Not bad ...some very enjoyable scenes!

Rating: 8/10 (20 December 2005)

Just recently saw it on DVD...Not a bad movie...don't know why it was panned by the critics?? Apparently is was fairly historically accurate ...and having read a little about Alexander ...the scenes do fall into order.
Strong emotion led performances from Val Kilmer and Colin Farrel.
The adoption of undisguised Irish accents by Colin and some of his co-actors made it the film seem odd and laughable at times ...maybe one of the reason why the film was criticised. According the director the accents were kept like this to portray the varying levels of ethnicity and regional identities in ancient Greek culture.
More valid criticisms i think was the clever dick he was portrayed as a kid (at about 12 hes talking with all the gusto of an adult!!) ...and how he tames a wild horse in presence of everyone...these are just silly scenes! Also the scene of the trek down the cave with his father looking at the wall paintings was just mundane.
Great visuals though ..nice cinematography ...bright and spectacular sets (to be expected from Oliver Stone) ...and battles scenes were on par with the likes Braveheart, Gladiator etc.
I loved the exchanges he had with his father, mother ..his commanders and other subjects. These scenes are essentially what made the film for me. Renactments that gives great insight on what motivated Alexander to do certain things in the way he historically did them.
The filmed liked to dwell on Alexanders upbringing and past ...so as to take a peep on what shaped him to become one the noted most greatest general of all time.
Some kurfuffle and controversy on the homo/bi-sexuality portrayed ....but according the historians this was normal accepted behaviour in the ancient Greek society. I think there was no big deal there really.
Loved the soundtrack ...but then again i loved all the previous soundtracks made by Vangelis. He is Greek himself ...so no-one more appropriate for it.
Oliver Stone is a great director ...i love all his previous films. I think he was misunderstood on this project. But all masters do it once in a while ..Ford Copolla after-all made the film 'Jack' 'Alexander' a bit simplistic in areas but an underrated good decent film in my opinion.