Give it a chance!

Rating: 8/10 (4 September 2005)

First of all, I want to make clear that I was amazed when I saw the movie. After reading the critics, I was under the impression that it was one of the weakest films of the year. Nonsense, if you ask me. Alexander is a very good reconstruction of the historical hero's life and the world he ruled. If you compare it with Troy, you can say that the historical accuracy is perfect. The makers of Troy made their own version of Homer's Iliad, however they kept some confrontations. Stone's Alexander has a very convincing beginning. From the first second, your following the movie with great interest. The end might not be as good as the beginning, it still towers way above my expectations. The movie is a gift for the eyes. The movie is filled with amazing and beautiful scenes. The music is less good. Sometimes the music is very good and able to support the images in a harmonious way. But very often, the music is bombastic, over the top. Stone is not afraid to show the reality. He does not hide Alexander's affection towards Hephaistion. However they do not have a sexual relation, it shocked the conservative USA. Some Greek lawyers even sued Stone for embarrassing their country. They should have listened better to Aristotel in the beginning. He explains when men are united by sexual lusts, it is perverse, but when their relation results in harmony and great deeds, it is positive. I enjoyed watching the film. You can easily say it is the best historical movie of the year. It is able to compete with the big ones like gladiator.