A Great warrior turned into Hamlet

Rating: Null/10 (2 December 2004)

'Alexander' (Colin Farrell) is based on the true story of the greatest military leader in the world during the fourth century B.C. Alexander first led his army to Western Asia, and though greatly outnumbered, defeated the Persian army. Next Alexander took his army into Central Asia and then into India. Alexander the Great conquered 90% of the known world and forged an empire stretching from Greece to India by the time of his death at age 32.
The film is not your mainstream story of battle and glory, but a look at Alexander's life and his relationships with his father Philip (Val Kilmer), his mother Olympias (Angelina Jolie), his wife Roxane (Rosario Dawson), and his lifelong boyfriend Hephaistion (Jared Leto). The movie explores some of the social customs and morals that were customary during that time. Oliver Stone has taken one of the most fascinating men in history and turns his life into a suffering ordeal as a Hamlet-like person. Yes, there were some battles scenes in the movie, but I think Stone had to put them in, because that is what made Alexander the Great. I did not enjoy the movie, because it was slow and boring, and there was too much emphasis on Alexander's sexually. The elephant battle scene in India was a little unreal, but it was awesome. (Warner Brothers Pictures, Run time 2:53, Rated R) (5/10)