Eh, it was alright (some spoilers may be ahead)

Rating: Null/10 (24 November 2004)

First off, I'd been looking forward to this movie for a couple of months. I for one thought the trailers were very well done and made the movie look truly epic...because that's what they're supposed to do, so I applaud whoever made them. However, I always try to keep an open mind when I go to the movies, especially refraining from high expectations. Then I read a couple negative reviews and I wasn't sure what to think when I sat down. Three hours later, I think I can give you a good idea of what this movie is like...
I'll start with the story. I found it to be very sporadic and it meandered quite a bit. We start off at Alexander's death, then when he's four, then when he's twelve, then when he's eighteen, then jump about eight years, then another three, then back eight or ten years, then forward two, then forward ten, then forward forty. It's not like it was hard to keep track of, but it just got a little annoying.
As for the acting and the portrayal of the characters, the best word that comes to my mind is BOMBASTIC. Each line seemed like it was supposed to be this monumental, emotional line, and the ones that were delivered with all the emotion the actor/actress could muster seemed incongruous for the moment, most notably all the lines that were used in the trailers. It seemed as though the writers wanted you to be moved by every word spoken, and that just drains you, no question about it. Much too serious. There was some overacting, but it may have just seemed that way since the script called for Colin Farrel to cry every twenty minutes. As for the homosexual scenes, I found the love story interesting, even if all the conversations between the two seemed the same. I was moved at the end when Hephastion died, and then Alexander let himself fall to be with him.
As for the action, yes it was very good and very bloody. Of course, that's how it was back then, and that's how it should be portrayed. The only thing that bugged me about it (and this is something of a personal thing) is how it was all so quick and clip-show like. Sometimes you weren't really sure what was going on exactly, except that spears were being plunged through people. But then again, that's all you really need to know.
I've been reading many of the negative reviews, and I have to say that, in my opinion, historical accuracy, when broken down to such a small fragment, shouldn't be such an issue when it comes to films. If you wanted an accurate historical re-telling, you should've watched the History channel. This is a movie. Some things have to be sacrificed in order to keep with the direction. Had Stone filled in all the blanks he missed, and yet stayed with the ones he didn't, many of you would be complaining about how the movie was six hours long instead of three.
Overall, I'd say this movie is worth seeing once, if you want your own opinion on it (don't bash a movie you haven't even seen).