Long Ago and Far Away... Trivia Quiz

Answer: America

Starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman the story follows their travel to America and their subsequent adventures in the New World.

First released in 1992 the film was coolly received by critics but did well at the box office, not least because of the stunning cinematography and the music of John Williams.

Answer: Killing his brother

Balian kills his half brother, a priest, due to events following the suicide of his wife and then flees to join his Crusader father in the Holy Land.

The character of Balian is very loosely based on the real life Balian of Ibelin, a leading player in the convoluted politics of the Holy Land in the twelfth century.

First released in 2005 the film attracted criticism on the grounds of historical inaccuracy and because of what was seen as a romanticized view of the Crusades.

At the box office it did well in Arabic countries but not in America until the release of a director's cut, reportedly Riddley Scott's preferred version. This included a feature supporting the historical perspective.

Stars include Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson and Eva Green.

Answer: Colin Farrell

Set in the third century BC, the film follows the legendary ruler as he establishes an empire which stretched across the known world as far as India before dying in Babylon aged only 32.

Born in Ireland in 1976, Colin Farrell has won many acting awards including a 2009 Golden Globe for his role in "In Bruges". However, he also won the 2004 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actor for his role in "Alexander". Reportedly he couldn't suppress his Irish accent so the other "Macedonians" had to adopt it too, but in an interview the movie's director Oliver Stone shrugged this off by saying that Ancient Greece was multicultural!

There was a clear disparity in the movie's success at the box office between North American and European audiences, with the former disliking it, partly it seems because of the portrayal of Alexander's bisexuality.

Answer: Soldiers

After serving in India under the British Raj two former soldiers take off to seek their fortune in the remote region of Kafiristan (in modern Afghanistan).

First released in 1995 the film was from a story by Rudyard Kipling which in turn was based on the real life adventures of James Brooke in Borneo and Josiah Harlan in Afghanistan.

It stars Sean Connery, Michael Caine, and Saeed Joffrey, with Christopher Plummer as Kipling himself.

Answer: Norse

Travelling by the River Volga, Ibn Fadlan falls in with a band of Vikings and becomes caught up in their quest. Whilst travelling with them to the Russian far north he learns their language.

Suffering many production problems the film ran massively over budget and it attracted deeply divergent reviews after its eventual release in 1999 with one of its stars, Omar Sharif, being so dissatisfied with it he turned down all acting roles for several years afterwards. Notwithstanding, it does also have its fans.

It is based on the book "Eaters of the Dead" by Michael Crichton, itself loosely based on the epic poem "Beowulf".

Answer: Looking at her late husband's photograph

British Woman Anna Leonowens has travelled to 19th century Thailand, then called Siam, to teach the children and wives of the King. The royal wives, helping her unpack, discover the photograph and Anna remembers how it was.

The film was based on a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which was adapted from Margaret Landon's book "Anna and the King of Siam". Starring Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner it was a great success and has been re-released at least twice.

A non musical version of the story called "Anna and the King" was made more recently but was objected to, as was the first, by the government of Thailand on the grounds of inaccuracy and disrespect of the real king of that period.

Answer: A group of nuns

Deborah Kerr starred as the Sister Superior and the relatively unknown Kathleen Byron made an impression as the unstable Sister Ruth.

Released in 1947 it won Oscars for Art Direction and Cinematography although it was shot mostly in Sussex and in Pinewood Studios. It was acclaimed for its advanced use of light and colour and still maintains high ratings on film review sites.

Martin Scorsese has called it one of the earliest erotic films and on its release some scenes had to be cut for the version shown in North America on grounds of moral decency.

It is based on a 1939 novel by Rumer Godden.

Answer: The Royal Hunt of the Sun

The film, first released in 1969, is adapted from the play of the same name which itself is based on the explorer Francisco Pizarro who, with his brothers, invaded Peru in 1532 and captured the Inca king Atahuallpa.

It stars Robert Shaw and Christopher Plummer.

Answer: A wife

He is given Evolet for a mate but she is carried off by raiders. The rest of the film is the story of his quest to find and free her and the other captives, travelling far from his home in the Urals to the feared "Mountains of the Gods".

Steven Strait and Camilla Belle starred, well known actors being deliberately avoided in order to enhance the notion of an ancient time.

First released in 2008 the film received mostly negative feedback and was heavily criticised for historical inaccuracy.

Answer: Darren Aronofsky

The film drew objections from both fundamentalist Christians and Muslims: the Christians claimed it departed from Genesis and the Muslims objected to one of their prophets being depicted by an actor. However director Darren Aronofsky described it as "the least biblical biblical film ever made"! Unsurprisingly it has been banned by Malaysia, Indonesia and many Middle Eastern Countries. It was also banned in China for reasons which are unclear.

Aronofsky is no stranger to controversy. His film "The Wrestler" (2008) received acclaim from critics and audiences alike but also attracted objections that it was anti-Islamic, with an apology demanded from Iran.

His films often attract deeply divergent opinions: The 2010 "Black Swan" tended to be loved or hated by critics but was nominated for five Oscars including Best Director and "The Fountain" (2006), which was disliked by many, now has something of a cult following.