Wrong Emphasis on a Legendary Person

Rating: 3/10 (22 June 2005)

When doing a biographical movie of a person, writers and directors need to emphasis the right parts of the person. They both need to show what made the person great in comparison to who they were as a person. A careful balance is needed between the legend and the person. And Alexander fails this test miserably. With only a few battles and a vague showing of Alexander's diplomatic abilities, this movie primarily focuses on who Alexander was as a person and his style of life. And although this is important, it was overplayed and greatly overshadowed what made Alexander Alexander the Great. And, while it is important to point out, and actually emphasise that Alexander was bi-sexual if not gay, it is even more important to show that Alexander was first a conqueror and second a human. Because when talking about Alexander the Great, he is larger than life, a character that is infinitely rare. Other problems with the movie was the battle in the forest in which Alexander is wounded and the artistic value of contrasting the colors with a shift failed to do whatever it was meant to do. The end of the movie dragged on, making the last 30 minutes seem almost painful. While historically accurate, which it most likely is, the movie fails to show Alexander the Great and ultimately fails do to the one thing a movie is supposed to do, entertain.