Worth Watching with all it's flaws

Rating: 6/10 (26 December 2008)

I find myself agreeing with almost all of the reviews here, from one star to ten stars. This could have been a great movie, with a different writer and director and star... However it is pretty close to an essential movie, so I recommend that you watch it. The extended wedding night scene on the Blu Ray release between Alexander (Colin Farrel) and Roxanne (the spectacular multi-ethnic Rosario Dawson) really crackles.
Stone missed on almost as many points as he hit, even in the Blu Ray "Final Cut" release, but it is an honest effort at a big topic. One may nit-pick it to death, but only after you've seen it.
I have watched it 3 times and do not regret those hours. That cannot be said of many movies watched only one time.
My first viewing was with Stone's commentary rather than on-screen dialog. It helped. The third was with the commentary by Oxford Professor Robin Lane Fox. Fox is author of a book on Alexander and on-set historical consultant to the film. They let him be one of a thousand extras in a big battle scene.
If one watches the included documentary by Stone's son, you get insight into Stone's relationship with his own parents which will give some significant insight into how this movie came to be what it is... as much about Oliver Stone as Alexander the Great of Macedonia.
The movie may seed your interest in Alexander, or give you glimpses at fairly good recreations of the art and architecture of those times. Love it or hate it, watching this movie is worth your time.