A bold and beautiful epic

Rating: 9/10 (15 July 2018)

For anyone interested in Alexander and perhaps having some background of his significance, of events, of places in his time then this is a compelling film. It would appear Stone has kept it faithful to the factual accounts as far as possible and captures the brilliance, generalship and greatness of Alexander whilst at the same time exploring the root of his inspiration and ambition from childhood. Farrell is flawless. The accents seem to raise a comment from some reviewers as off putting but the directors commentary explains this as intentional to infer the multi-cultural and celtic traces of the Macedonians. Alexander's close companions througout both his youth and his campaigns revolve around Alexander and this is perhaps shown to better effect in the Directors Cut. The difference in the two versions amounts to the original theatrical version as being more of a linear storyline (from child in Macedon, adolesecent in Greece and General and King in Persia (although split over 2discs is an annoying intermission), whereas the Directors Cut is told via flashbacks,(and less a few scenes, mostly of the love between Alexander and Hephastion) so engaging the viewer in two timelines). There are few films that can be watched 3times in a week, but we found this to be one of them. Vangelis provides a powerful and dramatic soundtrack (fans of Ridley Scotts 1492:Conquest of Paradise should enjoy) and there is a similar scale of epic here.
I've given this a top rating because it was all I'd expect of a film and more and if you are familiar with at least the background and some characters, the history behind the Persian-Greek wars, and the impact on Greece, Asia, India etc then you shouldn't be disappointed. Alexander's dream was beyond the comprehension and desire of most men, his ambition almost that of a God, all of this capably shown in the film, and for the man who modelled himself on Achilles, his own weakness comes through in the form of his lifelong friend Hephastion (his Patrocles), and Farell, Jolie, Kilmer play their parts, not themselves.
It was a vast undertaking to attempt to convey such a man, but then, Fortune Favours the Bold!