An Insult to the Man

Rating: 1/10 (21 July 2005)

Some people speak of how this movie portrays Alexander's relationship with Hephaestion, and how many people dislike the focus on a homosexual relationship in the movie. Commonly, these comments include an assessment that the values in Alexander's day were far different from the values of our day. This is true. The homosexual relationship that existed between Alexander and Hephaestion, however, would not have been the same as a homosexual relationship today. This is one of the movie's great failings. Alexander and Hephaestion are portrayed in a manner more befitting characters on Will and Grace than as the warriors that they were. Apparently, for Oliver Stone, if someone has sex with a man that person will act like a girl.
The movie also fails in portraying a commander that could actually inspire soldiers. Alexander cries in front of his men. He begs them instead of commanding them. There is nothing in the character portrayed in the movie that would cause a man to follow him for years on end. The man who would cut the Gordian knot is nowhere to be found in this movie. I guess it's fortunate that that story isn't in the movie.
The movie also suffers in an area that could have made it at least mildly entertaining. The huge battle scenes utilize a "shaky camera" method to make things seem violent and exciting. The result is that it is next to impossible to make out what exactly is going on in the battles. They also serve to further display Alexander's apparent impotence. No brilliant tactical maneuvers are shown. Alexander also lacks the ability to actually hit an opponent with a thrown weapon.
At the end of the movie, Ptolemy reflects on Alexander's greatness. I couldn't find anything great about Alexander. This is quite perturbing for me. Alexander the Great is my favorite historical figure. I was thrilled to find out that a movie about his life was being made. Imagine my disappointment to find nothing of that person in the movie. Oh. Wait. Yeah. He had sex with men. When that became the most important part of his story... I don't know.