Victory ! (DVD)

Rating: 10/10 (2 May 2010)

This story was introduced to me by Frank Miller's graphic novel. This creator has a real talent for telling stories about virtuous heroes and in addition is blessed with amazing style that is incredibly enhanced by his wife colorist, Lynn Varley. I remember I collected the comics in Strasbourg (1999) and was absolutely speechless with the art and colors: it really looks like Hellenic art with brown, yellow tones.
Now, comes the movie and I was sure it kicks ass as well because the director had delivered a perfect adaptation with "Watchmen". This guy really understand what is an adaptation: this isn't about retelling a story, nor adding personal comments about it. As he said in the making-of, there's no place for filter and Miller has been every day on the set because they kept opening and browsing the comics to analyze every frame of it.
Fom the opening credits, it's a pleasure to see that Miller's work has been moved 100% on the screen: the colors, the pencils, the wardrobe, everything thing you saw on a panel is alive! Amazing! The cast was unknown so far for me but they are great: Leana Headey is impressive: her formidable charisma helps a strong willed queen and comforting wife. Gerald Butler is terrific as he reminds me of Pacino!
Now, we can talk about the story: I remember that there was a huge debate with some readers complaining about Miller's depicting Athenians as boy lovers. This sentence has been kept in the movie and don't make such a fuss. On the opposite, the movie is now seen as a clash of civilization: the west, holder of liberty against the east, decadent and pervert. Well, I got Greek friends who didn't find accurate the Xerces army portrayal. Personally, this story is about courage and bravery and the price to keep liberty, whatever or whoever the threat comes from. In addition, it's great to see that women has naturally a role to play whereas sometimes they are totally forgotten (see "The winds that shakes the barleys" or "Angels and Demons").