Alexander With Hair Dye.

Rating: 7/10 (26 January 2016)

Alexander (2004): Dir: Oliver Stone / Cast: Colin Farrell, Val Kilmer, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Anthony Hopkins: Whether it is true to the life of Alexander the Great is up to the scholars to decide but many are calling it muddled. Alexander is said to have conquered most of the world by the age of twenty-five. He didn't rule through a throne room but rather through a battlefield where he slain many and witnessed many of his own being slain. Detailed screenplay although third act is long driven battles with Alexander's dismiss abrupt and lacking emotional payoff. Directed by Oliver Stone whose controversial films include such titles as Natural Born Killers and Any Given Sunday. Colin Farrell does what he can with the difficult title role. Great supporting work by Val Kilmer as Alexander's drunken and abusive father. Angelina Jolie as his mother is suspected of poisoning his mind. Finally there is Jared Leto as Alexander's closest friend, which boarders on homosexuality. Anthony Hopkins once again provides his wit and wisdom but it comes off merely as typecasting here. Am I the only one who enjoyed this epic? While I am no student on the matter, I was drawn into what was presented. Then again, all critics generally have films that they stand alone on. This must be mine. At any rate this is a visually enchanting look into one of history's biggest rulers. Score: 7 ½ / 10