This is an awesome movie!! I've never had three hours pass that fast. I was enthralled the whole time. (All the close-ups of Brad helped ) If you're looking for a film to go see, make it Troy.
I just got home from seeing this film! I really enjoyed it, too--I just shut my eyes during the really gory parts. The acting--except for Brad Pitt--was FIRST RATE! Honestly, you can't believe for one minute that Brad Pitt is the greatest warrior ever to grace the planet. He just doesn't exude that kind of strength or presence--but he is nice to look at, I'll grant that. Eric Bana as Hector--who looks like a VERY young but much better looking Ron Silver but only in this film, not in any other photos I've ever seen of him--was excellent, as was Peter O'Toole. Paris was portrayed as a weakling, and frankly Helen a selfish ho who knew that thousands would die as a result of her actions but didn't really care.
I haven't seen this yet, but I'm sure I'll have a few opinions on it when I do, being a classicist, and the Iliad one of my favourite books...
So I hear they tried to make it the love story of Akhilleus and Briseis...hah! Akh doesn't give a toss about Bris.
The true love story of the Iliad is between Akhilleus and Patroklos!
But more importantly....how will Hektor be portrayed??
edit - I just read a review that said Menelaus gets killed!? so what the heck happens to Helen? And Ag gets killed by Akhilleus? what on earth are they doing to the story?
anyone??
wow... after reading a few other reviews saying it wasn't as good as it could have been with the actors and director it had I was surprised to read such a good review! lol
He's a MAJOR weenie. He steals his host's wife while he's on a peace mission, then challenges her husband to fight mano a mano, then when he's about to lose, runs and cowers, holding onto his brother's leg. When Menelaus tells him to fight like a man, he won't even look at him.
True, he does kill Achilles, but it was just a lucky shot in his heel, which just happened to be the only way he could be killed.
As for Helen, they deserved each other. As I already mentioned, she's portrayed as a beautiful ho. Even when she tries to sneak off and return to Greece, she ran right past Hector--supposedly that was a coincidence--but then she looks at him in such a way that you just KNOW that she's thinking that she'd like to dump the wussie Paris for the HE-MAN Hector.
Hard to say because the character was so totally one-dimensional. Plus, he didn't really have a whole lot of screen time. I guess you could say that as far as weenie wusses go, he did a credible job in the role.
Eric Bana is going to be the next HOT star from Australia a la Russell Crowe. Your disappointment in Orlando Bloom will be forgotten while watching Bana's mesmerizing performance!
It all sounds very silly...
But if Hektor is done well, I shall be reasonably happy...
Does this mean we get no traditional reunion scene between Helen and Menelaus:
Men: Argh! bitch! I kill you now!
Hel (lifting up her top): remember these, baby??
Men: Darling!!
Always good for a laugh, greek myth.
k.
*mutter mutter*... throw the damn baby off the tower already... *mutter*...:sheesh: