To mock history

Rating: 1/10 (24 December 2004)

This movie's total disregard for historical facts makes this movie almost unwatchable. For starters, including Angelina Jolie as the watchful mother of Alexander is one of many mistakes Stone make, why is she in it? How can Stone or anyone know anything about her character or her influence on Alexander? It's not just poor history, or rather wild speculations from the director's side but also totally unconvincing and irrelevant to the story of Alexander and his development.
There are so many scenes of this movie that doesn't make sense, and the sudden retrospective look at the fate of Alexander's father is illogical. Farrel makes for a poor Alexander, his portrayal doesn't really give justice to Alexander, of whom we really don't know much, at least the movie could have tried to make a realistic version of the great Macedonian and his exploits.
The movie has one great moment though, the final battle scene when Alexander and his army fights an army with elephants, flawlessly filmed with added surreal colors creates an incredibly tense atmosphere and scene, when the movie concentrates on the battles of Alexander, and not his mother or other women it is so much better. IF only this movie had been done by a director who understands Alexander and the story it would have been a much better. More battles, less talk and speculations please.
Overall, this movie would have done better without Jolie. There are some strong moments in this movie, the scenery, the battle scenes (especially the one at the end) are extraordinary and where the movie and Alexander comes to life, but it fails miserably in all other aspects. There are a few things I like about this movie the mentioned battle scenes, the eagle seqense, but if you can avoid this movie, I suggest you do.