UP TO THROW THGS AROUND AND FLEX FOR THE MERA. ALAN STEEL, AS HERCUL, PLAYS THE ROLE OF THE SPECIAL EFFECTS AN ACTN MOVIE ABOUT SOMEONE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THERE ARE PLENTY OF MOVI WHICH HERCUL IS MORE CENTRAL TO THE PLOT, BUT THE ATHETICS ARE THE SAME. THE MERA IS OBSSED WH THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE MCLEMAN, AND THE WAY THAT HE MOV, BUT ’S DONE WHOUT EVEN A HT OF SELF-AWARENS. IN “THE FURY OF HERCUL” (1962), BRAD HARRIS AS HERCUL ACTUALLY SHOWS UP TO EVERY FIGHT SCENE WH AN EXTRA LAYER OF BODY OIL. THIS IS EVEN TE OF THE STEVE REEV FILMS, CLUDG THE 1958 ORIGAL. HIS MCL UPSTAGE THE ACTUAL SPECIAL EFFECTS, NOT LEAST OF WHICH IS AN ENORMO MAKHIFT DRAGON THAT FALLS OVER AFTER A VERY SHORT FIGHT WH THE YOUNG {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THE LEGACY OF THE OLD FILMS IS THEREFORE ONE OF GIDDY, NOCENT OBSSN WH THE MALE FORM. IT’S ALMOST REMISCENT OF PROFSNAL WRTLG, ANOTHER MCLE-OBSSED CULTURAL FORM THAT OFTEN CHOOS TO IGNORE THE EROTIC POTENTIAL OF S GREASE AND S TIGHT BRIGHTLY-LORED BRIEFS. AND PROFSNAL WRTLG IS STILL AROUND, LOUDLY. HAVE THGS CHANGED THAT MUCH?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}LOOKG OVER THE LAST , THE EVINCE IS MIXED. “TROY” WAS ABSOLUTELY PLIC THE EROTIC PRENTATN OF S MA CHARACTERS. IT FEATUR BRAD PT’S BODY, OFTEN RTG RATHER THAN FIGHTG, AND OCSNALLY MOSTLY-NAKED A TENT OF FURS. THAT’S TO SAY NOTHG OF THE RT OF THE ST. IT’S A SHAME THE MOVIE WAS SO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}HOWEVER, THE FLUENCE OF ZACK SNYR’S “300” CHANG THGS A B. NOT NTENT TO SIMPLY E THE EXAGGERATED MASCULY OF THE BODYBUILR PHYSIQUE AS A SPECIAL EFFECT, SPECIAL EFFECTS ARE ED ON THE MALE FORM. THE RULT IS A GROUP OF SPARTANS THAT PHYSILLY OVERWHELM, A FEVERISH FANTASY OF MASCULY. THE STUM REVEAL FAR MORE SK THAN ALMOST ANYTHG AN OLD HERCUL MOVIE, AND SNYR TOSS A FEW MOMENTS OF ACTUAL NUDY JT TO MAKE SURE YOU’VE NOTICED . IN A SENSE, “300”IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A MORN SWORD AND SANDAL FILM THAT BOTH MATAS THE ACTN POTENTIAL OF THE EXCSIVELY BUILT MALE FORM AND RPORAT A NSCNS OF S EROTIC {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}THEN AGA, THE SNYR’S EPIC OF WEIRD VLENCE ALSO HAS SOME OTHER IAS. IT’S EQUALLY TERTED THE GROTQUE, OPPOSG THE ENGEERED ADONIS OF SPARTA WH AN ARMY OF CREASGLY HORRIFIC PERSIANS. WHEN EPHIALT, MA REPULSIVE BY THE FILM WH PALPABLE GLEE, FALLY ENTERS THE PERSIAN ROYAL TENT TO BETRAY THE SPARTANS, HE IS MET BY A SICKLY Y THAT SEEMS TO INTIFY TRANSGRSIVE SEXUAL AND GENR IAS WH EVERYTHG DISGTG ABOUT PERSIA. THIS IS OPPOSED TO A SPARTAN GENR BARY OF ENRAGED MALE MCULATURE AND A LONELY LENA HEAY TO STAND FOR EVERYTHG FEME ABOUT THE {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}ONE ASSUM THAT THE SEQUEL WILL BE AK TO THAT. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE RT OF THE OVERABUNDANCE OF PEPLUM THIS YEAR? THIS WEEK WE GET THE NEW “HERCUL” AFTER ALL, A MOVIE WHICH SEEMS STED TO FALL SOMEWHERE THE MIDDLE. THE TRAILER HTS AT ELEMENTS OF THE “300” STYLE, EXAGGERATED FIGHTG MECHANICS TO PLEMENT THE EXAGGERATED PHYSIL PRENCE OF KELLAN LUTZ. BUT THIS IS ALSO GOG TO BE A LOVE STORY, AND ONE BUILT AROUND A MAN OM THE “TWILIGHT” STABLE OF BEEFK. LUTZ HAS ALREADY BEEN THE EROTIC OBJECT FILMS DIRECTED AT A PRIMARY FEMALE DIENCE, AND ONE N ONLY ASSUME THAT HIS STG WAS AT LEAST RMED BY THAT. THE MEDIA IS OBSSED WH HIS WORKOUT ROUTE, BUT WHAT EXACTLY DO THAT IMPLY?{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE END OF THE DAY DO THIS MEAN ANYTHG? WOULD BE A VICTORY IF MAJOR STUD ACTN FILMS MORE EXPLICLY BEGAN MARKETG THEMSELV TO GAY MEN? I SUPPOSE ’D BE NICE, BUT I’M HARDLY GOG TO START MPAIGNG FOR MORE SHIRTLS LUTZ AS A CIVIL RIGHTS {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS AN IMPORTANT NVERSATN TO BE HAD AROUND MALE NUDY POPULAR CULTURE. IN MANY PLAC ’S TABOO, TOO MUCH OF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT THE MALE BODY N BE JT AS EROTILLY APPROPRIATED AS THE FEMALE. INTERTGLY, THE SAFT PLAC FOR MALE NUDY ON SCREEN APPEAR TO BE EDI OF RIDICULE AND THE SUPPOSEDLY HYPER-MASCULE WORLDS OF THE SWORD AND SANDAL FLICK, WRTLG, ETC. YET THAT’S A BLISSFUL IGNORANCE, ONE WHICH FALLS APART THE MOMENT YOU NOTICE HOW MUCH GAY MEN LOVED THOSE STEVE REEV MOVI. AND IF A FILM IS NSC OF THAT, I’D LIKE TO THK THAT WOULD MAKE MORE TERTG TO {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;PADDG:24PX 0;} A{LOR:#F3F3F3;-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;TEXT-RATN:UNRLE;} A:HOVER, A:FOC{-WEBK-TEXT-RATN:NONE;TEXT-RATN:NONE;} B, STRONG{FONT-WEIGHT:700;}RELATED: THIS! IS! (STILL!) SPARTA! HOW "300" LOWERED THE BAR FOR SWORD & SANDAL MOVI {BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;CLEAR:BOTH;}{BOX-SIZG:BORR-BOX;MARG:0 TO;WIDTH:90%;M-WIDTH:288PX;MAX-WIDTH:1440PX;M-HEIGHT:194PX;}LATT NEWS

