Ignore the critics and the rates: a great film for the greatest man

Rating: 9/10 (20 January 2005)

After reading the critics and the rates about Alexander I almost decided not to see it. Even though Oliver Stone is one of my favorite directors and epics usually get my attention, I was already convinced that Stone had done a terrible job and it was a terrible movie.
By Zeus, I was mistaken. I recently went to the movie in Brazil and found two sessions of the movie completely full, getting one of the last seats of the second one. And here is what I saw: A very well made epic, showing with great detail the culture and mind of the Greek-macedonian civilization, with very decent performances (specially Angelina) and full of ever lasting quotes, battle scenes, and war cries. I even doubted Stone's capacity of doing great battle scenes but I was mistaken. They're one of the most realistic war scenes I've seen... it's like the Saving Private Ryan of the ancient world: plenty of blood, battle strategy, armies full of fear, warriors that question their commands... real life.
Besides the war the film portraits in the best way I've seen their culture and philosophy. We can understand and fell their affection for Homer, the gods, the superiority of the hellenistic races, and even their bisexuality.
Epics usually get your attention but pass by quickly. Few are the ones that actually get into your head, making you think and dream. This is one of them. The phrases of this film have hardly left me in those last days. They remember me the greatness of the movie, and of the man. "I've know many great men in life, but only one colossus"