The American Film Institute recently listed the ten best films in many categories (there was a TV special, but I didn't watch either).
They did not have a History Films category, but the Epics are all historical films. Here is their list of the ten Epics. The message: not to take your history too seriously when you go to the movies.
My all time history film was not epic enough to make this list: A Knight's Tale. When the armoured knights cantered into the arena for the jousts and the peasants in the stands began rhythmically stamping their feet and chanting "We will, we will, ROCK YOU!" I was hooked. Ladies, there's Paul Bettany as naked Geoffrey Chaucer too.
