Brief and unsatisfying

Rating: 2/10 (8 January 2006)

After watching this film and subsequently reviewing the comments of other members, I have come to agree with a small portion of them. I do appreciate the extent for Hollywood's attempt to recreate a "Laurence of Arabia" production, but they lost some aspects historically speaking. However, the most significant problem with this film, like many other films is the authenticity of accents. Not only are they wholly wrong on many levels, but completely inconsistent within a characters development. At times, I felt by listening to the voices that I was in Ireland and others, that I was in Siberia Russia (are they not in Greece and from the same towns in some instances?). It is either this case or the lead actors, who are Irish, and are incapable of changing their accents--thus all other actors had to change theirs.
In any case, if a film maker is going to attempt a film of any historical value, all aspects should be attended to or they will lose authenticity.
Other than that, I appreciated the subject matter and allowed for some historical inaccuracies. Then again, most writers and producers are not historical scholars, but with this budget, keeping one on retainer would not hurt (ahhem..."Mona Lisa Smile").