It wasn't homosexualy then, was jt sexualy.

15 OPENLY GAY MARVEL CHARACTERS THAT MIGHT BE COMG TO THE MCU

That's why, if morn texts there is even a ht of a same-sex storyle, you n probably bet some Christian scholar has dulled down and that the origal is more wonrfully gay than the versn we have now.

Left: Mid-century gay artist Gee Quatance certaly knew that sometim a Hydra is more than a Hydra. Depictns of Antas wh his legs the air were also found many gay men's hom the last century as a sort of visual to visors that they belonged to "the club.

This is perhaps the most lc of all the versns of this myth that we uld is no overtly homosexual si to the story of the battle between Antas and Hercul, yet the nsistent voluptuons of the var versns is hard to ny wh morn ey. This is another example of a sculpture found gay men's hom the middle of the last century -- sometim as a lamp ' son, Dmes, Kg of the Biston, Thrace, offers newers to his hors for dner.

20 GAY GREEK GODS

The were not solely sexual relatnships - they were ep and voted iendships full of love and passn, but probably ls sertive than what the morn-day gay man would Hermann Wilhelm Bissen, Hylas, 1846Plutarch, the Greek historian (and eventual Roman cizen), wrote that Hercul' list of male lovers was beyond numberg. Its mercial succs led to a 1959 sequel, Hercul Hendrick Goltzi, Farne Hercul, 1592A perfect partg shot of Goltzi's etchg of the ancient Roman statue known as the Farne Hercul, which had been disvered the Baths of Caralla Rome 1546 and stalled a urtyard of the Farne fay's palace on the banks of the is not one thg about this etchg that is not supergay, om the credible renrg of the mcl to the morn-day queens peerg up om the right to the astoundgly phallic (uncut as well) pediment that Hercul rts on. When asked about prev hts of bisexualy and an alternate Hercul' romantic relatnship wh an alternate Wolvere the 2012-2013 "X-Treme X-Men, " seri, Alonso rpond, "Hercul and Jam Howlett's relatnship 'X-Treme X-Men' took place a unique alternate universe, siar to how Coloss was gay the Ultimate Universe, but is straight the 616.

The issue, which tak place the ntuy of the classic, mastream Marvel Universe, se the character of Snowbird suggtg that the male Northstar (long tablished as openly gay), should be unted among an assembly of Hercul' past sexual partners, otherwise all female.

Last week, mors surfaced that Angela Jolie might be jog Marvel's next tentpole superhero team The Eternals, weeks after reports suggted that the film was also searchg for an openly gay actor for a leadg 's not jt a gay actor the stud is hopg to fd. Acrdg to MCU Cosmic, The Eternals will be the first Marvel movie to feature an openly gay character, one based off Greek mythology's most endurg hero.

QUEER ILLTRATOR REIMAG DISNEY PRC AS GAYS UNR LOCKDOWN AND THE THIRST IS OH SO REAL

The mor claims that the film's gay male lead will be Hercul. There’s somethg unniably homoerotic about the very ncept of the sword and sandal flick. ”As far as the eye n see, giant shoutg men elaborate old wave of peplum movi, back the late 1950s and early 1960s, was an entirely untentnal gay phenomenon.

16 DISNEY CHARACTERS WHO WERE PROBABLY GAY

None of the origal “Hercul” seri prented an eroticized protagonist as such, but they were eroticized anyway by the gay muny that took them , a muny that at that time was still very much a closeted and abed mory the Uned Stat.

They weren’t ma for women, certaly, and they very evintly were not shot wh the male homosexual gaze md are different now.

Not that major releas are ever ma wh gay people specifilly md as a target dience, but the wir culture has accepted the fact that gay people exist. Not that the domance of the straight male gaze is gone, but the existence of both gay male and female sire is regnized by movi.

So, here’s the qutn: while the old peplum films accintally stumbled to gay sire, is possible that the new batch of bigger-budget Hollywood sword and sandal movi are vg ? Would be a victory if major stud actn films more explicly began marketg themselv to gay men? Yet that’s a blissful ignorance, one which falls apart the moment you notice how much gay men loved those Steve Reev movi.

The se you are about to enter ntas ntent that is homoerotic and graphic nature.