Good is surprising areas, bad in surprising areas.

Rating: 6/10 (25 November 2004)

I just got back from viewing this movie. I was pleasantly surprised. After the swamp of negative ratings and publicity, I decided to drive them to the back of my mind and go in with meager expectations. Luckily Oliver Stone managed to keep me in his ancient world.
First off, the sets and costume design were positively astounding. Babylon, though for the most part CG, was the most impressive ancient city brought to life, period. The armor and ancient clothes were lush and vibrant, with brilliant use of coloring and art.
The acting was great all around, especially Farrell's performance which surprised me most of all. He gave Alexander's character power and vulnerability in all the right areas. And for the love of Christ everyone needs to drop the argument over his bisexuality. It's truth, get over it. Stone's handling of it impressed me most, with his tender portrayal between Alexander and Hephaistion impressed me. You don't need graphic sex or tongue dueling to convey love.
Now that I've talked about the positive it's time to shed some light on what keeps this movie from greatness. The battle scenes must be named. Oliver Stone simply didn't do them justice. For all of his historical accuracy, his staging of the Battle of Guagemala was close to incomprehensible. His cutting and shots confuse more than immerse. Often you can't tell who's being killed or who's killing them. Return of the King proved how much energy a CG battle scene could have, yet no movie has been able to replicate it. Alexander's skewing the colors during the battle against King Porus' elephants was disconcerting in the worst way, varnishing what would have been the movie's physical climax.
There are smaller concerns, namely Alexander's editing. The running length has nothing to do with it, I found each scene excepts for both battles to be both immersive and well staged. I felt like I was walking through the streets of Babylon at times, that's how good it was. But even Stone's trademark non-linear style fails him here. For some reason he skips Philip's assassination and then brings it back right after Alexander murders Cleitus.
I enjoyed it, as did many among the American audience who viewed it. This movie is definitely not going to be loved by the younger crowd, who's patience is limited to mindless action it seems these days. But too many of the movie's faults keep it from being another Platoon or JFK, or even on par with historical epics like Gladiator or Spartacus.
6/10