Too long and dull...

Rating: 7/10 (24 November 2004)

Oliver Stone makes great movies. This isn't one of his best. It isn't as awful as some reviewers suggest but rather long in the story telling and acting. I had to endure the almost 3 hours of this epic and it did not make me feel the impulse to yawn or doze off and yet it did not hold you to the seat either. The lead choice was very poor as Colin Farrell was in no way look or act like a great General that subdued Persia and Western Asia. And who chose those kid actors? Ugh! The first 20 minutes were so excruciatingly detailed (about Alexander's history etc), you almost got lost if you did not listen intently to a very old and horrid Anthony Hopkins as Ptolemy. It seemed like a Greek history lesson and if you concentrated on the popcorn, you would surely have failed the test afterwards. And why doesn't Angelina Jolie ever age in this movie as her son does? The battle scenes were masterful and the cinematography of the magnificent locations stunning. With all the fuss about the homosexuality traits of Alexander depicted on the movie, the actual footage was strong but without graphical content. The only graphical love scene was the heterosexual element between Alexander and Roxane. Definitely worth seeing but in no way Oscar worthy.