Underrated

Rating: 8/10 (20 June 2015)

While it has its' fine share of flaws, this is a movie that was partially killed by critics prior to its' release. As a result, I went in with very low expectations after reading some of them when I rented it a few years later.
I will say, the first time around watching it, I was a little bit confused at times in that, like the critics said, it's not what you would expect from an "epic" movie about a military war hero, and with Oliver Stone directing it, expectations may have been a little high.
However, when you come down out of the "hype", and out of the critics' opinions, and just turn it on exclusively as an epic film, if you are in the mood for one, it will give you what you want.
On multiple views I find it refreshing as a result, and it gets better and better each time you watch it as you get out of the "hype" and "critics" mindsets.
It's a wonderful "adventure" story. We see Alexander lead his legions up against the Babylonians and venture across East Asia in the B.C. timetable. They run into typographical problems as they reach the Himalayas, but Alexander doesn't let his vision waiver and they press on into India, another foreign country that the Greeks knew not much of.
If anything, if you pay attention, you get an idea of Alexander's mindset. Going against the orders of his commanders, he marries a Barbarian, crossing breeds that up to that time were taboo for Greeks, especially those of Royalty. The assassination of Phillip of Macedonia, his father played by Val Kilmer, reveals an inconclusive history as who the culprit was, although it seems the power struggle for the throne was probably brought about by his mother, played by Jolie.
Angelina Jolie was fun to watch in this, even though it wasn't her best performances. Her crazy character was definitely a highlight and she is always eye candy in her prime here.
If nothing more, this is an ambitious (like Alexander), long, adventure movie, watching the struggles of Alexander the Great's conquest of the known world that mixes in some subtle political and philosophical ideas that makes you think a little bit more than you expected going into what appeared to be a classic epic movie. It's long, but that's one of the reasons I've come to like it- it's the perfect movie to put on right before you go to bed- it's good enough to entertain you, hold your attention, and make you think, but long enough to put you to sleep.
A very underrated epic film destroyed by hype and critics. In its' own way, it has "greatness", but you have to look past its' flaws in order to find it.