A huge disappointment, as battle and historic movies goes

Rating: 3/10 (5 December 2004)

I can hardly understand how it could go wrong with the movie considering the director and theme, but it was a huge disappointment.
Firstly, the movie shows few scenes from the childhood and young age. There is a few shots of an insecure looking boy. But they do not build up the character so that it is believable. They seem like disconnected scenes. You don't really get to understand this person, what motivates him. It is narrated, but it does not seem real - you don't feel for the character or understand him. Still there is some drama in the beginning and you hope it can turn out a good movie.
But then there is suddenly a jump in the story line after these few scenes. Anthony Hopkins rambles on about what happened between the boy and his father, and then you are suddenly immersed into a battle situation. You follow discussions between Alexander and some of his generals or aides. Also, you see him talking to the soldiers before the battle. But again it does not come over as real. It seems like scenes acted out by amateurish actors. I will say that it simply does not seem like the actors believe in the story, including Collin Farrell.
The above is in sharp contrast to great battle movies like Braveheart and Troy which delivers the merchandize with believable heroes, brilliant acting and fascinating plots. Alexander is the total opposite. Whereas Anthony Hopkins narration makes us anticipate the portray of a charismatic leader of men - almost like a god to use his own words - the actual scenes makes Alexander seem weak, indecisive, confused and over indulgent. Why does the movie focus on so many of his faults, so much so, that the greatness of the man disappears?
Now, Oliver Stone may think that he is historically very correct, wanting to give the movie a documentary dimension. From my history lessons I had the expectation of a great leader with drive. This movie portrays him as too insecure and confused in many situations, and as a lunatic in some of the battle situations. Despite what psychological problems the real Alexander might have had due to his upbringing and tense relationship with his mother, I do believe that he must have been much more determined and strong than that weakling from shown in the movie. Otherwise he could not have attained as much.
As for the battle scenes, I found many of them claustrophobic and confusing with too many close ups. There is also too much blood and gore, which can be okay but only when it supports a good and believable plot. In this movie it just seems confusing and like it has been put into the movie just to have it there. The battle situations seems somehow disconnected from the main movie, like they are something added because they are expected to be there. You don't really get any feeling for each characters achievement in these battles which would have helped to build them up as believable.
In general I would say that there too much focus on jamming as many scenes and events into the movie as possible, with the effect of chopping up the plot and having characters that one does not get to really know, the result being that you cannot really identify with them or feel connected to the story.
Of good things in the movie I can mention are Angelina Jolie as the mother of Alexander. She is very convincing with her disturbed, dark personality and intrigues. But hers was a minor role. Also, some of the filming and visual effects were very nicely done. But these things cannot save the movie.
I am so very irritated with this long movie. It was a waste of time and I felt like leaving several times. I have rated it 3.