very good movie with minor flaws, but without the Hollywood clichés

Rating: 9/10 (25 November 2004)

This film turned out a whole lot better than I expected, because I thought it would be a typical Hollywood movie like Troy. I like the fact that the director included some controversial elements as well as some dramatic and complicated personal struggles of ATG himself.
In other words, this is NOT a movie for people who just want to watch a lot of actions and killings.
I saw lots of use of symbolism, political satires (maybe just me), Shakesperean tragedy bits in this film. The film-making and cinematography are both outstanding and unorthodox. I am not going to spoil too much but I think people who have watched enough all-but-the-same movies will appreciate this one.
On a minor side note, enough of criticizing their English, what else do you want them to speak? Greek? Some inaccuracies are present in this film though. For example, paper was not invented until 100-something A.D. and was not spread to the West until even later. Also, they speak of miles for distance, which is just wrong...But again, the audience would have no sense of distance if they say some Greek measurement units anyway.